When in Rome...

So my life has been pretty eventful this last week and a half.
First here is a little on the kids first!
One afternoon I got out some bubbles I brought for the kids from Canada. They are a Crayola brand and they are coloured bubbles. So we started blowing bubbles...then I thought...this is getting a bit messy and I don't want any stains on their clothes. SO we got out the bathing suits. Good thing it was a warm enough day for that. They had a Blast! They blew bubbles for a short time. Then discovered that the colour from the bubbles was getting on their skin. So the rest of the time...it was body paint!!!! We made such a mess...but it was fun! I had a lot of cleaning up to do after that, including sticking them all in the bathtub and hosing them down. Now they have been asking to do that again a few times since then.

The day before I headed out on my adventure for 5 days. I was packing but also kinda listening and keeping an eye on the kids too. They managed to get a hold of the container that has all of Sierra's hair things...had them dumped all over their bedroom floor. Then they had a water bottle...soaked a couple of stuffed animals as well as a some of a removable floor rug. After a bit they started playing Mommy & Daddy. Pretty sure Jonathan was the baby at one point.

                                                            Jonathan with his baby

Then I was off!!!! So blessed and grateful that the Smiths let me leave the country for 5 days ;) Saturday to Wednesday. It was an amazing mini holiday.
I went to Rome, Italy. I stayed at an all women's hostel. It was a great place, well ran, clean, good location too. I met people from all over the world. I went on 5 train rides, 3 air plains, and 2 taxis to get there and back. But while in Rome...I Walked absolutely everywhere. It was an experience I won't forget...Plus I took over 700 pictures. I still can't believe I was there and now I'm back to Spain already.

                                                          The Vatican

I met so many people on this trip. A doctor from Chile on one train, a few ladies from the States, a few people from the Netherlands, a group of young people from Kosovo, and a lady from Sicily. On the last night at the hostel there were two new ladies in my room. A mother and daughter from Italy. They came by train...only a couple of hours. They came to Rome for the mom's birthday...she was turning 70. They were so very sweet, really did not speak much English but we did talk for a little bit.

                                                              The Pope

I don't know how to put into words how I feel about...Italian food!!!! There seemed to be a pizzeria or gelato (ice cream) shop on every corner. WOW....amazing.

 

The river that runs through Rome was beautiful with the all the bridges that crossed it. The thing is that it was littered and stunk so bad like sewage.

Here are a few random places and pictures

I went to see the Pantheon....I continually was amazed how the buildings where so big, and so detailed with art and sculptures on them.

On the second day that I was there I had a tour at the Colosseum. Then went to Palatine Hill/Roman Forum.

Day 3. Last day. By 3:30pm I was done...my body said I was done. I had literally walked for 2 and a half days. That day I went to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Both places were very crowded...so I didn't get a chance to throw any coins in the fountain :( But it was still really neat to see these places!!

 

 

I think the things that most surprised me would have been the amount of homeless people. Then the amount illegal immigrants from India selling random things on the streets. Also I have never seen so many nuns or priests everywhere.
I am still sorting through my thoughts...it was a lot to digest...and I am not talking about the food. But I thought I would share some about my trip to Rome!!! :)