Italy Day 8

Today we visited Assisi and visited the tomb of St Francis of Assisi.  Assisi has a special meaning for my family as my Uncle is Franciscan Friar.  I loved that it was an overcast day, it makes the photographs more striking.  

After lunch my father and I made our way back to the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi, and the weather had cleared up for a few minutes.  

I took a few panoramic shots during our walk out of Assisi.

Love Always,

Meg

Italy Day 7

Today we went to the town of Orvieto.  My love for clocks has not diminished so I had to take a picture of this amazing clock.  

This is the duomo of Orvieto.  duomo means cathedral, not dome, so that is why this cathedral is called a duomo even though there is no dome.  

This duomo is so magnificent because a miracle is believed to have occurred here.  During a mass, when the priest broke the host, the host bled.  This is why the duomo is so sacred.

I had to climb up the bell tower in town, so that I could get some amazing aerial views.

This is the same town from the opposite direction.  My favorite part of this town is that I had the best chocolate I have ever eaten in my life.  Nothing will ever compare.

Love Always,

Meg

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