Rome wasn't built in a day, but we pretty much saw all of it in one day! We started off our morning early with a light breakfast (typical due to the fact that breakfast in Italy is not customary like it is in America), and headed out to the bus to explore Rome. First we saw the Colosseum. The grandeur amazes me every time I visit this monument. I got some amazing photographs as we walked around the inside of the Colosseum and listened to the tour guide talk about the history of the architectural wonder. Next we visited the Roman Forum. I had only ever seen the ruins from afar, so it was nice to be able to walk through the forum and take a look at all that was left. After the tour, we headed towards the Vatican. We had a short break for free time, during which I got lunch with a few other girls from our group. We got pizza, which I had missed so! It's just not the same in America as it is in Italy. We devoured our pies, and then headed back to meet with the rest of the group. We then toured the Vatican Museums. Having toured the museum before, I was intrigued to see new pieces of art that I had not noticed on my last visit. There are so many works of art in the Vatican Museum that if you take 1 minute to look at each, it would take you 14 years to go through the whole museum! After a leisurely walk through the amazing corridors of the museum, we came upon the Sistine Chapel. An amazing site to see once again, this time was more special to me than my previous visits however. Since my last visit in 2009, I had written a research paper on Michelangelo's Last Judgment (which is portrayed on the altar wall of the chapel). So this visit I paid more attention to the altar wall, soaking in every last detail. After a while, the "Shhhh no photos!" was wea
ring on everyone's nerves, so we headed out of the chapel and over to St. Peter's Basilica. I could stay in this church and take photographs all day long! Every inch of the structure, from the ceilings to the floors to each and every niche was exquisitely decorated. Another amazing site to see. We then left the Vatican and headed to the Piazza Navona. Those from the group which had arrived on an earlier flight had the opportunity to visit the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain the previous day, whereas our group which arrived later did not. So Tyson decided this would be a good opportunity to take our group to see the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, and let the rest have free time in the
Piazza Navona. Both sites were amazing, and places that I have visited twice before. Although I have seen them before, they still amaze me each and every time. I was able to get some amazing photographs from both the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. After a long day of walking around Rome and seeing all the major sites, we headed back to the hotel. Still anxious to explore, I headed out with several of the girls from our group as well as Tyson and Giuseppe, to get some dinner. The rest of our group ended up meeting us at the restaurant and we all enjoyed another delicious Italian meal. After the longest and most hectic day of the trip, I was happy to get back to the hotel for a good night sleep.
Rome wasn't built in a day, but we pretty much saw all of it in one day! We started off our morning early with a light breakfast (typical due to the fact that breakfast in Italy is not customary like it is in America), and headed out to the bus to explore Rome. First we saw the Colosseum. The grandeur amazes me every time I visit this monument. I got some amazing photographs as we walked around the inside of the Colosseum and listened to the tour guide talk about the history of the architectural wonder. Next we visited the Roman Forum. I had only ever seen the ruins from afar, so it was nice to be able to walk through the forum and take a look at all that was left. After the tour, we headed towards the Vatican. We had a short break for free time, during which I got lunch with a few other girls from our group. We got pizza, which I had missed so! It's just not the same in America as it is in Italy. We devoured our pies, and then headed back to meet with the rest of the group. We then toured the Vatican Museums. Having toured the museum before, I was intrigued to see new pieces of art that I had not noticed on my last visit. There are so many works of art in the Vatican Museum that if you take 1 minute to look at each, it would take you 14 years to go through the whole museum! After a leisurely walk through the amazing corridors of the museum, we came upon the Sistine Chapel. An amazing site to see once again, this time was more special to me than my previous visits however. Since my last visit in 2009, I had written a research paper on Michelangelo's Last Judgment (which is portrayed on the altar wall of the chapel). So this visit I paid more attention to the altar wall, soaking in every last detail. After a while, the "Shhhh no photos!" was wea
ring on everyone's nerves, so we headed out of the chapel and over to St. Peter's Basilica. I could stay in this church and take photographs all day long! Every inch of the structure, from the ceilings to the floors to each and every niche was exquisitely decorated. Another amazing site to see. We then left the Vatican and headed to the Piazza Navona. Those from the group which had arrived on an earlier flight had the opportunity to visit the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain the previous day, whereas our group which arrived later did not. So Tyson decided this would be a good opportunity to take our group to see the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, and let the rest have free time in the 
Piazza Navona. Both sites were amazing, and places that I have visited twice before. Although I have seen them before, they still amaze me each and every time. I was able to get some amazing photographs from both the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. After a long day of walking around Rome and seeing all the major sites, we headed back to the hotel. Still anxious to explore, I headed out with several of the girls from our group as well as Tyson and Giuseppe, to get some dinner. The rest of our group ended up meeting us at the restaurant and we all enjoyed another delicious Italian meal. After the longest and most hectic day of the trip, I was happy to get back to the hotel for a good night sleep.
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