They have coffee here, but tea is much better (I'm not say the coffee is bad, just that Italian coffee is better). We have easily incorporated it into our diet, along with a very tasty biscuit called a digestive--tastes better than it sounds.Ok, we promised (actually, Laura promised) that we would do a post about the Vatican. So, here it is. On our Sunday in Rome, we went to mass at the North American College and visited a seminarian friend of ours. He showed us around the college and took us to the Vatican for the angelus with the Pope. It was really cool, except the Pope was far away. We were closer in Birmingham. Afterward, we decided to climb up to the top of St. Peter's. 550+ steps. It was almost the best view of Rome (everyone knows that the very BEST view has to include the dome of St. Peter's). We wandered around in the church for a while after that and then went out to dinner with our friend.
It was probably the best restaurant we went to on the trip. Our friend told us that if you take a thin bread stick try to break it into three pieces by just holding the tips, you will come back to Rome (this is the same superstition as throwing a coin into the Trevi fountain). I don't give a fig for superstitions, but mine broke into three pieces :) :) And yes, we threw coins into the Trevi fountain--just for fun.
The next day we visited the Vatican Museums. This was very cool, except a portion of it was closed. And we were tired and hungry. I have to say that my highlight of this day was going to the Catacombs of St. Callista outside of Rome. As Eric would put it: Vatican + Catacombs + St. John Lateran = AMAZING! :P Oh, and fyi: the early Christians DID NOT live in the catacombs. They gathered there in secret to hold prayer services and sometimes mass.
We also attended a Papal audience.
From there we went to Venice, Padova and well, you've seen the pictures. The sun is now shining outside. Homework time!
I'll leave you with my new favorite song by Clémence. If you don't understand the lyrics, it's basically, "I take life as it comes and as it goes." Well, with a little bit of a story, too.
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4 comments:
"it rains, it has rained, it will rain"
Present, imperfect, future.
(just practicing my 3rd language from Latin class. Grammar talk! :D )
I definitely lend my support to that equation.
I suppose it would be bad form to mention the amazing weather NCC's having? :)
Tut, tut, bad form indeed!
It is a commonly held belief that the weather in England can only get better... But have no fear, the sun DOES show itself every now and then... just about when everyone is ready to die from depression :P
Today isn't too bad... just freezing cold :)
~Laura
P.S. Grammar practice, eh? good show! Here's a latin phrase that I remember from High school, unfortunately, I don't remember the translation...
Rem non spem, facto non dicto, quaerit amicus
maybe I don't remember the spelling either... =)
I believe it's something about asking a friend. But I'm just as stumped as you.
You're close. I believe it is something like this...
"That has not been the hope of what was not done, said, they seek as a friend"
That's what it read to me. :-?
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