Rome...the Tour

You know you really have to say "Roma" as it just sounds so much more italian. I can hear the sing-song-y way of speaking in my head right now....I love that beautiful, happy, lilting tone of the italian language!

I have reached the grand old age of thirty-something and have never really discovered the awesomeness that is a girls trip.....but now I am converted. Three of my lovely friends and I got to spend a few days in Rome (plus a day in Capri - a whole other post) and it was the most amazing vacation ever!! We laughed and laughed til we cried (or pee'd, whichever came first) and you know if I tried to tell you some of the things we laughed about, they wouldn't sound that funny (believe me I tried...and I saw Andrew's reaction,....I'll save you all from that) but there is nothing quite so refreshing and invigorating as laughing and having fun with great friends.

Where to start....???

The tour guides were  out of this world...

Max, Valentina and Daniela

We never waited in a single line, got access to some amazing behind-the-scenes stuff and heard some great stories.....they were phenomenal!!

The Coliseum was our first stop - about 5 minute walk from our hotel...and just incredible!! We got to go in some restricted areas on the top and in the basement...the history is amazing and every direction you look is another breathtaking view.....do you think there is a max number of pictures per blog post?? If there is I think I might just be about to exceed it.....:)

We started another day with a visit to Castel Sant'Angelo and the Bridge of Angels....wow!! We got a daylight tour of the Passetto di Borgo (the above the walls passageway that joins the castle to the Vatican)....through locked gates and doorways....it was pretty awesome!! 

We also went down into the basement/prison...and up to the rooftop.....doorways and winding stairs...I am running out of ways to say amazing!!

Everywhere you turn your head is literally another feast for your eyes. Rome is drenched in history and culture and you just walk around trying to catch a drop here or there, but knowing you are only scratching the surface....

The Castle is just down the street from St Peter's and being a Wednesday the crowds were gathering to hear the Pope speak...fascinating to watch!

Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, The Key Hole and Baths of Caracalla.....

And last, but by no means least.... The Vatican & St Peter's Basilica. It's really would take a lifetime to really see everything there is to see in the Vatican....it holds mountains of priceless statues and paintings and artifacts....the Sistine chapel (no photos allowed) was much smaller than I expected and St Peter's was much grander....It was 3 days of one awe-inspiring place after another...and we loved every minute of it!!