European Update 7/10

Hey y'all,

We are now on day three of our trip. And we still haven't killed each
other...{shifty look} Yet.

Getting use to the culture here has been the most interesting experience
thus far. Talk about culture shock. Today we visited Vatican City and all
the wonder that lay inside. Saint Peter's Basilica was really cool and big.
I mean really big. Really, really big. Breath-takingly big. Quite literally.
It seemed we were climbing steps all day, Oh.. wait we where. ^_^ there
where 551 steps up to the cupola (dome) and 551 down, a few hundred steps
that seemed unneeded in the Vatican itself and probable another 300 in
various other places.

Underneath Saint Peter's Basilica there are some catacombs. Not the skulls
lined up against the wall kind of catacombs, but the kind where there are
popes buried in their coffins. No skulls involved at all. The coffins
themselves were decorated usually having a depiction of the pope inside. The
only exceptions to this was the two most recent, which look just like big
grave stones.

The Vatican was filled with paintings on the ceiling, the walls, everywhere.
There was no escape. It was so cooooooool. You were allowed to take pictures
everywhere but the Sistine Chapel. But that did not stop a single soul from
taking at least one. People were quickly pulling out their cameras, snapping
the shot, then putting it back in just as fast. And listen to this. There
was NO LAYING ON THE GROUND!!!! To my disappointment. But the rule breaker I
am, I did it anyway. ;) Though only for a split second. Oh good times.

Hugs to all,
Doodle