Roman Picnic

This post should probably be subtitled: "It's About Time!" because it's been so long since I've blogged about our European adventure! In fact, it's been almost a year since we went to Europe!  I need to finish up these pictures, what do you think?

When we last blogged about our trip we were wandering around Rome looking for the perfect spot for our picnic.  We found it.  A lovely park overlooking the city, right above the Spanish Steps.

Now that we found the spot, here are the picnic fixin's:

For Daja

For Gana

For both of us:
Cheese, apples, olives, foccacia, and mortadella

The park's paths are lined with busts of historical Italian figures.  Here is Gana with DaVinci.

Wandering around Rome, looking for the perfect place for a picnic

Although not a possible place for a picnic, we wandered into a chapel that had beautiful frescoes.  We just couldn't resist peaking into practically every church we passed.  The art and architecture just captured us.

Said a little prayer for my friend, Andrea, at a capella for Mother Teresa.

I can't recall where exactly Gana took this picture,
but the rope rings a bell.

A perfect picnic spot was found.  Stay tuned for a a perfect Roman picnic!

Pantheon

After the Mamertine Prison we walked to the Pantheon to see it in the daylight.  Our last walk past it was at night when it was closed.

Gana drinking from an aqueduct.

I have that exasperated look that says, "Another picture????"

Too hot.  Need gelato STAT.



Kitschy souvenirs anyone? 
Bauble head Pope?  Plastic Pieta?
Can I interest you in a keychain of the Pantheon?

  Inside the Pantheon:

 Although a huge tourist attraction it is still a place of worship, so one must be quiet and respectful of those praying.

No one falling asleep in these chairs!

OK, this just cracked me up!  The Pantheon has one door and is a large round room--just one room.  So, do we really need a big red arrow to tell us where we are?

Still more Europe pictures to go!  Stay tuned!

Mamertine Prison

It was a FULL day.  First San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains Church).  Then the Colosseum.  Then the Forum.  And to top off our (sort of) persecuted Christian filled morning we visited the Mamertine Prison.

It's over 2500 years old.  The prison itself is very interesting.  The tour guide woman and colorful electric lights to "liven up" the intro is way over done.  So, ignore all that leads up to actually going down into the prison, which is like a cistern.

This cell once held St. Peter and St. Paul.

Water is continually dripping here.  The commentary that goes along with the tour says something of the effect, that this water connects us with the past.  Peter and Paul heard this same water dripping while they were here in captivity.

See the column where Peter was chained.  It is said that a miraculous fountain sprung up here so that he could baptize his jailers.  (Acts 16)

The hole where prisoners were lowered into the cell.

After viewing the cell, the tour goes into St. Joseph's chapel where all the tourists sit and listen in their headphones in their own languages (English, Italian, Spanish, German, etc.) to a very clear presentation of the Gospel.  They emphasize the love of God that covers over a multitude of sins.  Gana and I were so moved and impressed with the consistent testimony of Jesus right over the place where early Christians were imprisoned for their faith.  Redemption.