So it's been awhile…….

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Wow, so it really has been a while…. Sorry it took me so long to get back on here but we were having way to much fun for me to take time to blog! Half of me wanted to live in the moment/not document everything and the other half was pretty lazy and over blogging, ha ha, but now I'm back! So where did I leave off…

The Colosseum Tour which was super fantastico! Being in a building that was built in 97AD is so hard to fathom. Get this, 700,000 people were sacrificed and killed for pure entertainment. How does that happen? But what is even more mind blowing, a woman kept asking about all the animals that were killed and was shocked that there weren't any animal rights laws then. Really? Animal rights laws? Did you not hear them say they killed human beings for fun? Ugh… some people. As the tour was coming to an end, Jay got pretty daring and jumped up on a wall of the Colosseum. You can see this unedited picture Janelle, our PAFP (Personal Asian Family Photographer) took. Leave it to Jay to get this picture!

So after we left the Colosseo, we moved on over to the Roman Forum. I thought the grounds were super cool and beautiful but the best part was seeing where Julius Caesar's body was cremated and laid to rest. Also on a side note, I never realized J.C. was so well liked by the people! Glad I know now, he might get my business next time I hit the Vegas Strip.

The Piazza Venenzia (aka the Wedding Cake) was the next stop that day. This place was out of this world! Below is a picture of me getting my WOP in front with the Italian Flag flying high behind. Not only did we love the scenery but we found this little place call Ristorante Il Marriaggio that was so good, that we came back to eat there later on in the trip.

At this point in the trip we (mom, Jay and myself) began to realize how much Janelle and my dad are the same human being. As she tried to haggle for her hat that she wanted my dad swooped in and taught her the ropes. After they were happy with their price, my dad explained the tricks of the trade. Chestnuts in both their hands, talking about haggling…. I think I've been replaced ha! :/





On to the Vatican Tour (the next day)

So the Vatican as a whole felt very special to me. The museums were beautiful and the gardens were breath taking. My only complaint was that we were herded like cattle from one room into the next and it was so busy, there was no time to sit and take in the art. As far as the Sistine Chapel, there were far to many people pushing "trying" to get a good view. Well every view was the same, you cranked your next back and felt claustrophobic. We all felt a little let down by the Sistine Chapel but that was quickly replaced with shock and awe of St. Peter's Basilica. The Pieta by Michelangelo, the multiple alters and the tomb of Pope John Paul II are visions I had only dreamed about. I never knew if I would experience them first hand and my faith deepened even more than from the few night before at midnight mass.

Later that night Janelle and I went to explore a little. We came across this amazing little bar called Amor Di Vino. This place was self serve (based on the honor system) and had a zero phone policy. They encouraged you to talk to those in front of you as opposed to those connected by social media. The owner of the bar, oddly enough, lived all around Southern California for many years and returned to Rome to start/develop his business. Such a great gem to find and I wish we could've spent more than just a few hours there.



Thats all for now, I'll try and catch up the new few days!

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