We have the afternoon free here so I am catching up on blogging, eating, and some work! Gotta love study abroad. ;) We visited the Vatican yesterday!!!
1) Our art history teacher Lisa almost got arrested! She snuck us past the giant line waiting to get it (it was hot outside!) and then there were some pretty intense minutes when the scary man in a uniform talked to her... Great impression to make in a new country!
2) It's hard to describe the place -- everything was completely smeared with priceless art, and people were everywhere: smelly, loud, hot, pushing, and eyes open as wide as possible. I kept coming across SUPER famous art pieces that I (rather pathetically) didn't know were in the Vatican! My favorite was walking into a room, and suddenly recognizing the School of Athens on the wall ten inches from me. We wore earbuds and little radio devices to hear Lisa. She had a microphone and was teaching us INSIDE OUR HEADS!
3) I heard the cute
st thing at the Sistine Chapel: a mom knelt down next to her daughter and pointed up to the ceiling, "See the Finger of God pointing up there, honey? He's there in white with all the angels. See how his finger is almost touching Adam?" No pictures allowed in the Sistine Chapel... but it was pretty cool.4) AND WE SAW THE POPE'S HAND! As we left his motorcade drove by and we saw his car and his little old hand waving out at it! I stood behind some nuns and waved. :) David, Daniel and others got pictures but I missed it. :( I said "Hi" to him like C
ollyn and Jim wanted me to.5) Got REALLY lost trying to take the picturesque way back -- but came across this gorgeous panorama view as we dehydratedly hiked through the city! I was so tired and hungry...
6) Kathie showed us a really sweet movie in the Rome Center about the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio -- it is made of musicians from completely different countries playing completely different instruments, from Senegalese drumming to Arab violin to Indian tabla. I had this wicked cool Nutella snack pack: Nutella, cookie sticks, and tea!
7) Then we waited on the Ponte Sisto for fireworks Lisa had tipped us off to! Except they were behind the trees. So we ran after the fireworks, trying to see them behind the trees! No luck... so I went home and used the internet cafe. Got some tasty ginger ale to finish off my happy, exhausting day. :)
8) Miss you!
Hey Molly! I am glad you didn't get arrested at the Vatican! All that art make you want to join that convent we always threatened to send Liz & you to way-back-when??! :) Happy early birthday to you; have a terrific celebration in Florence! Love, Dad
ReplyDeleteDearest Molly, Have been away from my computer for a couple days, so have just caught up on your blog.. Wow!! Wow!! Wow!! How absolutely awesome and beautiful everything sounds. I am so impressed you are able to rattle off the Italian names of people, places, and things.. well, except for the pope of the bridge you walk over.. :)
ReplyDeletelove you buhjillions, miss you more.
aunt peggy
OHHHHHHHH MY GOODNESS!!!! You are so lucky!!!! A nutella snack pack - that sounds so good!!! You should totally bring me home one! Love you tons!!! Love you cousin,
ReplyDeleteMolly
P.S. Allison wants one too!
Happy Birthday, Molly!! I hope you have a very wonderful birthday in Rome. Also, your little cuz. Molly Kate posted a comment yesterday, but it went on the day before blog. She was most impressed with your Nutella snack pack!!! And when I told Allison you had seen the Pope's hand, she said "a decapitated hand?!?" She was obviously very confused, but we thought it was funny! Love you, Aunt Kelly
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the wonderful blog comments Molly! I am going to try my hardest to send back nutella packets... not just for you guys but for myself! They are the best things ever!
ReplyDeleteI just had a wonderful birthday in florence -- blog post to come! :) Miss you guy so so so much!
love, Molly