Italy day 6

Today was rainy, so I didn't pull my camera out much, but I had to get this picture of the colosseum.

We also got to visit the Sistine Chapel at the end of the day.  I had the opportunity to take some amazing pictures.  While there is no way to capture Michelangelo's work with pictures, I love looking at them.  It was breathtaking.  

Love Always,

Meg

Italy day 5

Today we went back to St. Peters, which is amazing.  When I went to Rome in January in 08, it was far less crowded.  But it was so worth it.  The following pictures show the magnificent interior.

I love seeing soldiers in uniform, these vatican uniforms are soooo bright.   I love that one of them was giving directions.

This is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi on Piazza Navona

The Pantheon is one of my favorite buildings.  It was originally created to pay homage to 12 roman gods.  It was later converted into a church, this is what saved it from having the marble scavenged.  

I was blessed to get there on a sunny day, because the sun really did shine on one of the relics.  

Love Always,

Meg

Italy Day 4

Today we went to Pompeii.  That is mount Vesuvius in the background.  I think these pictures speak for themselves.

This is the painting that I was sitting next to at dinner.  As you can see below when you look directly at it, the face looks less fierce.  But every time I looked up I saw this guy giving me the stink eye.

The funniest part is that the painting had what looked like a stab wound.  As if someone else had stabbed the painting after a few hours of looking up at it.  As you can see I am giving the stink eye in this picture.  

Afteer dinner we took a night tour of Rome.  This is St Peter's Basilica. 

Finally our tour ended at the trevi fountain, beautiful.

Love Always,

Meg

Italy day 3

Amalfi coast, breathtaking. 

After a breath taking drive around Amalfi we stopped in Positano.  

The hi-light of the visit was the St. Andrew Patron Cathedral.  It has amazing colorful mosaics and the contrasting Byzantine decorations.  

The entire cathedral reads of the ocean, it was magnificent. 

This is a fountain for St. Andrew across from the Cathedral.  My father and I sat in the square, took in the energy of the square, and drank cappuccinos.

Next we made our way to Ravello.  It is right by the water and the views are amazing. 

The gardens were perfectly manicured. 

The moss covered buildings spoke to me, especially the different textures.  

It was a great first tour day.

Love Always,

Meg

Italy Day 2

This was the view walking out of our hotel to the main street.  I loved the beautiful flowers and foliage. 

This was the day before our tour started so we decided to walk down to the water to have lunch.  I loved how every corner had little statues and tributes to the Virgin Mary.  Like a little surprise around every corner.  The walk was magnificent.

This is where we settled for lunch.  I must say that we did get a tiny bit lost, but we found a bunch of charming little side streets.  This is a little summer fishing town, you can even see people sunning on the beach.

We ate right on the water, and I had the best oysters that I have ever had.  Hundreds of petite little oysters in a garlic butter sauce.  Yummo.

Love Always,

Meg

Italy Day 1

I had a glorious first day in Sorento.  We had a hotel right on the Gulf of Naples.  Just beyond the wine glass in the picture above you can see Mount Vesuvius.  My father and I just sat out on the patio and had a glass of wine, finger sandwiches, and the freshest olives I have ever had. 

This is a picture of the view from the patio.  This is what we were looking over.  This has to be my favorite place to sit and have a drink for the entire trip.  I loved the view, I loved the wine, and I loved the weather.  Perfection.  Day one was a great day.

Love Always,

Meg