Now for your viewing pleasure...my Italian slideshow! I recently returned from my family vacation, but we have no internet these days so I'm at an internet cafe right now. I apologize for the delay in updating my blog...but what can you do?
Anyway, it was pretty much the best time ever. My family and best friend, Suzanne, are the greatest. It was completely normal to be with everyone again after a year and a half. Well, as normal as normal gets with this crew. Here's a summary of what we did.
16th--arrival in Roma. I meet Suz at the airport and everyone else comes a few hours later. Our hotel isn't ready so we walk to the Spanish Steps and then to a park. We lie down by this tree and listen to music for a long time. Once everyone is reunited we go out to a nice dinner. My emo brother's suitcase didn't arrive and my dad decides we need to take him shopping. It was like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy...a lot of fun except John insists on wearing ridiculously tight pants. Dinner is really great that night. Actually, it was great every night--we debated politics, theology, and social issues. Fun times with my Ivy League best friend and Rush Limbaugh loving father.
17th--Trevi Fountain, Pantheon,Piazza Navona, Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Roman bathouses. By the end of the day my dad is complaining that he's walking on two bloody stumps.
18th--Museum of Modern Art. It was pretty cool, but my family is not that appreciative of modern art. My dad's favorite was a canvas with three slashes because it made him feel like he could be an artist too. We ate some amazing gelati that day and went shopping.
19th--The Vatican. The museums were closed so we went inside St. Peter's Basilica and walked up the Cupola (the dome). It was an awesome view of the city! We also saw the Pieta inside and the tombs of the popes, including John Paul II and the apostle Peter's tomb.
20th--tour of the Vatican museums. Probably my favorite day. We got to see Raphael's School of Athens and of course the Sistine Chapel. It started raining and hailing and we couldn't get a cab so we walked back to our hotel. Then we went to the train station and headed to Florence!
21st--Uffizi Art Gallery and dinner with Ed. Ed was my uncle's best friend growing up and my mom's high school crush. Now he lives in Italy. Dinner with Ed was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. The restaurant was great. Nice and artsy with live jazz.
22nd--Pisa and Siena. A great drive through Tuscany.
23rd--tour of Florence with Luca. We went to some old churches, the duomo, a leather workshop, a market, and most importantly the Gallery Accademia to see Michelangelo's David in all his glory. Impressive!
24th--train back to Rome. One last dinner together. Sad!
25th--everyone goes their separate ways. I fly Qatar Airways back to India and it was the nicest airline I've ever been on. The airport in Doha even has free internet access! No hummus though...but they did have an A&W.
26th--I arrive in Delhi at 5:30 in the morning.
So, Italy is definitely up there with the coolest places I've ever been to. I hope you all get to go one day. Now that I'm back in India there's much to do and no internet at our house. I'll do my best to update this blog but it might be awhile.
Until then...Ciao!
5 comments:
Julie- your pictures are amazing! Italy looks so beautiful and clean and lovely and fun and exciting and new and wonderful. I can't wait.
I was reading Anna Karinina when I found out I was pregnant last year. We almost named her Anna.
19th- we almost lose robin to the steps up the cupola.
Julie how is it in Italian that I might say, we can't wait for you to get home so that we can see you? It seems like it has been forever... To think that we have turned this new page in our life and that we have had to do it with out you around. What were we thinking. We won't do that ever again... well we might. Hey it was great to see these pics, Tyler was looking and saying thats Julie, thats John, John. funny how the name John, John has stuck. We love you and miss you so much.
Brett
I love all the pictures. You look so clean and so pretty. I guess that's what happens when you leave Asia.
august just won't come quickly enough... i miss you too my dear!! by the way, it looks as if we're going to either rome or athens come late august... if rome, i'll need to get some major pointers from you :)
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