A crypt decorated with bones and an evening at the movie theatre

Today was quite an interesting day. My roommates came up with the itinerary and I was very happy to tag along. We took the metro to Barberini again to look at the Trevi fountain since one of my roommates hasn't seen it yet either and it was much more packed today then when I went yesterday and the day was just as dreary. On our way to Santa Maria della Concezione, which has the crypt, we stopped in a little boutique and I found boots that I really liked but not in my size. So the quest continues!

So we got to Santa Maria della Concezione right as they reopened after lunch (3pm) and we kind of knew what to expect but not entirely. The church's crypt is called the Capuchin Crypt and it's the burial place of monks and there's over 4,000 bones used to decorate the walls and ceilings. Yes, ceilings. Pictures weren't permitted but you can steal them off google, so I stole some to explain what we saw because it really was quite neat!



This is the church, Santa Maria della Concezion. The crypt entrance is on the right. I stole this pic from google. It was too rainy to even bother.



This picture is taken while you're standing in the crypt looking back to entrance and that desk is where you leave an offering to enter. The crypt is just a walkway with rooms to your left as you're walking through of decorated tomb areas. You have to walk back through it to get out. There were maybe like 5 or 6 rooms. It wasn't very big, but there were bones everywhere!





After viewing the crypt we still had time before the movie so we took a look inside the church...







After our church visit, we hoped back on the metro to the next stop at Repubblica because it was raining pretty steady. Originally we would have walked it, but your feet get easily drenched, trust me, it's AWFUL. So we then went to see the church with the pink marble that was once the place where Diocletian's Baths were (pictures in a previous blog) because my other roommate hadn't seen it. That's probably my second favorite church in Rome so far besides St. Peters. After that we went to Dagnino's (the best pastry shop in Rome!) again and each bought two pastries to sneak into the movie theatre that was just on the other side of the Repubblica Piazza. The movie theatre looks just like any movie theatre in the states. We got tickets to see Nine in the original version that had Italian subtitles. There were a few Italian speaking people in the theatre with us but mostly Americans I think were there. haha. I actually enjoyed it a lot and I didn't know it was based around Rome so it was perfect to see while I'm here.

So that was my day. I really liked seeing a movie. It was a nice break from the constant sight-seeing that I feel like I do almost on a daily basis. After nearly 4 weeks of it you start to feel run down a bit. But this will be my last weekend in Rome for quite awhile. I go to Milan next weekend, Then Naples the following weekend. Then Tunisia for Spring break, then Florence. All in a row! So I made sure to get out and see as much as I could this weekend. Shopping day tomorrow. Hopefully I'll find a pair of boots! Ciao!

Solo Outing Part 2!

So today I decided to take on the touristy places most people see their first few days in Rome. I figured since I've been here for nearly a month already, it was about time to get out and see the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and S. Peter's Square and Basilica! Today was a little dreary, and the pictures look dark because of it. But I'm sure you can google any of these places for sunnier looking pictures.

Ok So I start my day taking the metro to the Barberini stop and, after staring at the map over and over to figure out where to go, found my way to the Trevi, passing by really cute shops that I might meander through at a later date. So here are my Trevi pictures:







I could hear the water a little while before I got there and it was actually what I thought it would be, in a good way. I want to go back when it's warmer at night time to see the lights they shine on it. I also want to do that at the Colosseum, which by the way I will either do and see tomorrow or a random time during the week. I've been around the outside and had a lecture at the Arch of Constantine but I'll show pictures when I get to go inside.

Anyway, so after I hung out at the Trevi for a bit, I headed over the to Spanish Steps, which wasn't that far up. It was a lot bigger than I thought. It was enough to see once, but I don't see a reason to really venture back again. The pictures from on top were nice though.





This is from at the top of the steps. If you look at the main road leading away from the steps, I took the picture before this on the corner of street on the left.



This is the view from the church at the top of the steps.

So next I decided to walk all the way over to S. Peter's Sq. so that I could walk down Via d. Conciliazione Pia which is the official entrance way to the square. I want to see it the way it was meant to be seen. And I'm glad I did.





This is the view from standing at the edge of S. Peter's Square, beyond the traffic, looking back up the street I just walked down to get here. Speaking of traffic, my first, immediate reaction to this was not a very good one. I didn't realize that cars and buses would be driving in parts of the Square and it kind of bugged me at first. But after crossing the street and getting closer to the obelisk it got a little better, except for the half deconstructed nativity scene and almost dead Christmas tree. Hopefully by the time my family comes they'll have their act together on that. Sheesh.







So after waiting in line for only maybe 20 minutes max, it was my turn at security, and of course I'd be wearing jeans today that have metal zippers on the sides that kept making the metal detector go off. The guy just laughed when we realized it and let me go. Atleast they're easy going in this country. haha.



View from on top of the Basilica steps, about to go in the church. At this point it was raining fairly steady.



I'm off to the far side, but this is the vestibule area you're in to either go in the church or go to the cupola or tombs. So you have to read before you walk in because they're roped off in the vestibule and you have to walk back outside if you went in the wrong one.





Almost all my pictures turned out blurry so I don't have that many.





Michelangelo's Pieta. Almost a blurry mess. Ugh.





I took two videos since I felt my camera wasn't doing the place justice, even still I feel like you just have to be there..






So next I wanted to see the Tombs, and figured I'd come back on a nicer day to go up to the duomo. Well, the lines for the tomb and the duomo are right next to eachother and I just figured everyone was waiting to go in to the tombs. By the time I realized I was in the line to go up to the dome it was too late go back. So up I went!



Look how teeny tiny those people are!! I realize now, without a doubt, I am TERRIFIED of heights. And it will be further tested when I'm send up even higher through the scariest sets of stairways I've ever climbed...



This is the walk way around the inside of the dome. I could literally touch the mosaics on the sides. It was really quite the view.









And now we begin the ascent...



This stairwell was the longest and incredibly claustrophobic. This is the best I could do for a picture. I also hadn't eatin for a good 3 hours at this point so it added to the dizziness I started to feel go round and round....



There were a few windows like this along the way.



Another straight shot of stairs and a little window area you can stop at but it's not much of a spot to stop, trust me.



More stairs.. the walls start to slant at the end of these stairs.



After a few of these type of stairs I thought I was finally there! But no, there was ANOTHER windy stairway that was so tight I couldn't even get a picture and you needed a rope to hang on to because it was so narrow. I wanted to die. But it wasn't nearly as long as the other windy stairwell and then, I FINALLY MADE IT!!!



I met a really nice young couple who took this picture for me. They were originally from Seattle, moved to England in September, and were on vacation through Italy. It was nice to able to tell them places to go and things to see. It was pure luck to find them again at the top and right in front of St. Peter's Square. The girl asked if I wanted my picture taken and I was so happy she did!



Parts of the top had this nice little inner aisle to walk around. I was a little nervous about being on the outer part with so many people. But I was determined to walk around the entire perimeter of the dome.



The slightly more crowded outter area of the dome.





Vatican City



A very blue fountain in Vatican City



The dreaded decent.. At least this one didn't have a rope to hang on to. And surprisingly it wasn't too bad going down. I think it helped to have someone in front of me. Going up a lone was a little scary.



This little rooftop area you'll go on to get to the dome and to get back down. It was raining pretty good and SUPER windy when I walked on it to get to the dome but it was the weather totally turned around by the time I go on top and came back down. The weather really is that unpredictable here...

Do after the impromptu duomo experience, they dump you right into the the basilica. So for future reference to anyone who wants to know how to go about seeing everything, I go first to the Cupola, which is the dome (and that's if you have are not scared of heights or are not claustrophobic and well hydrated. I sound like my mother), then you're dumped into the basilica which will take a bit of time since they're is a lot to see. Then venture out and back over to where you got in line for the Cupola and go into the line for the tombs. Which was the least crowded and actually had no line ever the entire time I was there. Of course there was no photos permitted but I didn't see the sign until half way through and I feel like it was more geared toward John Paul's tomb, obviously for respectful purposes.




This is the main tomb area. I was surprised to see how modern it looked. I excepted something completely different. Each Pope was a little different. John Paul's was only a huge slab of marble with his name on it, while older Pope's had a sculpted replica of their likeness on top of a sarcophagus.







After the tombs, which isn't that big of a room by the way, but I did like how they have it laid out, I went back into the basilica for the third time to look for where I could light a candle for Greg. I went into every little area trying to find places to buy candles like they had in Notre Dame but there weren't any candles available. So I'm wondering if I have to go at a certain time? If anyone has any insight into this please leave a comment and let me know what I have to do! There weren't any candles out in masses like I expected in a catholic church, infact besides a few on some side alters, all the candles were only at the main alter where St. Peter is buried under. Which I did try to get pictures of but it's hard to see even in person. You'll just have to come to Italy to see for your selves!

I decided to walk through the columns on my way out of S. Peter's Square after unsuccessfully locating the Pope's window. I've been told it's easy to spot. I guess I'm not good at seeing the obvious?





The arches that are the side entrance into the square, but I'm on my way out..



Ciao St. Peter's! Hope you guys enjoyed all the pictures and videos. Time to make some eats and plan out my day tomorrow. I hope the sun at least shows... Perhaps it will be a shopping day. Oh Shoes....