Our last couple days....

Hello again from Rome, Italy. We are back and coming close to the end of our trip! We can't believe how fast it has gone by!

I think we left off just before tuesday...so here we go.

Tuesday we left in the morning from San Giovanni Rotonda to head to Pompeii, Pietrelcina, and Sorrento. Our first stop...Pompeii: we got to see the ruins of Pompeii from the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius (i don't know if that is spelled correctly....but o well) We went on a tour of the town...it was very HOT HOT HOT!!!! then we went to the newer part of Pompeii where we celebrated mass in a chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii. After mass, the people of the church handed out lots of pamphlets and prayers cards to us....we were like celebrities or something!! :) they even took a group picture that will be in the newspaper!!! we will get english copies sent to Greeley. That will be an exciting souvenir! Next, we went to Pietrelcina, the home town of St. Padre Pio. We got to see the church he grew up in, where he celebrated his first mass as a priest, the chapel he was baptised in, and the home complex where his family and he lived!!! It was very neat to see. The walk made us think of what Greece is probably like...the houses really close together and the stone walkways. beautiful! Then we headed to Sorrento. The drive was so beautiful! So many fields of sunflowers!!!! LOVE IT!!!!! Our hotel was unbelievable! We got to eat our delicious dinner on the back balcony that faced the Mediterranean Sea where we witnessed a breathtaking sunset at the same time!!!!!!! HOLY MOLY!!!! Audrey and I then changed our mind...that we can live in Sorrento together and travel to Assisi on the weekends. :) I like that plan! We then went to a HUGE strip mall right across the street....and this is where Audrey and I learned that picking flowers is NOT a sin....so we enjoyed taking some for our journals. :)

Wednesday was a day at the Island of Capri. The very first thing we did was visit the Blue Grotto. It looks JUST like the pictures online as it does in real life. It was unbelievable. All real sunlight makes the light in the grotto glow. it was lots of fun. Our row boat guy was just Audrey's type....and we think he flirted with her a little. hehe. Girls can dream....

anyways....the rest of the day we walked around and went on a little tour of some gardens. it was awfully HOT! but then when we had free time we got to swim in the Mediterranean Sea!!!!! The temperature was PERFECT! it was fun! except the beach was of rocks...not sand. hard on the feet, but it was worth it, i think. That evening we went back to the hotel, and had time to take another dip in the sea! (Our hotel had it's own pool right next to the sea....and its own entrance to the sea! Living the high life there, I am telling you! Dinner at a local restaurant where we missed America even more (You have to pay for EVERYTHING here!!! water, the bathrooms....EVERYTHING! we are preparing for a cheeseburger....or taco bell when we get back, that is for sure!)

Today, Thursday, we visited Naples and Montecassino before making it back to our same hotel in Rome. Naples= SCARY!!!!! It was a stop a lot of us could have done without, probably....but thenagain, it was a cultural experience, i guess. haha. We made that stop to celebrate mass at Saint Januarius. Unfortunately, we did not bring the english readings with us...so Father had to do some of the mass in Italian....Latin....and English. haha. it was quite the mixture....kind of funny....but still the same mass!!! funny funny. Then we went to Montecassino up high over the town to the Benedicton Abbey. Beautiful. Random note: we learned on the way down the mountain from Father that there is no difference between a nun and a sister. They are one in the same...just two different references....hmmmm. Odd that we were all confused about that...but o well! haha.

After a three hour drive to Rome, we are back where we stared. Tomorrow we wake up bright and early to tour the vatican, vatican museum, and sistine chapel. We even get to celebrate mass in a little chapel beneath St. Peter's ....RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE HE IS BURIED!!! It is a beautiful chapel we walked through during the Scavi Tour...so we are very excited. It is just beneath the high altar in St. Peter's. Don't know how we nailed that!! That will be exciting. Big day tomorrow! Way to go out with a BANG!

I think we are very pleased with how this trip had been. We have gotten to see more Church history that we ever imagined, and are so thankful for this incredible opportuniy. Thanks again for all of your support, prayers, and love. We miss you and our homes....and can't wait to see you all soon! (and eat some Wendy's) haha. We probably won't get to post again before we head home...but be sure to check in later for some pictures and follow-ups once we get to our internet at home that is easier to access! :)

**a note for Grandma Joyce (from Amy and Cari) : As far as picking us up from the airport...I guess stick to the itinerary and prepare for a call from us once we get our luggage. If anything changes or there are any delays...we will find a way to call you and let you know! we love you!! see you soon!

bye bye all!!