ITALY 2007!

Hello family!
I thought this would be an absolutely appropriate time to write a little blog about our Italy trip, being 5am and awake for the past hour with jet lag still! :)
We left on Friday the 12th. Had a direct flight from Seattle to Paris, and then a flight from Paris to Rome. We were all very excited and only packed carry-ons, which I am not used to doing, but am very happy we did so! We got into Rome at about 8pm. It took us some time to find our "apartment" we were to stay at, as the contact man put 18 as the house number on the email, instead of 81...we were so confused! When we did finally find Giuseppe, our host, we were surprised to find that we were staying on the second floor (first floor was described by Giuseppe as "you must excuse me...I am making a construction site here." ??!!!) of a building with many flats. We stayed in a room the size of a dorm with six beds of different heights lined up one next to the other with about an inch in between each bed and about 6 inches between the ends of the bed and the wall! It was a surprise to say the least! We luckily were given ONE clean sheet for a bottom sheet and all slept snuggled in our sweats and sweatshirts using our hand towels as blankets (which we brought in case the places we stayed didn't have towels provided, such as this place. So the towels were wet!). HAHA, we stayed at this place for three nights and it definitely grew on us, although I don't know if we would recommend it to other travellers! :)
Saturday, we spent the day walking around Rome...AFTER we all accidentally slept in until noon! We saw the ruins, including the pantheon and colosseum, and went to the secret "keyhole" in a random garden in Rome, which had a view of three countries: Italy, Vatican City, and Malta (???Right???). It was so cool! We walked through numerous piazzas and of course, ate amazing italian food for every meal!
Sunday we woke up early so that we could walk to the Vatican and make it in time for daily Mass at the side chapels...hoping we would find one in English. After walking around the almost empty St Peter's, we happened upon a very young Californian priest! It was great! Us kids split up the readings (soooo cool to say that I have read in St Peter's!) and had a great personal homily about the church and some of it's secrets. After Mass, we ran over to the Vatican Museum and waited in line for two hours until it opened (and no, we weren't even close to the start of the line!) We finally saw the amazing Sistine Chapel. After that, we went back to St Peter's, climbed to the top of the dome, and went in tons of their little stores. We headed back home in the evening.
On Monday we woke up early and packed up to head off to Assisi. Assisi was my favorite town this trip. (I have been to italy once before). It's the cutest town built into the side of a hill and it just soo homey and quaint. We went in about 20 churches, they are on each block, and each one was it's own little treasure. Of course, we went into St Francis- gorgeous, and St Claire's-where her uncorrupt body lays! It was crazy!
Tuesday, we took the train to Padoua (took about 6 hours). Unfortunately, I cought some virus and was vomiting most of the day. We arrived in Padoua in the afternoon. We went to St. Anthony's, which has much more of an Eastern European influenced church style. It was very beautiful. The rest of the fam will have to fill you in about this city, as I checked in early to get over my sickness.
Wednesday was Venice day! We took a water bus on the Grand Canal all the way to San Marco's at the edge of the city. The church was incredible, and to our surprise, we recieved a free tour in english about almost every detail about the church. It was awesome to know the symbolism and history of the paintings and church. The tour guide told us we are lucky we didn't come the week before as the tide was very high and we wouldn't have been able to tour the church! After the church, Bridget and I helped ourselfs to some shopping, and actually ended up getting split up from the rest of the fam. After wantering aimlessly around the streets of Venice, and trying to soak up as much as we could about the city, we all met up at 6 to take the train to Florence.
Thursday we woke up in Florence at a youth hostel. Unfortunately for the first night, we were split up, girls in a random girls room and boys in a random boys room. (had booked to be alltogether in a 6 bed room, but showed up too late for our reservation, so they cancelled it!) We found the coolest cafe with amazing cappucinos and pasteries that morning. We climbed the Duomo and went to the market. We walked over te Pont a Vecchio and ate gelatto. We met up with Sonja in the evening, toured her pennsione, and went to the well known restaurant La Spada (Lizzie's FAV!). The food there is incredible!
Friday we met up with Sonja again and just toured around again. We went into Santa Croce, where Michelangelo and Dante are buried. Lots of history with that church, and Sonja was a great tour guide! The rest of the day, we mostly shopped, ate gelatto on the triangle bridge, and packed up for the flight home the next day!
Saturday we woke up very early to catch our flight from Flo to Paris. It was a loooong, but smooth day. We were welcomed home by Dom, with dinner already made for us by Aunt Theresa. So wonderful!
We all loved our trip and can't wait to go back! Kevin and Bridget, if I missed anything, please feel free to add more stuff.
I'm going to try to get some more shut eye before the sun comes up.
~Cait