When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie...

This morning we didn't set alarm. Didn't make plans to go anywhere. We took the day off. We still woke up around 9:30 and started our day. We planned to go grocery shopping and get breakfast and sunscreen (I only had a smaller bottle I used on my face, shoulders, and chest on sunny days).

We found out why everything was closed yesterday. And is closed today. And will be closed tomorrow. It's a Holiday here in Italy, but the actual holiday is tomorrow. But they took Saturday and Sunday off too. So pretty much a 3 day weekend, but Italy knows how to take a vacation. Our three day weekends are full of sales and everyone shopping (so really only a certain percentage of the population gets to actually enjoy the holiday). Here half, no, I'm actually going to say more like 85% of the city is shut down. Now that's what I call a vacation! While it's kind of annoying because the only thing near us is a McDonalds, I'm also jealous that they get to do that! (Especially since I work in retail...enjoy your holiday everybody else...)

This is the vine arch that I talked about yesterday

So as I said, the only open place with food that is within easy walking distance is McDonalds. So guess what we had for breakfast...(Papa, maybe you should buy their stock :] ) At least I mixed it up and had a salad and muffin.

I took a pretty hard fall in the middle of the street though as we were crossing (who puts a curb in the middle of a street?). Doug felt bad cause I was just out of reach to catch. I haven't fallen like that in a looong time. I skinned my elbow and bruised my hip, but besides that I'm fine.

We went back to our hotel, changed into our suits, and hit the pool. We didn't stay long since we didn't have adequate sunscreen (and it closes from 1-3:30). The pool was slightly colder than refreshing, but it is hot here, so it did feel good, we just didn't stay in long. When we first ventured out this morning we commented that it felt like South Carolina with the humid heat (although we later remarked that it's not as hot here as it is in South Carolina).

Doug suggested going to the Vatican since it was close by. Our relaxing day was interrupted by the fact that we'd be more or less waiting in our room to be hungry enough to go to McDonalds again. And he did have a point. So we went!

It was about a 20-25 minute walk. It may have seemed longer since it was hot out. As we got closer we saw that there were some restaurants and souvenir shops open. We decided we'd get food before we went home, giving us a break from McD's. We found the Piazza Di San Pietro and St. Peter's Basilica.

At first it looked like there was a long line, but we were told by some people exiting that it hadn't taken that long. The line was for both security checks and modesty checks. We were prepared, so I went and changed into jeans and we got in line.

A nice couple from New York took our picture for us

It is highly decorated inside. Good job Michelangelo (and others). It really was amazing inside, and it's crazy what all the penance money was able to buy, and really was the beginning of Protestantism if you think about it. Martin Luther sent a copy of his 95 theses to the Archbishop that was collecting indulgences to help pay for the cathedral.

In the area outside of the church, the foyer I think you'd call it?

View down the middle

The Dome

The altar where Peter the apostle is supposedly buried underneath

We did see Michelangelo's sculpture "Pietà." I was glad that I had read my guidebook (although I think that Doug may be tired of me saying "According to my guidebook...." Maybe you guys are too though). Anyways, my guidebook explained why it is kept on display behind bullet proof glass. Apparently in 1972 someone decided to take an axe to it and damaged Mary's hand and Jesus' nose. I'm wondering how someone was able to meander into a cathedral with an axe in hand. Maybe that's the reason they have metal detectors now. It was a beautiful statue though

We were going to go to the Vatican Museums and see the Sistine Chapel, but they were closed due to the holiday. We'll have to go back later this week, but we've heard that the line for it is horrendous.

We found gelato! Doug got a lemon sorbet and I got chocolate. It tasted similar to ice cream. Not better, not worse. Just different. The cone had less flavor though lol. But it was definitely enjoyable!

We made our way down to the Castel Sant Angelo. We didn't know what it was though exactly, and weren't sure if it'd be worth the 17 euros total for us to go inside. So we just took pictures of the outside. Turns out it's a 1st century castle, which could be cool, but who knows? We have a lot to see and a budget. So maybe we'll go back later after we've seen the stuff we really want to see.

Beautiful bridges!

The Palazzo di Giustizia (The Hall of Justice). We didn't go inside, but loved the architecture!

They have these fountains everywhere and they're amazing! They spew out ice cold water that tastes really good! People drink directly from them, fill up their water bottles and splash cold water on their faces and necks

We found a restaurant pizzeria and sat down. We saw that there were quite a few people there, so we judged its quality on that (it's valid!). And it was good! Doug got a calzone and I just got pepperoni. We enjoyed sitting at our little table and eating pizza in Rome.

We also found sunscreen and promptly put it on! ad it's 50 spf. Phew!

We came back to the hotel and hit the pool to cool off. A lot of other people had that idea too, so it was fun to people watch a bit after we took a dip and then sat in the shade.

Eventually we came back upstairs and cleaned up. Now we're eating pizza (we got an extra piece to go so we wouldn't have to eat McD's) and watching MTV (and it's actually music videos). It's weird that it gets dark around 8:30 again since we're farther south. The rising moon looks amazing though. Doug tried to get a picture but it's hard to really capture it. So in 9 hours (or 6 depending where you are), go watch the rising moon! And know that we watched it 9 (or 6) hours ago :)