Day 1: Roma bella!

Buona sera! We made it. After a smooth flight we arrived in Roma at 7:00 am. We then collected our baggage and loaded the bus where we were transferred to the Catacombs of San Callisto. The students enjoyed a guided tour of the ancient cemetery lead by a wonderful priest working on his PhD. He was so excited to know that we were Catholic and that our girls were interested in the persecution suffered by our fellow Christians so he brought us into the hidden prayer rooms and burial rooms that are usually blocked off to the public. We then headed to the hotel where we checked into our rooms and then took a stroll down Via Cavour to get some lunch. Then it was time to get a taste of all that Roma has to offer so we headed on a guided walking tour of the most famous hot spots: Piazza Navona, St Ignazio, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps. After a 4 hour tour the girls were exhausted and we headed back to Hotel Mediterraneo to wash up and get ready for dinner. After a delicious three course meal the girls headed back to their rooms to get some much needed rest since we will be up at 6:00 am tomorrow in order to visit the Vatican, it's museums and the Sistine Chapel. A domani :)