The pictures I posted today pretty much sum up my day.
This sums up my night quite nicely...
http://youtu.be/mzm50uBpHA4
I hope you enjoy it.
Love & Warm Hugs,
Rhi ; )
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
Vatican City!!!
Monday~July 8, 2013
I LOVE Rome!!! Love, love, love it!!! (Had to share...had to!)
So...
Todays Agenda: Walking tour of Vatican City with Roman Candle Tours
A quick little quirk to share: My ironic breakfast selection~Eggs Benedict!!!
Filipo was our tour guide~a small group of eight! We covered the Vatican Museums, Greek & Roman Statuary Collection, Gallery of the Maps, Gallery of the Tapestries, Old Papal Apartments, Rooms of Raphael, Sistine Chapel, & St. Peters Basilica.
I took a ton of pictures! I actually went through six batteries today in my camera~craziness. I started taking notes, but then bagged that since I only have two hands. I honestly couldn't tell you what I took pictures of~especially once we got to the Fresco paintings. They are beautiful though...& I can't wait to share them!
After the tour, I found myself just wandering as usual. It really is great to only have a few things planned & then just allow your surroundings to unfold into your own custom experience.
I stayed at Saint Peters Basilica for quite some time. I attended Mass... ; ) (Pope Francesco was unfortunately not in attendance.) I found myself closing my eyes quite a bit during Mass. The experience really overwhelmed my senses; taking in the exquisite detail of Bernini's grandiose work, listening to the angelic sounds of the visiting choir from Cambridge University, trying to pick out any distinct root words & use my dwindling Spanish vocabulary to then translate a few words from the entire Italian Mass, ...just allowing myself to listen to the beauty of the Italian language without thinking about it, & actually realizing that I'm sitting in a space with such an amazing & rich history.
Insane.
Insanely Beautiful.
After Mass, I went beneath the basilica to see the tombs of previous popes~including the tomb of Saint Peter. The only thought that kept on coming up was..."The Apostle???....You mean the one that hung out with Jesus?!?...& this is his resting place...??....& I'm looking at it??" Moments like these seem unreal to me. These are characters in "stories"...& I know that they're real...but now the truth of their existence is being solidified in front of me...
Incomprehensible.
Next wandering locations:
Castel Sant Angelo
Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II, Ponte Sant' Angelo, & Ponte Umberto I
Street Vendors
Adami for dinner~Pizza with Mozzarella, Sausage, & Mushrooms
...& then I went back! Back to Saint Peters Piazza to take it all in at night.
Breathtaking.
The view truly made my heart soften. <3
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Day 1 & 2: The Walking "Grateful" Dead
Flight Schedule...
July 26, 2013 (Wed)
GRR 11:37 - CVG 12:45
CVG 17:40 - CDG 08:00 (+1)
*First Chocolate Pastry ; )
*Indulged in a quick 10-minute Chair Massage
July 27, 2013 (Thurs)
CDG 10:20 - BOD 11:35
I left for the airport Wednesday in a small panic, but more so, I was extremely grumpy from lack of sleep. I hadn't slept in over 27 hours...& if you know me well, you know that I require lots of sleep. Lots.
As my parents were saying their goodbyes at the airport, it was probably easier for them to part with me...& my grumpy attitude. ; ) I love you Mom & Dad~thank you for putting up with me. Xoxo
Once on the plane, the adrenaline began to kick in...there was no sleeping.
The Cincinnati layover was long...but I had to repack my suitcase in a neat & orderly fashion, as my last minute jam session wasn't cutting it for my OCD. This made the layover go by quickly. The organizing also put my mind at ease. When I was finished, I took a picture...I was a happy girl once again!
The flight to France was fantastic! I was greeted by the Air France flight attendants, wearing the most stunning red dress uniforms~the perfect shade of red/blue. Mmmm...still envious. There was a vast selection of movies from which to choose. I ended up choosing two films that I felt would complement my trip the most (with the exception of the silent portion).
Les Miserables (never seen before)
&
Gladiator (of course...I can't even count how many times I've seen this & most likely, this movie is the reason I'm going to Rome)
I watched them in that order. And from the second Anne Hathaway started singing... I. Was. A. Mess.
Fast forward to arriving at the step of Chambres de Gambetta...
So, you know how when little kids are so tired they cry?!? You could promise them a pony, try to give them their favorite candy, etc., but they're still delusional & crying?!?
That was me.
My room was beautiful. The entire flat balanced simplicity & delicate detail in a way that made me fantasize of what life would be like if living there permanently. I had to chuckle, as I began to realize while looking around~ that I had booked a completely different place than what I had thought I booked. But what was delivered, couldn't have been more perfect for me. ; )
After settling in, I walked down Cours de I'Intendance. I was tearing up at the site of anything foreign to me~which was everything. Beautiful doors, intricate details in their street lighting, Rue de Saint Catherine, Grande Theatre, etc. I was completely overwhelmed with gratitude...& uncontrollable alligator tears.
I made one decision before turning around & heading back to my room to collapse for the night: I booked a wine tasting tour for the next morning. ; )
July 26, 2013 (Wed)
GRR 11:37 - CVG 12:45
CVG 17:40 - CDG 08:00 (+1)
*First Chocolate Pastry ; )
*Indulged in a quick 10-minute Chair Massage
July 27, 2013 (Thurs)
CDG 10:20 - BOD 11:35
I left for the airport Wednesday in a small panic, but more so, I was extremely grumpy from lack of sleep. I hadn't slept in over 27 hours...& if you know me well, you know that I require lots of sleep. Lots.
As my parents were saying their goodbyes at the airport, it was probably easier for them to part with me...& my grumpy attitude. ; ) I love you Mom & Dad~thank you for putting up with me. Xoxo
Once on the plane, the adrenaline began to kick in...there was no sleeping.
The Cincinnati layover was long...but I had to repack my suitcase in a neat & orderly fashion, as my last minute jam session wasn't cutting it for my OCD. This made the layover go by quickly. The organizing also put my mind at ease. When I was finished, I took a picture...I was a happy girl once again!
The flight to France was fantastic! I was greeted by the Air France flight attendants, wearing the most stunning red dress uniforms~the perfect shade of red/blue. Mmmm...still envious. There was a vast selection of movies from which to choose. I ended up choosing two films that I felt would complement my trip the most (with the exception of the silent portion).
Les Miserables (never seen before)
&
Gladiator (of course...I can't even count how many times I've seen this & most likely, this movie is the reason I'm going to Rome)
I watched them in that order. And from the second Anne Hathaway started singing... I. Was. A. Mess.
Fast forward to arriving at the step of Chambres de Gambetta...
So, you know how when little kids are so tired they cry?!? You could promise them a pony, try to give them their favorite candy, etc., but they're still delusional & crying?!?
That was me.
My room was beautiful. The entire flat balanced simplicity & delicate detail in a way that made me fantasize of what life would be like if living there permanently. I had to chuckle, as I began to realize while looking around~ that I had booked a completely different place than what I had thought I booked. But what was delivered, couldn't have been more perfect for me. ; )
After settling in, I walked down Cours de I'Intendance. I was tearing up at the site of anything foreign to me~which was everything. Beautiful doors, intricate details in their street lighting, Rue de Saint Catherine, Grande Theatre, etc. I was completely overwhelmed with gratitude...& uncontrollable alligator tears.
I made one decision before turning around & heading back to my room to collapse for the night: I booked a wine tasting tour for the next morning. ; )
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