Vatican City

Our amazing apartment in Rome is minutes away from the entrance to Vatican City. We walked over in the morning and skipped the line and entered with our repurchased tickets we bought online. If you already have your tickets, go straight to the doors, not the crazy long line wrapping around the corner. 

Vatican City is not only home to the Pope but houses the world's largest Catholic church (St. Peter's Basilica) and has perhaps the best collection of artistic masterpieces in the world. I was very excited to see the Sistine Chapel along with some other beautiful masterpieces.

The Vatican Museum was a stunningly beautiful place! 

My neck was sore by looking up at the ceiling for more than half of the day.

Rand enjoying a pop

St. Peter's Basilica

After a nap, Rand was ready to run after some birds

I was determined to hit up some Italian fabric shops while in Rome. I found two. My favorite for buttons was Merceria. The workers were so helpful and super sweet to Rand. They just loved him!

 Not far from Merceria was the bigger fabric store, AZIENDA TESSILE ROMANA and I bought quite a bit from them. They were very helpful and had lots of beautiful fabrics. 

We just had to get more gelato on our way back to our apartment that evening :)

 While we were talking back to our place that evening, we came across a huge crowd of people. We walked over to see what was going on and saw James Bond's Aston Martin!!!
They were filming some of the new James Bond in Rome this week and got to get a peak of the cars!

Naples & Pompeii

While we were in Rome, I booked a day tour through USO to Pompeii and Naples. We met at the tour office early in the morning and headed on a bus to Naples. 



We took a tour of Piazza del Plebiscito, the Royal Palace, Piazza Municipio, the Gallery Umberto I, San Carlo Opera House. 

Next, we headed to Pompeii for lunch at a restaurant and to visit the excavations. Nineteen centuries ago during the summer of 79 AD, Vesuvius suddenly re-erupted completely destroying Pompeii and Herculaneum. It's ashes, gases and hot clouds claimed numerous lives but at the same time preserved the existing environment and a way of life typical of the ancient Roman society at its height. The layer of ashes preserved intact people and everyday items, food and domestic animals, all remained steady and hidden until the first half of 18th Century when regular digs were organized. it truly was a mesmerizing site. I felt like I was stepping back in time while walking into these homes. It was just crazy seeing all the paint colors still on the walls and decor everywhere. 

These are stepping stones that pedestrians in Pompeii used to cross the road and not step in gunk

For little kids bring a carrier, it is not stroller friendly.

Be sure to see our next adventure to Vatican City