He's Not So Little Anymore

I remember when I was in high school and would think about "when I was older". I would always compare ages of what my siblings would be doing when I was a certain age. The biggest one was, "How old will I be when my little brother goes on his mission?". Well, tomorrow I turn 22 and Steven will be leaving on his mission to....

Tucson, Arizona

August 13

Steven has worked so hard and I look up to him so much. I am very proud of him and realize that he isn't so little anymore. But I will always consider him my "Bud".

Venice

Michelle and I went to Venice early in the morning so we could spend most of the day walking around this island city. Who knew that when looking at the map you were actually looking at everything measured in yards! It is really easy to get lost down all the different alleyways, bridges, and following the many canals. It was so cool to realize that we were walking on a floating city! And I think the best part of Venice was going to the square and harrassing and playing with the pigeons!

On May 12, 1797, Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Venice during the First Coalition. The French conqueror brought to an end the most fascinating century of its history: It was during the Settecento (1700s) that Venice became perhaps the most elegant and refined city in Europe, greatly influencing art, architecture, and literature.

Venice is world-famous for its canals. It is built on an archipelago of 118 islands formed by about 150 canals in a shallow lagoon. The islands on which the city is built are connected by about 400 bridges.

St. Peter in Chains

San Pietro in Vincoli, St. Peter in Chains, is a smaller basilica near the Coloseum that houses the chains that bound St. Peter. The basilica was first built in the middle of the 5th century to house the relic of the chains that bound Saint Peter while imprisoned in Jerusalem. Michelangelo's Moses, which dates from 1515, is the most notable piece of artwork in the basilica.

Michelangelo's Moses

Vatican City

So I'm pretty sure that everyone is familiar with Vatican City. But I had no idea that it is an independent state and the smallest in the world with a population of 800. It has it's own postal system, police, government, and even issues its own passports!

Ceiling to the entrance of St. Peter's Basilica
Masoleum of Pope
St. Peter's Square
St. Peter's Basilica
The Pietà sculpted by Michelangelo

Vatican Museum

We weren't allowed to take pictures in the Sistine Chapel :(

Art

We visited the National Rome Museum one rainy day and saw some pretty cool sculptures.

Discus

Baths of Diocletian

• Diocletian's Baths, dedicated in 306, were the largest and most sumptuous of the imperial baths and remained in use until the aqueducts that fed them were cut by the Goths in 537.

Girls Best Friend

I was online and "ran" into the Fendi website...and what did I see?! The bag that I actually saw in person in Italy!!! Did I ask the price at the store in Italy? No! The bag was too pretty to ruin my fantasizing and oohing and aaahing. So now that I am far, far, far away from the actual bag and store I risked it and looked it up (sigh)...

Fendi
Paillette Spy Bag
$4,890.00 (TEAR and SOBBING SOUNDS)