Days 24-29 - Adventures in Italy and Back to Munich

Night in Florence.

Sorry for the long wait for the post. We had very sketchy wi-fi throughout Italy. I hope you all enjoy this long update!



Last post we were in Florence. We stayed there two days and then moved on to Rome, Pisa, the Mediterranean coast, and Lake Garda. The trip was wonderful and we had pretty good weather.

Florence Cathedral

We spent our second day in Florence exploring the inside of the Florence Cathedral and the Baptistry. St. John the Baptist is the patron saint of Florence, and he is depicted in much of the artwork. 

In the catacombs.

As with most cathedrals, this one was breathtaking. Jack and Ella especially liked walking through the underground catacombs. 

Then, while Ella and I shopped, Jack and Brett walked up the 414 steps to the top of the bell tower. Jack, to the amusement of those around him, apparently chanted "I think I can" on each step and kept checking to be sure Brett wasn't going to "hurl".

Jack at the top!

Rome is amazing! However, it is really crowded. Seeing most of the sites consists of being herded with thousands of other people through small rooms. It was worth every minute. 

Jack and Ella ready to dig into pasta in Rome.

Ella fitting right in with the Romans.

The Sistine chapel reminds me of the beauty in people and the amazing skills of artists. The Colosseum is so humbling; to think that people built that by hand and simple machines. The sheer size reminds me of our smallness in the world. The Trevi Fountain, where all the aqueducts in Rome came together, is a lesson in ingenuity.

The Hall of Maps in the Sistine Chapel.

Trevi Fountain

The Colosseum

And seeing the Pope was a special experience. We were 5 feet away from him. He cruises around in his little Pope-mobile and stops to wave and kiss babies. The crowd has the feel of people at a rock concert, and indeed he is an idol for many. The kids were thrilled and we had a great day.

The Swiss Guard.

In the Pope-Mobile

The crowd love.

Papa Francesco

 Our Vatican guide, Tony Stark.

Our stop in Pisa included some typical tourist pictures!

And finally we stopped in Lake Garda for a few days. It is a weekend retreat for Italians and Germans. Lovely little towns and a beautiful lake with lots of wind-surfers.