Rome Highlights

As soon as I returned from the States we hit the road for Rome, Italy. We had Easter in Germany and then left the next day. We were there three full days (traveling on the other days) but still couldn't see half of all there is to see. Here are some of the highlights of what we did get to see.

Castel S'Angelo

This was neat to me because my University was in San Angelo, and that's also where Haven was born. So it was kind of cool that it had the same name. I'm sure there is no connection.

Circus Maximus

This is where they had the chariot races back in the day.

The Colosseum

Forum Ruins

 Vatican City

 St. Peter's Basilica

 Sistine Chapel

 And I saw a yarn bombing in the ruins! How they got it there I don't know....

We saw several other sites from the bus tour and from walking around, but these were the main touristy things, so that's what we made sure to get to. We'll have to go back again sometime to see the rest. I think the coolest part was walking around the ruins. It's neat to think that you're walking through buildings that are like 3000 years old! It's remarkable how much is still standing!

The District of Columbia

Now that OWOP is over I will share some sightseeing photos from my trip here. I've been here two weeks already, with one more to go. My parents joined me this weekend and between Friday night and Saturday I think we walked 100 miles. That's just a rough estimate...

Just to give you an idea of everything I have seen these two weeks (both with my parents and with classmates), here's a map with stars on the major things we saw. We've of course seen A LOT of buildings from the outside, like the FBI, EPA, State Department, and all kinds of neat stuff. The stars mark the more touristy sights we've been to. For scale, the Lincoln Memorial to the US Capitol is three miles.

The US Capitol is at one end of the National Mall.

We went in for a small tour of the center section, which included the gorgeous dome.

Saw the South Lawn of the White House.

Here they are BOTH on their cell phones talking to family back home. "We're in DC!"

I'm pretty sure this is the Occupy DC camp ground.

That sign says "Human Need Corporate Greed."

This is part of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial.

It says, "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."

And the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is very neat.

This one says, "Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope." Here's what it looks like with the "mountain" pieces. His part is the center and is in front of the two other pieces.

The city at night is beautiful. Here's the Washington Monument at night.

And Mr. Lincoln, three miles down on the opposite end of the National Mall.

It's clear that this city is build with the express purpose of making visitors feel the POWER of the United States. that's what you get from these buildings. From the Department of the Interior, which looks like a fortress, to the ornate beauty of the Capitol, you get this feeling like yes, I'm small in this big country, but I have a voice. Very interesting city. I'm very glad to have gotten the opportunity to be here, and that it was long enough to see so many amazing things!