europe, part iii.

are we getting bored yet?

hope not, because i am loving every bit of this reminiscing business.

portofino to rome, via train.

we all know what the postcard scenes of rome look like...

or, we've seen those horrible dan brown movies

{where the only redeeming parts are the tours of the city.}

but what you don't see, is the crazy amount of scaffolding everywhere, repairing this historical structure or that one... or the tight city blocks that put the trevi fountain 10 feet in front of your face and make it so impossible to capture one whole building in a single camera shot... or the 10,000 people invading your space and standing in front of you in the gelato line.

but i loved every second of it. and snapped pictures until my index finger fell off.

this right here? although plain jane in a picture, was the most awesome {as in jaw dropped awe} and completely significant place of the whole bunch.

ooh, here's one - you know you're an adult when you read books your university literature professor grandpa recommends to you from his book club - and you enjoy them. i prepared myself for the most amazing 30 minutes inside the sistine chapel by reading the pope's ceiling. best thing i could have done. so much more understanding of the details.