Day #6 Volterra ( our favorite)

Our most favorite Italian city would have to be Volterra. We were going to skip this place but decided to go there anyway. We are so glad we did. It is low key not near as touristy as the rest of the places we had been. It is set up on a hill so you have this beautiful view of what I pictured Italy looking like. Lots of rolling hills, vineyards and villas.

Volterra was run by a group called the Etruscans. They were mostly known for their work with urns. Urns are vases or marble blocks that the ashes of the deceased were placed in. This city has history in it of some years B.C. I apologize I don't know the exact year, but it has quite a history with it. It is also, (for all you Twilight readers) the home of the Volturri. The head of the vampires and where Bella saves Edward. So, of course we had to walk the steps that Bella walked to save Edward from the Volturri. It was an enjoyable and peaceful day.

A view of Tuscany's landscape as we were walking up to the gates of Volterra.

Even though we felt we stepped back in time when we were there, it was great to see all the antennas on peoples roofs.

The front gate to Volterra. It is a very old gate. You can see at the top to the right and left some blobs sitting on the corner of the archway. Those blobs used to be faces of something, but have been well weathered. That is all that remains of them. This gate was almost lost in WWII. The Nazi army wanted to blow it up to keep the Allies from coming. The city people begged them not to do it and pulled up the cobblestone walkway and plugged up the opening with them and then returned each cobblestone to its place when the war was over.

Another beautiful view of the landscape.

The clock tower where Bella had to run by to save Edward.

This is one of the Urns. They would carve the history of the person on these urns and place in them money, plates and spoons, and little trinkets that represented their honorable life achievements. The money was to help pay for their journey to the next world. The plates and spoons were given so they would have something to eat their food on in the next world. The trinkets would show their rank in society. Sometimes they would place mirrors in their urns so they could see how they looked in the next world.

Our first experience with a "water closet". Can you say culture shock!! It is what it looks like. There were no men and women's bathroom, just 4 of these stalls in a row. You can see where your feet go, and there is a hole in the back of where your feet go. Then you push the button on the back of the wall and hope the trickle of water washes it all down. As you leave you remember why you mother told you to never put your feet on the table.

This is the big open plaza that Bella had to run through, crowded with people, to get to Edward on the other side.

This was a theatre that was used a long time ago. You can see the round things in the back. They were used as spas or baths.

The rock wall at the bottom of the church used to be part of the theatre but the stones were taken from the theatre and used to build this wall.

Another view of the Theatre.

A cute picture of the streets of volterra. I loved the laundry hanging out all over.

Day #5 Venice

Sunday, Oct 25th we met up with Justin (Jason's brother) , Emily and their three adorable girls. We were really missing our kids by then. We had been away from them for a week. We were more than happy to have our nieces around us. We were ready for some kid time. We loved touring through Italy with Justin and Emily. They were perfect travel friends, we will definitely have to do it again sometime!

They picked us up from the airport that morning. We drove to a dock that has boats to travel the rest of the way into Venice. It was a lovely city, but extremely crowded with tourists. Very few of the actual residents of Venice still live there. It mainly still functions mostly for tourism. It was very lovely though and we just happen to go there on a day when there was a marathon happening. Maybe it was a little more crowded because of that. It was fun to see how the people live with streets mainly of water.

Jason and I with Justin, Keanna, Ayla, and Lyndi. Aren't they beautiful girls?

The Marathon. It was a beautiful spot for a marathon. I would almost think about doing it. (ALMOST)

Jason and I with Keanna and Ayla at St. Marks Square.

Jason and I with the other view of St. Marks Square.

This is usually how it went down. Justin would have the "Rick Steves" travel book and Jason had to have a map of everywhere we went so he could follow along with where we were going.

St. Mark's Basilica.

A view of a waterway street in Venice.

Eating pizza in a safe part of town. Don't mind the graffiti it is some of Italy's most populated places signatures.

Keanna and Ayla running through some of the narrow paved streets.

Parking of boats outside your door. You don't have to worry about car alarms going off here.

Emily and I enjoying a visit while the boys are mapping out our "best" route through Venice. They did a great job!

Traffic through Venice.

Famous gondola's, we did see one guy attempting to sing to a couple as he paddled down the street. Attempting is the key word there.

More buildings on the water edge. It was an amazing city. They had pictures of when the tide gets really high they use the benches for walk ways.

After a fun day in Venice we went to Camp Darby in the middle of Italy and that is where we stayed. It was nice traveling with Justin that could get us into these army bases. It was also refreshing that night to hear English and be able to use American currency to do laundry!! Thank you Justin and Emily!

Day #4 Rome (day 2)

These are pictures of our 2nd and last day in Rome. We went to the St. Peter's Bascilica and the Vatican Museum then spent the rest of the evening roaming the streets and enjoying our surroundings of Italy and the people.

A lot of the information we have is from "Rick Steves" who was our tour guide through all of our Europe trip.

Waiting in line outside of St. Peter's Basilica. The church was started in 1506 and finished 120 years later. They had big screen T.V.'s and lots of chairs set up because the Pope was performing mass on Sunday.

Another view of St. Peter's Basilica outside. Yes that is the line stretching around.

The atrium into St. Peter's Basilica. It has 5 famous bronze doors. One entrance is the Holy door and it is only opened on Holy Years every 25 years.

The Holy Door, featuring Jesus and Mary on the top panel, Paul and Peter in the Middle, and how they were martyred at the bottom.

This is the main dome of St Peter's. It is over 430 ft high.

This is the main alter where the Pope performs Mass. It is also the tomb of Peter. (sorry for the fuzzy pictures, deal with it)

A view of the church. Also a view of the bronze statue of Peter.

At the front of the church is 'The Apse'. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove (6 ft wide) shine down on the Throne of Peter. Statues of 4 early Church Fathers support the chair.

A view from the main door to the front of the alter. Over 2 football fields away. Yes it was big and beautiful.

A sculpture inside the church. Stacy and I thought this was incredible. Look the marble work put into this.

After touring the Basilica, we went through the Vatican Museum. We saw a lot of famous painting and sculptures these and few of the ones that impressed us the most.

This painting covered the entire wall. It was painted by Raphael in 1520 in the Pope's private study. The painting is called 'The School of Athens' showing Plato and Aristotle and other 'thinkers'. After he walked down the hall and seen what Michelangelo was painting i nthe Sistine Chapel, he painted Michelangelo in the front leaning on a block. There were several other rooms completely covered in painting but this one was our favorite.

Unfortunely we were not allowed to take pictures of the Sistine Chapel. It was very incredible.

A famous sculpture, I think.

This is the the 'Laocoon' statue found in 1506 what they were uncovering parts of the Roman Forum. It is a Greek statue carved in the fourth century, and was an inspiration to Michaelangelo.

The 'Belvedere Torso'. Michealangelo admired the sculture and used this in the body of Jesus in his last judgement painting in the Sistine Chapel. This sculpture is the remains of an ancient statue of me (or Hercules) seated on a lion skin.

This is the famous sculture by Michangelo called the "Pieta". It shows Mary holding the dead body of Christ made in 1500. This was in St Peter's Biscilica.

A view the Vatican gardens.

This is my wifes favorite. A statue of the 'God of Fertility'. I will let you figure out the rest.

After the museum we climbed the Dome of St Peter's Biscilica.

This is a picture of the upper portion of the dome. These pictures are put together with thousands of little tiles. We was impressed.

Climbing the Dome. Mom this would have drove you crazy.

A view of the Sistine Chapel from the top of the dome. The smoke comes out of the small chimney on the left (I think). Jim and Julie please correct me if I am wrong.

The dome is the highest point in Roma, So the pictures were good.

Looking towards the Monument (white) and the Colosseum on the right of the Monument.

St Peter's Square

Then we began our walk home. Back to more fountains and monuments. This one was called Piazza del Popolo. (wow)

The night life.

The tradional north enterance to Roma and brought here from Egypt in 1589.

A tradional Bath used by the Roman. (we think, sounds good anyway)

So that concluded our time in Roma. We flew out the next morning to Venica to meet up with Justin and Emily.