Monday, January 1, 2007

Rome, Day 3

It’s day three in Rome! The jet lag has not completely disappeared but I have been able to explore the Eternal City a bit, sometimes with no particular destination. There is so much to see and do here, but many popular destinations have been closed today and last night for the holiday. Still, we’ve gotten to see the Pantheon, the Forum, and the Coliseum. We need to go back to the Forum and Coliseum for the official tour before leaving the city.

Last night I attended Vespers in St. Peter’s Basilica. It was packed! The basilica is enormous, and being in the presence of the Pope was an almost unreal experience. We have also ventured into various other churches, and the architecture and art has been astonishing. St. John Lateran was on our agenda for today, and we also saw the steps that, according to legend, came from Jerusalem. Pontius Pilot was said to have sentenced Jesus on those very steps.

The culture (and language barrier) has at times posed a problem. It took a while for us to get lunch yesterday – close to two hours for pasta – and we have yet to find a nearby internet café. I don’t remember the last time I’ve gone this long without using the internet! Another oddity of Rome is the lack of public toilets. For the most part, however, Rome has been fantastic. I can’t wait to see more! (Angie)

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