Susan Boyle

I don't know if there is a person in the Western world who hasn't heard of Susan Boyle, the surprising singer from Britains Got Talent. (We don't even have TV and we've heard her name at least once a day for the past week or two.)

But... just in case you haven't seen this amazing singer, you must see this youtube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY.

For a very sweet post on Susan, you can visit my friend Amanda's blog.

Rome... Out and About

Our trip to Rome was amazing and while we enjoyed seeing many, many, many important works of art and historical sights, some of our favorite times occurred when we were just out and about exploring Rome.

Rome is interesting. It truly comes alive and night. And the piazzas... wow, it is hard to describe the way entire neighborhoods gather at the piazzas (kind of like an old fashioned town square) in the evening to eat, socialize, play/listen to music, kiss, or even just sit there. The piazzas all featured amazing works of art like the Trevi Fountain or the Four Rivers Fountain (both by Bernini) or the Pantheon (commissioned by Emperor Hadrian in 120 AD). Rome is truly a unique place.

Eating our first true Italian pizza in Piazza Novella. The pizza was delicious and CHEAP!

Susan Anderson, us, the Shropshires, the Hinds, the Broadbents at the Vatican

Here are a few of the MANY pictures I took of the designer stores. We saw shops for every famous designer we've heard of. Italy is truly the fashion capital of the world.

Relaxing (along with hundreds of other people) on the Spanish Steps, which lead to the Spanish Embassy. We saw the French, Brazilian, Spanish and a couple of other embassies while exploring Rome.

The President is a CELEBRITY in Italy. A street artist was selling a painting of him and as a group of school children walked by they all pointed and said excitedly, "Barack Obama! Barack Obama!" We got a kick out of it.

Me inside the Pantheon. The dome that inspired all the Renaissance domes, including Michelangelo's dome at the Vatican. In the Pantheon we saw the crypt of Raphael as well as Victor Emmanuel, Italy's first modern king.

Outside the Pantheon.

Recognize this famous fountain? Think Audrey Hepburn and Roman Holiday. That water was delicious! Almost as good as our Rocky Mountain water in Ephraim.

All the cars, homes, scooters, etc. are TINY. Romans don't have to parallel park. They can just back up or pull straight into a spot. The cars are so tiny, it's all the same.

Pompeii & Earthquake!!

It took an entire day, but we could not go to Southern Italy and not visit Pompeii. The Usborne Home Office had arranged a day trip for those interested so it was an easy and affordable way to venture out of Rome itself. It was a great way to spend my birthday!

Pompeii was AMAZING. The frescoes, tiles, and structures were so amazingly well preserved. It did not take any imagination to visualize the ancient city. (Which was built on a block plan similar to Utah cities.)

Jer said we also got a better understanding of "fire and brimstone." As our tour guide (whose father and grandfather and helped with the excavations... most is still unexecavated by the way) told showed us the many brothels and explained their lifestyle many people commented, "No wonder God destroyed them."

Still it was sad to think about the loss of life in such a terrifying way. The casts or people and animals struggling to breath or find shelter from the gases (which killed them... not the ash and lava) are heartbreaking.

We bought a book about Pompeii while there and the last thing I read that night was about how before Mount Vesuvius Erupted there was a big earthquake that destroyed part of Pompeii. That was all I could think about at 3:30 am when we were wakened by our own earthquake. We couldn't believe we left Utah where the "big one" could come at anytime, travelled 1/2 way around the world and ended up in major earthquake. Obviously we made it home unscathed and it added to the adventure.

One of several casts of the residents (and pets) of Pompeii in the positions they died in. Also pottery, fountains, and other artifacts they archeologists have unearthed.
Poor doggy!

Fresco on the wall in near perfect condition. Rainwater fell through that hole in the ceiling where it was collected in the main part of the house.

Mosaic entryway.

Mosaic and marble tiled floor.

This is where the rainwater was collected. Every house had one.

Our tour guide, Mossimo, showing us one of the many fast food places in Pompeii. Fast food is obviously not only a modern convenience since Pompeii was destroyed almost 2000 years ago.

Some ancient lady's kitchen.

Jer took this picture of me heading off to one of many potty breaks. The reason he took the picture is because he thought it was fascinating that they built the restrooms in a room of an ancient ruin.

The origional 2000 year old+ streets. Those large stones in road are stepping stones because Pompeii flooded everytime it rained. Also, it is pretty cool, you can still see chariot tracks in the streets. Chariot Tracks! Now that is something I never thought I would see.

Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum

Eating our first of many gelato and looking over the Roman Forum.

The Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum are in the Southeast corner of Rome and are surrounded by busy streets. The modern day courts/police buildings are adjacent and it is fasinating to see these ancient ruins surrounded by busy streets.

The Colosseum is probably Rome's most famous landmark. It was built in about 70 AD at the peak of the Roman empire. It was interesting to learn that events at the Colosseum were free to the public and food was even provided. It was the rich people's way of controlling the unemployed masses.

Although the Colosseum is more famous, we actually enjoyed Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum more.

Palatine Hill is the ruins of the Roman equivalent of the White House (the Emporer's residence as well as his administrative offices). It was HUGE and actually makes the White House look like a cottage. We were amazed at the number of rooms, indoor fountains, elaborate staircases and overall extravagence. It was truly from another world and time.

The back steps of the Palace led directly to the Roman Forum. The Forum was downtown Rome in ancient times. The original cobblestone streets are there, the Senate building from Julius Caesar's times stands in perfect condition (we even could go inside), and there are tons of ruins of temples, government buildings, shops, etc. Some of these ancient buildings are still in use.

We spent most of a day exploring this Ancient side of Rome. (Our wonderful guidebook called it the Caesar Shuffle.) It was one of our favorite days!

Below are some pictures. I don't have time to edit them, so they are rough and I don't have many vertical ones, because I have done any editing.

Inside of Colosseum
I don't really like this picture of me, but it is cool because it shows the underground of the Colosseum. The place where the animals were stored, the gladiators had their dressing rooms and such. He really reminded me of scenes from Gladiator.

Jeremy outside the Colosseum

The Temple of Vestal Virgins where they kept the Eternal Flame going.

The throne room at Palatine Hill. Jeremy is standing on the place where the Emporer's throne stood.

Palatine Hill

The Triumphal Arch. The Jews of helped carve this had to depict their own defeat and subsequent bondage when Jerusalem fell to the Rome.

The Arch of Constatine. The art is mostly recycled and the arch was assembled to commemorate Constatine's victory under the cross and the resulting legalization of Christianity. I have a better shot, but it needs editing. If I get back to it, I'll replace it.

The Roman Forum

This still working fountain is on the way up from the Roman Forum to Palatine Hill.

A view of the Roman Forum from the Colosseum.

Rome: The Vatican

We took so many pictures of our trip to Rome it is daunting to even starting blogging. We filled an entire card with hundreds and hundreds of pictures of places, art, people, etc. So, I'll just group them by major location and work on it little by little over the next few days.

The first major landmark we visited was the Museo Vatico (Vatican Museum) and San Pietro (St. Peter's Square and Basilica). Peter is buried underneath St. Peter's Basilica (thus the name) and it was cool to see his tomb. It is quite impressively marked with a huge baroque canopy which I believe was made by Bernini. (Many of Rome's most famous landmarks were sculpted by Bernini.) Michaelangelo designed the dome of the basilica (which according to Roman law must always be the highest structure in Rome).

In addition to viewing the amazing art in the basilica we were able to climb the MANY, MANY, MANY steps to the top of the basilica. The view was amazing!

After the basilica we visited the Vatican Museum. The Vatican is known not only for being the headquarters of the Catholic church, but also for it's incredible collection of artifacts and works of art. It didn't disappoint! We could have spent days there, literally. Unfortunately it wasn't cheap and we had to limit our time to one visit.

The highlight of the Vatican Museum is the Sistine Chapel painted by Michaelangelo. Unfortunately, cameras aren't allowed in the Sistine Chapel, but it was amazing to be there. We could not believe that we were actually looking at the famous paintings from art books.

Below are some random pictures from the day we spent at the Vatican. A painting that I enjoyed in my Art 101 (as well as philosophy classes) in college is found in the Vatican museum. It is of ancient philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians all finding truth through their discipline.
The map rooms were some of my favorite in the Vatican museaum. There were tons of really awesome maps of Italy. The details were amazing.

This granite tub is HUGE! I guess people have always enjoyed luxurious baths.


Jer helping me to the top of St. Peter's. We climbed hundreds and hundreds of stairs. My legs were stiff for about 10 days.

St. Peter's Square from the top of St. Peter's Basilica.

Statues of Saints and Martyrs at St. Peter's Basilica.

The top of St. Peter's Basilica.

Swiss Guards at some of the off-limits to the public places at the Vatican.

Me and Jer in St. Peter's Square.

Me waiting for the metro (subway) on our first of MANY rides.

Happy Easter!

I am home alone while everyone else is at church. I was planning on listening to General Conference (which we missed while in Rome) and stumbled upon this website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFhS0dAduc. (I think you can also click the picture above to take you there. I'm not 100% sure I hyper-linked it correctly, but it should work.)It is an Easter message. Even if you read this post after Easter is over, please take time and watch the clip. It is wonderful!

Watching this video made me think about to an April 2000 when I had the privilege of visiting the Garden Tomb on my first day in the Holy Land. Happily, it was the first of many times I was able to visit that sacred ground, read the New Testament in the garden, and visit the tomb. I am so thankful to report that the tomb is empty! I've seen it with my own eyes. More importantly I KNOW with every fiber of my being that HE is RISEN! Every good thing I have in my life is possible and better and meaningful because of that fact. Christ truly has "won the victory."

Happy Easter!

Field Trip

Jeremy and I started to get home sick for our kids even before we left for Rome (since we would be without them for 8 days) so we spent our last few hours before heading overseas on a field trip for Katie's Jr. Genius project... the Living Planet Aquarium. We all had a wonderful time. This was Jer's first time there and really Will's too since he was a baby when we came last. Matthew and Katie have freakish memories and could remember where things were and even how to get there.

Matthew touching a sting ray. It took Katie about 30 minutes to build up the courage to touch one too. (Then she ended up soaking wet and smelling like fish.) Ashton and Will had NO desire.

Jelly fish are always neat.

We had such a fun time we decided to buy an annual membership. Now, whenever we are in the Salt Lake area we can stop by for some fun.