Wake up call at 7:30. We were up on top of the hotel enjoying croissants, juices, coffees, cereal with warm milk (WHAT?), and a beautiful view of Rome. All cameras were set, money belts tucked tightly around our waists, and walking shoes ready (or so they thought).
Antonio and Raquel met us and we walked to our bus. It is during this first drive in Rome that we would hear, more than once, "Antonio can not park here. Cameras are everywhere, we must get out of the bus FAST...EVERYONE..LET'S GO, GO, GO!!!!!" Frantically, through two doors, we rushed out of the bus into traffic hoping not to slip and fall under the bus and lose a member of our group on our first day in Rome. We would all gather on the sidewalk, breathing heavily and number off to 24 making sure everyone made it off alive.
We started our walk towards Santa Maria Maggiore. Huge steps leading to what looked like an abandoned church. After several pictures and dodging of the pigeons, we walked around to the entrance of the church.
I stepped into the church unprepared for the tears that would come from the beauty of this amazing place. For years, I have looked at pictures of cathedrals, wondered at the vastness and details of them, but now I stood ever so tiny in a holy place that was more than my emotions could handle. I struggled between taking pictures of every inch of it and whether I should just stand and take in the significance of this moment. We were only given 20 minutes before we had to leave and walk through Rome.
Raquel reminded us several times, "We have an appointment at the Vatican at 12:30. We CAN NOT be late. They will not wait."
We walked back down the steep stairs and down Via Cavour towards the Colosseum and Forum which we would visit on rainy Sunday. We went by the area where Mussolini would come out on the balcony and speak to the people. We took pictures at the wedding cake - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_to_Vittorio_Emanuele_II.
Only a few pictures though, because we had to make our lunch appointment and then our Vatican appointment. It was 11:00 and I was already amazed.
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