Highlight of the trip (so far)

Erin: What a day!!! We started EARLY this morning...

We went straight to the Vatican this morning for the Scavi Tour. We didn't know how long the security line would be, so we got to the Vatican early and were able to take a quick "peak" through St. Peter's Basillica (for those of you that have been here and witnessed how massive St. Peter's is, you know that you cannot just take a "peak" at St. Peter's). We then headed past the Swiss Guard to the excavations office for the Scavi Tour. The Scavi Tour takes you through the ancient Roman Pagan Burial grounds that were found in 1939 underneath St Peter's basillica. The Tour then takes you to the grave of St Peter and you spend time learning and seeing all of the different monuments that have been built on the site that St Peter was buried. REALLY AMAZING! The Tour climaxes at the end where you can actually see the actual grave of St Peter and the bones that are believed to be St Peter (St Peter's Basillica is built on this grave and the canopy over the main alter is directly above the grave). There are only a couple of thousand people a year that get to go on this tour, so we feel truly blessed to have been able to witness this. I can't explain how incredible it was to see all of the old tombs of the Romans but most of all, the first Pope's burial site. After that, we headed to the other side of St Peter's to ascend the steps to the top of the Dome of St Peter's (Michelangelo's Dome of St Peter's). These steps were not has grueling as Notre Dame. The steps take you first to the top of the Dome inside of the church where you can see the frescoes of Michelangelo up close. You then go up the stairs all the way to the top of the dome outside. Thew view was MAGNIFICENT today as it was a clear (yet windy) day and we could see all of Rome as well as the top of St Peter's square with Bernini's famous columns reaching out to the people of Rome. As if our day was not amazing enough, we then met a friend, Paul, from St Ann's in Coppell in St Peter's Square. Paul is a seminarian from the Diocese in Dallas studying here in Rome. He has been the one that set us up with the Scavi Tour as well as the audience with the Pope that we will attend on Wednesday. He also graciously offered to give us a personal tour of St Peter's. He took us through the entire square and Basillica. It was amazing to learn how planned each frescoe, statue, etc was planned. After a great tour, we headed to the catacombs of St Peter's where 50+ Popes are entombed. We were able to see the site of Pope John Paul II Grave which was very moving (for all of you that know me, you know how amazing seeing this was). We then headed back up to the church to take some quick pictures (I think I took 150 pictures) and walk around again (I can never get enough St Peter's).

We then left St Peter's and walked to the Castle San Angelo and across the river to the Pantheon. The Pantheon is a stark difference from St Peter's, but you can see how it inspired many modern churches today (including St Peter's). We then walked to the PIazza Navona...where I was excited to find some guys selling some fake purses...yowza! After a quick look and purchase, we finally sat down for some dinner and wine. It was a nice dinner on the Piazza and we did some good people watching. We then grabbed some Gelato (Doug's new Fav) and headed home.

Sorry that this isn't very funny and is much more informative, but I am exhausted and Doug is literally sleeping next to me on the couch in the hotel lobby!

We are going to Mass at the Vatican tomorrow and then going to Visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel before we visit a few more famous churches here in Rome (there are over 900 churches...)

I hope everyone is doing well back home and that Blakley is waiting to have Brooklynn until her Godparents return! We love you!