Massimo D'Azeglio Hotel Rome

... 2 in Rome we headed for the Vatican City to visit the pope haha. We arrived at the Vatican using our bus pass still and took some pictures of where the pope is. Then we headed over to the Vatican Museum where we wanted to see the Sisteen Chapel and the works of Michelangelo. The museum is the second largest museum in the world which I had no idea...there were tons of paintings and beautfiul rooms with painted ceilings...they ...

... of the guard. After lunch, we popped back on to our Easy-Bake bus, and wound our way back to the hotel. After scouring the day off of ourselves and grabbing a quick nap, we stepped back out into the now cool night and wandered aimlessly through the neighborhood ...

... find. That night we just went and had some pizza (which...pizzerias are EVERYWHERE in Rome), took a trip to the pharmacy, planned our itinerary, and called it a night. I am feeling much better now but I'm afraid I have given the other girls my cold, so everyone else is starting to feel under the weather, Stephanie in particular. The following day we began our exploration of Rome. We went to the ...

... ware at terrific prices.<br><br>Meandering Around Rome- unlike the previous cities visited, Rome is a walking museum in itself. After our first day walking amongst the streets we stumbled upon the Pantheon, built in 27 BC by Augustus' general Agrippa. The m*********** in the center of the ceiling, known as the "Oculus", was an incredible sight and was spectacular to view with the rain free-falling onto the marble flooring directly beneath. <br> Through ...

... in the Vatican museum and got to see the Sistine Chapel. It was very cool. I then trekked across Rome and went and saw the Colloseum, which was very interesting (got an audio guide) and then went over to the Palantine and the Forum, which has many ruins. I then went to Capitol Hill, where democracy was born! I then walked all over Rome, including many piazzas (plazas), including the one with the Spanish steps. Just walking aimlessly will lead you to discover ...

... Italy, complete with narrow cobblestone streets, red-shingled rooftops, Vespas, and gelaterias at every turn. The only thing that surprised me is there is graffiti EVERYWHERE. At first it really threw me for a loop, but I hardly even notice it now...strange how you get acclimated so quickly. I think that's about all I have for now...unfortunately I don't have any witty observations to offer or anything like that. These are just the basics, but I'll definitely be writing again soon!

... knows this, right?) is where the pope lives, and where the administration of the Catholic Church resides...and basically the center of everything catholic in the world. It is where St. Peters Cathedral is...the largest in the world, and St. Peter's Square, where the Pope addresses his people. The Vatican has museums that encompass a large quantity of the space within the city, and it owns a rediculous amount of Roman and greek statues among other art. When you arrive at the VC, you ...

... day grade, and is home to numerous cats, all abandoned by owners when they go on holiday. After a quick snack in the streets near our hotel (roast pork sandwich which was delicious), and a short rest, we set out for Piazza Santa Maria for the evening. Another fabulous meal and live music, we closed this restaurant as well, and moved along another alley to a wine bar, for snacks of cheese and meats and great local and very expensive wine. To bed at 2:30 a.m.

... pizza at Marriots and bought their gelato (Liza bought same size as mine but she got more because she flirted with the shopkeeper - actually he flirted with her, but I don't mind coz he's old. Wish I can have it again... ) Another thing about Rome. They sell these lovely, lovely sunglasses. Big frame, small frame. Handbags! Channel, Dior, Prada. All shapes and ...

... exposed by slicing down one side. Flattened out, it must have had some pancetta layed over it, and was grilled in a grilling rack over charcoal. Turned often so as not to burn. I assume the olive oil was heated with herbs and poured over at the end, plus the usual salt. Just sensational. Here was the grill to match Ches's usual "Agnello Griglia". At the time, I tried to analyse how it might have been prepared, so as to record it all faithfully. As I fell behind in my journal ...