Rome at night.

We only left our apartment at one, and wandered around for a very long time. When it got dark, we made our way to the Colosseum The moon was full, and right beside the Colosseum! I was SO mad that I forgot my camera! After that, we caught a bus to a restaurant, had a very good dinner, and went back. Rome was all lit up, and St. Peter's looked very nice. There were also a lot more people out.

The next day (today) we woke up late, and went to a market. It was so big, in an hour and a half, we only got through half of it. I found a really beautiful scarf, and it was only four euro! After the market we went back, and are doing nothing of insert of the rest of the day.


Josephine

CATS!

Today was a slow day, we left at 10 o'clock and went to a market. The things we successfully purchased were a backpack and a necklace. Then we walked to a place where they had some virtual thing about ancient Rome. First we walked through a dark corridor and then into a dark room with a glass floor. It lit up and we saw some mosaics under us. Then there was a loud noise and the trapdoor in the cieling opened and there was a virtual tiger staring at us through a grate. Then the floor started moving! When all that was finished we went back down and the wall slid open. Then we went into a room with a screen in it and put on some 3D glasses. We then watched a movie about ancient Rome. It was really cool. Then we went to find an Emily the strange purse. We couldn't find one so we went to a church which was closed. Then we went to a gelati place which we couldn't find so we went somewhere else. Then we walked to the cat sanctuary and got a tour. It was very interesting, the tour guide showed us the place where Julius Ceaser was killed and we also got to see a ton of cats.
Emily

The Colosseum

We left at nine, and jumped on the tram to the Colosseum. The huge brick structure is actually called the Flavian Ampatheater, but was called the Colosseum because of it's colosal size. It was origanally covered in marble, but it was all taken to build a certian huge cathedarl, who would perfer to say recycled then taken. *cough* St.Peter's *cough*. We found our tour giude, and went in. It is huge, and the nobles sat on the first floor, rich people on the second, the third for commoners, and the fourth for women. So we walked about, and some common myths where disspelled, they did not pit enemy against enemy, and the beasts rose out of the basment floor with chains. The shows were free, as well as meals... Anyway, you can find out more on the internet, so I will just move on. After the tour, we wandered around the general area for a while, as we were getting another free tour in an hour.
We found our tour giude, and walked 5 minutes away to Palentine hill, where the ruins of a great palace remain. They removed all of the marble for the same large church. The emporer (Who's name I can not recall) Even had his own stadium. His palace was devided into two parts: Public, and private.In the public part the marble was polished so he would be able to see if anyone was sneaking up on him to assainate him. The irony was, he was killed by a bowl of mushroom soup, compliments of his wife, whose lover he had killed.
After the palace, we went to see the ruins of the Roman Forum, not the internet one by the was. There are many ruined temples there. The ones best preserved are the senate, and a temple that was turned into a church. All the rest are simply columns and a bit of a base. The temple of Remus is pretty well preserved as well.
Then we went for lunch as we were very hungry. We went to a place for pasta. It was very good. Then we went to the Musei Capitolini on the top of Capital hill. We really just wanted to see the foot of Constentine, becuase we have seen it everywhere. But we ended up going around it and seeing a lot of other slightly boring stuff. After that we went home.




Josephine

Fountains

Today we went to the catacombs. They were a bit disappointing because the tour was so short and also because I thought we would see more then just some tunnels and places where people were buried. (they aren't there anymore)Then we went to the church of Saint Sebastian which is on top of the catacombs. Then we went to Trastavere which is on the other side of the river. It was kind of nice, my favorite thing was a church. It had a very beautiful mosaic ceiling over the alter. Then we went on a free tour! We saw the Trevi fountain, the Fountain of the four rivers, the spanish steps, the pantheon, and assorted buildings and piazzas. (Not pizza! A piazza is a square!) I really liked the Trevi fountain!

Bye
Emy

The Vatican

Today, we went to the country of Vatican City. It is the smallest country in the world, and the population numbers 1,000. They have there own: Post stamp, pass port, and guard, from Switzerland. The outfits are something else!
So, we got a tour and the entrance fee for 100 euro, and then we went on out way. The first thing we saw was the Vatican museum. There, they have statues, stuff from Egypt, tapestries, and gems and such. Then we went to some rooms done by Raphael, who died at 33. He, and Michelangelo did frescoes (painting on wet plaster) The frescoes where beautiful, and full of elegant figures on horses marching into battle. Even though the room was full of people, the guide said there was no one there compared to in the summer.
Then we went into the Sistine Chapel. The first thing I did was gasp. It was beautiful, spectacular, and wonderful. My favorite Fresco was the last judgment. Michelangelo did the roof on scaffolding, and spent four years looking up at the ceiling and painting. Apparently he had to look up to read after that... The Last Judgment is full of more than 300 people in every imaginable pose. They defaced the painting, by painting clothes on all of them later.
After that, we went into St. Peter's church. Al I can saw about that is WOW! The amount of money put into that church must have been astronomical. They have writing on the walls that is taller then me! (6 feet) But it is so far away, if looks about 2 feet! The floor is covered in marble, and the alter piece in gold. It is the most elaborate church I have seen so far.
Later, we went walking around Rome, we didn't go to any sites, because we are going to some tomorrow. We stopped for a bit at a cafe, and then went back. We spent 5 hours at the Vatican.

Josephine

The church, Alter, and the Swiss guard+ me

Catania

Catania - land of great food, sunny weather and the craziest drivers! We have really enjoyed the different food here. At night you can find charcol BBQs along the streets where you pick your meat...horse, ass, pig, cow... and they cook it up for you right there. Last night we went out with some people we met at the hostel and Scott had an ass burger! The jokes didn't stop all night. Speaking of the hostel I was sitting in the lounge on the first day and started talking to a guy there, who said he recognized me? It ended up that he was from Winnipeg and had worked with Jennifer at the Panic restaurant! Wow!

Yesterday we also went to climb Mt. Etna. We doned snowshoes and explored craters. The mountain is still quite active, the last lava flow was in 2009. The day was really nice but crazy windy...see pic of Josephine! We were worried that Emily would blow off the crater. After hiking we went into a lava tube cave that had bats. We even saw 2 babies that the guide thought were only 2 days old. The mother gives birth and nurses them without waking up! My kind of labour!



Now on the subject of driving. Nuts hardly describes it. Everything here is a suggestion...red lights, lines on the road, right of way, one ways. You take your life into your hands just crossing the street. We were told the only way to cross is to not look and just walk. Ugh! Needless to say there are very few cars without dents and scratches.

Today we walked around the town enjoying all the markets and fresh food. The chesse, fruits and veggies are super. You can get any meat...body part too. I think it's intestine.

We're here for one more day and then off to Rome for a week.

Jane

The ruined city of Pompeii

February 14,

Today we drove to Pompeii! When we got to the ticket office a guy tried to sell us a tour for 100 euros. We declined the offer and went to buy our tickets. We found out that children were free and since it was valentines day we got a buy one get one free special! It ended up only being 11 euros! So then we shared the tour with two other people and it cost way less.
When we walked into Pompeii I noticed that there were three stones across the road. "That probably keeps the chariots from driving down the street" I said. Actually they were used when the citizens of Pompeii threw their liquid waste onto the street. People could then walk across the street without getting their sandals wet! Then we saw a basilica that has the same floor plan as some modern day basilicas! (The old type of basilica is like a court) We also saw some really cool baths. There was a fountain in there that has the price and who paid for it on the rim. The roof was also ribbed so that water wouldn't drip on your head. It was quite warm in there. They had a small bar with a marble counter top where they kept their wine cool. My favorite house was not the biggest house (which was owned by a lawyer). But a medium sized house that wasn't even half the size. The plaster casts were also pretty cool but I thought there would be more. It was raining the whole time we were there and at the end I just wanted to jump in the car and go. But we had a traditional pizza first. It's called a Margerhita and it is the colours of Italy. Red for the tomatoes, white for the mozzarella, and green for the basil. Sorry if I make it sound like the colours for the flag of Italy were chosen by different toppings on a pizza. Because that is completely untrue though it would be kind of funny if it was!

Bye
Emy