Second day in Rome

Today was the most beautiful day in Rome, Italy!!! We were so blessed to have such a wonderful day today! We slept well last night and pressed snooze a few times this morning. When we finally got up we felt like a million bucks! We went down for breakfast and relaxed a little bit before hitting the road. While enjoying our breakfast we met a lovely couple, Bill and Toni from Ventura, CA. They were so sweet and shared their experiences from their previous days of touring. They gave us a few tips of places to see and we just talked for a bit more about life :) Wonderful people!!
The first place we visited today was a suggestion from Bill and Toni... the Church of Bones! WOW!!! Toni said it was really neat and that her grandsons would have loved it... I should have known from that statement that it was going to be a little gruesome. This church was decorated in bones from Franciscans that passed away in the 16th century. When they died the other Franciscans would bring their bones along with them to honor them. Anyway... the whole church was decorated in bones! Different rooms with different parts of the body... skulls, pelvis', legs, arms and spines. It was CRAZY!!! We didn't get to take any pictures because the bones are very fragile.
From there we got a bit lost try to get to the Villa Medici Gardens which Bill and Toni also recommended we see! We were trying to follow the map but there was a huge wall in between us and the gardens that we couldn't get around... needless to say we walked about 2 miles trying to get into the gardens and never quite made it. We ended up back over at the Spanish Steps and enjoyed some water and Pringles while doing a little people watching. We strolled along in a nearby park and got out our Rick Steve's book to see what our next move was going to be. We walked over to Piazza del Popolo which means "plaza of the people" it is famous for twin churches and a very symmetric plaza. It was very pretty. From there we made the trek down to Piazza Navona and did some more people watching. This plaza was full of artists selling their work and also mimes and dancers with their hats out trying to make a few Euro :) Very interesting to see.
With all the walking we had done in the morning we were starting to get pretty hungry so again we asked our good friend Rick Steve's for a recommendation... he didn't steer us wrong with Restaurante de Francesco. Adam and I split a small bottle of red wine, lasagna and a pizza. WOW!!! I could get used to this Italian food!!! SO YUMMY!!! At lunch we met another friend Donna from New Jersey. She is here with her Aunt for the Beatification of Pope John Paul. You would not believe how crazy this city is with the people here for the Ceremony today! There are big screens in most plazas with videos of the Pope showing all the works he has done through his years. Truly amazing... just wish it wasn't in Italian so we could read it! After lunch we walked the streets with everyone coming from the Beatification Ceremony... lots of Priest and Nuns! So neat to see them from all over the world coming to Rome for this amazing weekend!!
Next on the list was Capital Hill and the Victor Emmanuel Monument (Italy's first King) This is a beautiful area on the way to the Coliseum. Beautiful scenery overlooking the Roman Ruins and the Forum... which we will tour tomorrow. After taking a look around that area and circling the Coliseum we headed back toward our hotel. Stopping at Palazzo Barberini for a look at their Art Gallery. This was the first time in my life I have seen pictures of Mary breastfeeding Jesus. Although, I know this is very natural... I have never seen a painting like it before... much less several in one gallery.
After that we headed back to the hotel room where we rested a bit in order to build up our energy for our Night Walk Across Rome courtesy of Rick Steve's. Per the book it is supposed to be done with a loved one because it is very romantic :) And it WAS!!! We went to dinner at a cute little sidewalk cafe and had swordfish ravioli and a margarita pizza mmmmm!!! Oh yeah... and a bottle of red wine. What would a meal be like in Italy without wine??? Part of the tour was a little detour to a Gelato shop and had some really great Gelato!!! Wow I had no idea what I was missing!!!
Well folks that all for now. We love you all!!! Tomorrow is going to be a busy day with a Vatican tour in the am and Coliseum tour in the pm :) Woo Hoo... pray for a beautiful day like we had today!!
Ciao!!!