the Colosseum
one of several murals outside the Colosseum illustrating the reach of the Roman Empire at various points in history
they call this building "the wedding cake"--it's really the monument to Victor Emmanuel II
Jess' dad photographing the turtles up/turtles down fountain.
pinecone courtyard at the vatican
also pinecone courtyard, other direction. Apparently every Roman hates the globe sculpture.
ceiling inside Vatican Museum
the most important historical sculpture in the vatican. Fertility goddess.
the ceiling. This is actually a 2d painting.
It was explained to us that a pope commissioned these maps because he was really into astronomy. We never understood that.
More ceiling.
The Vatican has a lot of nice ceilings.
Inside St. Peter's.
I liked the dragon on the floor
Dome of St. Peter's from the inside
Swiss Guards
Swiss Guards letting someone in
the changing of the guard (they are really just gossiping, you could tell)
St. Peter's
Nativity scene, St. Peter's Square
Bishop Wuerl from Pittsburgh. The priest standing against the fence is Father Ron Lengwin.
the pope escape bridge, as seen from Castle Sant'Angelo
Jess loved the pope escape bridge
More pope-escape bridge action
again the top of Castle Sant'Angelo
From the top of Castel Sant'Angelo. Just to the left of this photo was a young couple making out.
the archangel Michael.