Rome: Day 3

Day 3, we headed straight to the Vatican. It was Sunday and we hoped to catch one of the Masses at St. Peter's. We foolishly were not expecting the long line to get in. Most were not there for Mass, but we all had to wait in the same line. We made it inside just in time for Mass. Beautiful!

Here is most of the line we waited in. The bull's eye is where the line almost ends and we started just before the white building at the top right side of the picture. It actually was a pretty fast moving line especially considering the line kept getting wider while people sneaked in the middle.

This is how we traveled most of the time. Brian spoiled me by hauling all three of the kids around. The last couple of days Isaac started getting tired of living in the backpack and just wanted me, and so I carried him in the sling. I was surprised how long he was content to be in that backpack though. We tried letting him out in the churches to walk around with us, but this guy doesn't follow me like the girls did at this age. He runs the opposite direction, so I couldn't really look at stuff if he was free. We also switched Genna and him from time to time since she is just a few pounds heavier than him anyway. She rode in the backpack and he rode in the stroller.

After Mass we looked around inside the Church, but sadly the Sistine Chapel was closed. Here is the list of the Apostolic Succession of the Popes.

Here is a picture that Hannah took of Genna and Daddy in St. Peter's - she wanted a turn, since Daddy took so many.


An incorrupt Pope (Blessed John XXIII)

Michelangelo's Pieta

Outside feeding the birds to humor Isaac while they ate their PB&J's

We did the restaurant thing at lunch time everyday (minus one exception) since in Italy dinner isn't served until 7 or 8 pm and that is too late for the kids after a long napless day. They always ate the PB&J's and fruit we packed for them while we enjoyed nice meals. The girls were always thrilled to have a mid-day coloring break then too.

Then, of course, came more gelato. We came up with gelato points that the girls could earn and lose depending on their behavior. I kept score in my head and it was a fun distraction and encouragement for the girls when they got bored looking at art and relics in churches all day everyday. Genna is still keeping score for herself even now when the gelaterias are long gone. After being obedient with a yes ma'am she will occasionally turn to me and ask, "Do I get another gelato point?" Sure, honey!

These steps I am standing on are the Spanish Steps.

On our long walk home we also came upon the Santa Maria del Concezione which has the crypt of the Capuchin friars' bones. That was amazing, but they did not allow camera's in there. They have all these crypts decorated with human bones. Jaw bones line the ceiling along with individual vertebrae. Two sacra turned away from each other and framed by longer bones from the arm made up little hour glasses. Amazing, but slightly disturbing, I have to admit.

And so our third day in Rome ended with the usual...taking food home, encouraging kids to eat, reading, praying, then off to bed.