The Vatican

While taking a break from studio, I decided to start going through the Rome pictures. For today I have gone through the Vatican pictures. I pared it down to the best 25. This was not easy.

The Vatican, be it the museum or the sisteen chapel or St. Peters, is astonishing. There is not word to begin to describe the wonder and the glory of that place. St. Peters is humbling on so many levels. To realize that the power of God created this space, brings you to your knees.

I did get a change to sit in on a mass while I was there too. Though I know some Latin, I was beyond lost for the entire thing.  However, it was an experience of a life time.

I think I am just going to let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

Back to Verona Momentarly

Just before we left for Rome, we were told we needed to do a study of the church that is next to our site. So to begin to understand the church, we went on the inside and it was breathtaking. I always feel bad taking pictures inside a church so I did not take that many. Here are 3 of the best.

Made it to Sicily in a Whirlwhind

Hello everyone,

Just for an update, we left for Rome on Thursday and we made it to Sicily this morning. However, I will have to get back to you with the pictures and the write up about Rome (which may be in pieces) because I took over 2000 pictures in 2 days. And, with studio picking up because it is all due in 6 days, I do not have time to do one massive post tonight. I promise, I will be working on it later this week. But I will leave you with a panorama of the view off of the ferry (which the train drove on to to get across the water) at sunrise. This is a glimpse of where I am at. 

The Trip to Venice

The Trip to the Rivers

Well I don’t really remember the train ride. You generally don’t remember much when you sleep through it.

On the water bus from the train station to our hotel, we passed one of the most beautiful tall ships sitting just in front of the Dodge’s palace. This ship was full of, what I could only assume to be the Italian navy’s men up in the rigging saluting the arrival of the Italian president to Venice. It was amazing.

Our hotel was really nice and just down the “street” was one of Carlos Scarpa’s renovations. For those of you who don’t know, Scarpa is one of the most talented and incredible architects that ever lived. And, in true Scarpa fashion, the building was amazing. Upstairs, was a museum full of artwork and some beautiful ceilings. The chandeliers here, near Murano (the glass blowing capital of the world) were beautiful glass masterpieces.

Murano  and the glass factories are truly amazing. Some of the artwork that comes out of those place is beautiful.

Piazza San Marco (right next to the Doge’s Palace) is breathtaking and FULL of tourists. But even with all of the idiots, it is a site to behold

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 The next day, we went into the Doge’s  Palace and spent about 3 hours in there. The interior is stunning and the exterior does not do the interior justice in any way.

The second day we spent a lot of time walking around and ended up on the island of Giudecca. It is a great place to get dinner and watch the sunset looking back on the main island of Venice. It was amazing to sit on the water and eat some amazing seafood. Btw dad, you and I are getting seafood here when you get here

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 San Marco is as pretty at night as during the day.

The next morning we went for a gondola ride. It was sooo cool. We just went on the one that went on the back rivers but it was still very pretty.

The entire city is filled with some of the most amazing mask stores you have ever seen. There were sooo many amazing hand made in the shop custom masks. I was in heaven.