When in Rome

Our last day in Rome was very low key and relaxing. We did laundry at the apartment (washer only), went to the internet café to blog and do banking/blog/email.  In the mid afternoon we headed out to explore a little more of our “neighborhood”. 


We stopped by the Church of Santa Maria della Immaculata Concezion to see the Cappucino Crypt.  There are bones here of more than 4,000 friars who died between 1528 and 1870.  

They arrange the bones into art patterns.  This is the ceiling in one of the alcoves of the crypt.

This is a chandelier made of bones.  Everything in the pictures are bones!!!

The crypt was an interesting yet odd arrangement of bone art. Definitely something we have never seen.

We walked around the neighborhood, had some gelato and did a little window shopping.

We ended up at the Spanish Steps where we sat in the sun for a while observing the huge crowds of people.  Easter weekend in Rome is VERY busy.

We have loved being somewhat “locals” while here in Rome. Well, as local as two non-Italian speakers can be. Our studio apartment has been very comfortable.  We had a washing machine, private bath (not always the case in Italy) and a kitchenette where we were able to cook some of our meals and save on costs.

The only drawback was that the apartment is on the top floor and there is no lift.  The apartment is the skinny redish building in this picture. It is the top one with the black balcony.  We climbed 112 marble stairs (Mom, I counted them just for you) every time we came back up to the apartment.  Some days it was 3 times, but it kept us from feeling guilty about all the gelato.

We were right in the center of Rome near Piazza Bernini.  This is the view from our balcony.  The metro was a 2 minute walk and all the main sights were within 20 minutues walking distance.

We have also fallen into the Italian way of having lunch at 3 and dinner at 9.  It just seemed to be the way that it usually worked out. 

We have walked by the Trevi Fountain everyday since we have been here.

James threw in a coin for us to insure that we will return again to Rome.

 














We have enjoyed this part of our Italian journey.  We learned that Roma, the Italian way to spell Rome, is Amor  (love)  spelled backwards since this the city of love.  We have loved it and hope to return someday.

Happy Easter!

Maija

Ancient Rome

Yesterday we had a nice relaxing morning at our apartment then headed to do some sightseeing.  We ended up having a really long day.

 

We started at the Colosseum which was only a few metro stops from our apartment.  We purchased a Roma Pass when we got to Rome which allowed us to get into 3 sights and use the metro for three days.  What was most beneficial about the Roma Pass was that it allowed us to skip the line and go directly into the Colosseum.  Which was a good thing.  We got there around 12:15 and overheard that both the Colossuem and Forum (our next stop) were closing their gates at 2pm and everyone had to be out be 3 pm.

The Colossuem is 2,000 years old and it is amazing to think about how old it is and that it is still standing for us to be able to see.

We listened to an audio guide on our iPods (from Rick Steves) while walking around. From the guide we learned that the people were given a broken piece of pottery to use as a ticket into the Colossuem and that the events would last 8-10 hours.   We also learned that the on Good Friday the Pope comes to the Colossuem to do the stations of the cross for Holy Week.    Yesterday was Good Friday….which is why the Colossuem was closing early.  We asked at the information booth and they confirmed that the Pope was coming that night around 9:15 pm.  (more on this topic later….).

From the Colossuem we went to The Roman Forum which is the ancient Roman city that is right next to the Colossuem.  Julius Caesar lived and walked in this city.  Everywhere we looked was an amazing view of ancient ruins from 2,000 years ago.  We saw the place where Julius Caesar’s body was burned after he was assassinated.

 The Forum also had the Temple of Vesta which was a sacred place in ancient Rome where the Vestal Virgins of Rome kept an eternal flame burning. The Vestal Virgins lived next door to the Temple and were appointed at 10 years old to serve for 30 years.  After 30 years they were given a huge dowry and permitted to marry.

If they determined at some point that you were no longer a virgin and worthy to serve in the house they would strap you to a funeral car, parade you down the street to a crypt and bury you alive with only an oil lamp and a loaf of bread.

We then had a delicious pizza lunch, which I seem to have every day.  I have decided that the 3 food groups in Italy (for me) are pizza, pasta and gelato.

After lunch (which we ate at 4 pm)  we went to the Pantheon.  This building has an amazing domed roof and is the oldest continually used church in the world. It has been operating as a church for 1400 years.  The architecture was remarkable.

The dome has an opening at the top called the Oculus.  It is the only lighting in the church but it is not enclosed so the rain also comes in.  However, the church floor is slightly slanted towards the center and there are holes in the floor to drain the water.













It was very crowded in the city yesterday.  Most people were off people were off work for Good Friday and there were a lot of people out, locals and tourist. It reminded me of the crowds we saw at the Olympics in Vancouver.

In the early evening we headed back down to the Colossuem to watch what we thought was going to be a vehicle processional. We were hoping to try to get a glimpse of the Pope in his car.  We were allowed access into a section near the Colossuem that happened to be near some lights and cameras.  When we asked some people next to us if the processional would be close by we learned that the Pope would be doing the Stations of the Cross from a tent that was on a bluff about 30 feet above us and 50 feet away.  By pure luck we got a remarkable view of the Pope.  We did have to wait around for about 2 hours but we had a great view and it was worth it.

What we continue to find amazing about this city is that every street we walk down we run into some amazing structure and we don’t know what half of them are.  It seems that around every corner there is something even more amazing.  Here are a few other photos:

Arrivederci!

Maija

Where have all the peepees gone?

Today we visited Vatican City,  St Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.

The Basilica didn't open today until 1pm because of a special mass for Easter.  Thus all the barriers and chairs in St Peters square.

Also, much of the Basilica was roped off.  We were not able to walk near the alter or get underneath the dome.  And, there were too many stairs(323) and the line was WAY too long for Maija in her clearly delicate condition, to climb to the cuppola.

This is picture inside St. Peters Basilica looking down the nave towards the alter.   The enormity of this edifice is mind boggling.  Nearly 2 football fields in length,  and covering 6 acres.  It can hold 60,000 standing patrons.  And, truly beautiful.  The alter is directly over the crypt of St. Peter who is believed to have been buried in the basement.  Pope John Paul II who died in 2002 is also buried there.

The only way to get to the Sistine Chapel is through the Vatican Museum.  The Building is of very beautiful architecture.  The  floors are covered in tile mosiacs and the ceilings in Frescoes.  And, the museum is full of naked statues of men missing their most important appendage.  Apparently during the Renaissance Period "they" decided it was in bad taste and lobbed them all off.  So really,  I'm wondering where are all the missing penises!!!!!  

This great hallway precedes the Sistine Chapel and you're not allowed to take pictures.  We had downloaded a Rick Steves narration of the Chapel.  We sat in there for 30 minutes and listened to that and stared at the ceiling.  So literally viewing Michelangelo's Frescoes in the Sistine Chapel is a pain in the neck!!

From the Vatican we headed over to the Spanish steps, which is a locals gathering place.  They sit on the steps, eat gelato and bask in the sunshine.  So as they say.....When in Rome.......

Ciao for now...we're going to walk 5 minutes from our flat to the Trevi Fountain for a night view and to get more gelato.  We have to climb about 6 flights of stairs to get to our apartment each time, so we've decided that we can have a scoop for each time we climb everyday!!!  James

Benvenuti a Roma!

We arrived in Rome yesterday afternoon after a long and sleepless 8 hour flight from Toronto.  We caught the train into Rome center then a metro to our apartment. We are 5 minutes walking distance from the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain and 20 minutes walking distance from everything else (Vatican, Colliseum etc.) and across the street from the metro. We couldn't have picked a better central location.  Our apartment is older but clean (more on it in a later post).

After quickly settling in we started walking around just to see what is in our neighborhood. We have decided that you could stay weeks in Rome since every single building and street are architectural wonders. Almost everything that you look at it is incredibly beautiful.

We were pretty tired after a night with no sleep so we took a city bus tour that lasted about 2 hours and gave us a good overview of the city and what things we most want to do since we have 4 days here.

Today we are up and heading to the grocery store for a few things then we will go to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica this afternoon.

Maija

PS.  We have SLOW internet connection in our apartment so we will wait to post pics with our next blog when we can go to the internet cafe.

Madison's Baptism, Westminster MD

We have been in Westminster Maryland (about 45 minutes north of Baltimore) for the weekend visiting with the Baker family.   James' sister Laurie lives here and her daughter, Madison, recently turned eight and was baptized this weekend.

 Madison

James' parents came from Montana, his sister Julie came from Utah (with Olivia) and Brian's parents and sister, who are local, came to the baptism.

Sherry, Julie, Ward, Laurie, Brian, Charles, Carol, Beth, Maija, James

Olivia, Kiely, Landon, Madison, Cooper, Hunter

Olivia and Madison

Landon

After the baptism we all went out to lunch to celebrate and also as a birthday lunch for Madison who turned eight on March 21st and Kiely who turned 6 on March 24th.

Madison and Kiely

Landon

Then we went to a 3D movie called "How to Train Your Dragon".

The rest of the weekend we spent just hanging out. My brother and his wife (Pentti & Amy) come up to visit on Sunday afternoon from DC. It was great to see them for the afternoon. 

We are very happy that we could be here to celebrate with Madison and to spend some time with the Scoffield family.  We are leaving for Italy this afternoon.  It will be a long day/night but I am excited for Part 2 of the trip.

Ciao!

Maija

Rocky Mountain High, Colorado

February 26th - March 3rd we traveled to snowy Colorado to spend a couple of days with my family.  For those of you who don't remember where I grew up, it is a tiny town called Ignacio in the southwest corner of Colorado about 24 miles from Durango.

Luckily, the weather was very nice when we were there (50's) but there was a LOT of snow.   This is the front of my parents house.

 

 We had a nice time visiting with my parents and my brother Oscar and his family.  We especially loved playing with our cute nephews.

 

Deekon, Lincoln and Oscar

 

James and Linc

 

Linc and "Deety" (as Linc calls him)

 

 "Pappy" and the boys

James and I went to Pagosa Springs one day to sit in the hot springs.  Pagosa is about 70 miles from Ignacio.  

It is a natural sulfur hot springs that was very relaxing but a little smelly...it took a few days for the smell to come completely off of our skin!

 

  

 

The pools ranged in temperature from 99 degrees to 113 degrees.  James was brave and went into one called the "Lobster Pot" which was 112 degrees then hurried to plunge in the pool that was 47 degrees.

Deekon is 5 and loves to play cards.   We had a nightly after dinner game of Go Fish.  We also played multiple games of Trouble. He is such a smart little guy!

Lincoln is 2 and a half and would play games with us for a few minutes but was quickly bored.  We loved all of his little sayings and funny words...and his cheesy grin everytime we would take his picture.

 

  

We were very happy to have my Aunt Betty and Uncle Dave come visit for a few days.  I had not seen them in about 5 years and James had never met them. It was nice to catch up with them.

We also went bowling one afternoon before we left to come home.

 

                     Lincoln and Oscar

  Randi, Oscar, Aunt Betty, Grandma Aila & Linc

 

                                           Mom and Maija 

  

         The boys doing their "sweet" smiles

We had a really great time. It was nice to spend some time at "home" with the people that I love.

Maija