Hamlet Montefienali Tuscany

... was delicious with a pasta, zucchini and I think pork steak with a lemon slice and a sauce that was a littel tart for me, followed with apples, oranges and pears. Then back with Rob to finish up with fuedalism and geography added in by Buck as it fit. A story from the odessey related to and in preparation for our field trip arriving by boat to our destination. Then Buck gathered photos from students for a class project.

Then we scattered again but had to stay ...

... the papal conclave is locked until they vote a new pope, the place were black or white smoke signals the vote results to outsiders, the place where Michelangelo lay on his back on scaffolding for over 4 years painting scenes from the Bible on the ceiling, and returned about 25 years later to paint the Last Judgment on one of the walls. As we were ushered in, everyone started snapping pictures. I took 4 ...

... 4 years painting it. It was his first painting since he was a sculptor by trade! The ceiling depicted the story of Adam and Eve- also learned Michealangelo had a low opinion of women. The large photo on the alter was of the judgement and showed the people in heaven, hell and on earth all being judged the same as mortals.
Walked into the Basilica next which was extremely crowded. I guess I should have expected this since it was the day ...

... br>I next went to the Monument a Vittorio Emmanuel. It was a big statue of a man on a horse in front of a building with a lot of stairs. I climbed the stairs and took in the views.
I next ate lunch at a cute little outdoor cafe- cheese and tomato panini, which seems to be very popular in Europe.
I then scoped out Teatro Marcello- more ruins. Then Area Sacra- even more ruins in the city ...

... what was intended to be a suite of apartments for Pope Julius II, are some of the most exquisite frescos ever created at the beginning of the early 16th century. Pope Julius II commissioned Raphael to paint these enormous works of art at the same time he commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine. See a virtual tour of the rooms here: Stanze di Raphaello or you ...

... rests over St. Peter's Tomb. And we even had a confession with a Vatican priest. Quite an experience. Really. And ofcourse, Vatican City is ...

... haha Anyway, it turned out to be a miscommunication between Euro Visa and Canada Visa....just as well! I returned at 5am, indebted to Barb who had to pay my overweight bag fee (damned pork!) yet happy to be home! Bruce left an hour after me for his week in London and he sucessfully met Sandy on the following Thursday in Cairo for his Rugby tourney! Everyone was home safe the following weekend! This is how you really know how vast Canada is! Everyone of us has done ...

... and it was refreshing to talk to some fellow North American-ers. When we got to Rome, my 1st impression was- am I in NYC?? I say that cuz the city is retardedly congested with traffic, there's tons of garbage just lying at the front of stores, there are tons of toursity restaurants and tons of random shady people selling fake sunglasses and purses. Since we got in late, we went out for dinner (panini this time ;-) and just chilled. The next day...oh ...

... the line was constantly moving and it only took 30 mins to get inside. The Vatican Musuems are so full of art and statues and there are so many twists and turns, narrow hallways that things started to blue together. My brain switched off about 10 mins before I reached the Sistine Chapel, woke up for the chapel and then switched off again (some might say permanently). Everything was so ornate that I had taken so many photos of the ceiling by this ...

... that when you take a break from walking around for hours, you find out the bench you're sitting on is actually an ancient sacrificial table where they used to kill things for the gods. Unfortunately we don't have much more to say on that subject, but we're going to really visit the inside of the Vatican and museums tomorrow, so we can update you better then. We love you guys all a whole bunch and we'll see you sooner than you think!!!!! Love, DJ and Holly