Roman Holiday

Rome is mystical, romantic, overwhelming, OLD, grueling, yummy, BIG, endearing, and simply wonderful. Not everyone likes Rome but if you ask the Frandsen's we will tell you "Go to Rome!" We started where anyone should, the Colosseum. You have to research the history of this amazing structure to really appreciate it when you step inside. Just picturing in your head gladiator battles with chariots racing by, with grand Royal Rome and Senate seats occupied, the roaring crowd and just realizing that those people watched men die and found that entertaining. CRRRAAAAZZZZY! Although don't we do the same thing? I think it is called cinema?!



You just love my red earrings, don't ya!? They are my good luck charms and are worn whenever we travel, whether I'm wearing red or not, gotta have 'em! They are jealous of the sites, see how they are competing for the attention? They are actually glowing in the picture.

We looked all over for Russel Crowe, and we thought we had found him, but alas it was just Claudio, the other Gladiator. Mark just throttled him, took him down like he was the master. Hum, is that what he is doing on those late work nights? Training instead of studying and writing? I need to look into that.


Next we walked the Roman Forum where everything that was Rome or important to Rome took place. Sort of like the Food Court in a mall (admit it, that was a funny analogy). You can physically feel how old it is, it is just memorizing and exciting all in the same thought. We spent a good amount of time here just thinking about what it was like back then and how many pairs of feet have walked that path!

The next day was spent in the Vatican City. Did you know that you can mail a letter from the Vatican and it will be post marked from the smallest country in the world? Rome doesn't include the Vatican even though it is in the middle of it all. It is completely separate, or so they say, but I'm sure the Vatican and the people of Rome are tight. The Vatican is guarded by the Swiss Guards and the poor souls are required to wear this, who thought that was a good idea?


We saw St. Peters Basilica and I was not prepared for this. I've seen several cathedrals in all our journey's some more grand than others (Gothic for heaven's sake, how is Gothic grand?) but I was floored by the sheer size of it all. It just smacks you in the face upon entering. What helps your entrance into the resting place of St. Peter is that you get to witness yet another of Michaelangelo's grand masterpieces, the Pieta. Mark and I continue to be amazed at how moved we are by his works and I have not words to describe it. He was only 23 when he sculpted this! You will read that St. Peters is the grandest of all the grand cathedrals, and folks, this would be absolutely correct; grand, grand, and then grand.

We finished in the Vatican Museums ending in the Sistine Chapel. A word to the fine folks of the Vatican, you can set this up better. In order to see the Sistine, you have to go through the Vatican Museums but the darn museum NEVER ends. You wind and wind and push through annoying tour groupies and cuss as yet another corner turns and you are faced with more of nothing (okay, artwork is not nothing but COME. ON.). Your efforts will reward you because the Sistine is one site to behold. Magnificent, Michaelangelo once again, speechless AGAIN! He did the whole ceiling on his back for heaven's sake?! Did the man ever rest? Thank goodness for us that would be a "NO". And a NO WAY to taking pictures of the Sistine. DARN. Just Google it and you'll know what I am talking about.

The Vatican Museums might have been frustrating but take a loosee at this. A real live (haa) mummy! Sweet! Just look at her hair, still there! Bailey thought this was the coolest thing we did in Rome.

We cannot end without mentioning another Italian work of art . . . gelato. Man, Italians know how to do this right! Notice the chocolate in the middle, already pre-portioned and rolled in cacao powder, seriously, WORK. OF. ART. We had several great food experiences and really you can't go wrong with an outdoor cafe, an Italian waiter, an hour to kill (so that your feet don't fall off from overuse) and grand food! When in Rome . . . do as the Romans . . . eat!