The Time Elevator...

Todays goal was to check out the internet place (get Coreys school work done) and then go to the Time Elevator. After breakfast we took the bus to St. Peters and sat in the shade of the arms surrounding the square for while. The lines were very long (making us grateful that we are here long enough to wait out the weekend crowds. When we got to the internet place we realized how nice it would be to be able to read the signs (to know when they would be open). A police officer told us 1500, so we decided to head to the time machine. Walking by the Vatican musuem we saw even longer lines (it was about 10am), & for those who have been to Rome the line for the museum was almost to the entrance point of Vatican city (where the Swiss guards in blue guard the gate). I was shocked, and very grateful that we are going next week when people are working. We did a little window shopping on the way, got a few postcards and made mental notes of what we might want later. We are getting better at this metro thing and managed to find our way back to the Trevi Fountain (I did have to chuckle when I realized that the skeleton church and Hard Rock are pretty close to the Metro!) We did find the North American College and US Bishops Office (which of course was closed). However, now we know where to pick up our tickets to see the Pope next week. When we got close to the Time Elevator I realized how close we were to Victor Emmanual II monument (seems the map makes things look farther away then they really are...) The Time Elevator presentation was really cool and gave us a little more history about Rome. It started with Romulas and Remas, then went to Julius Cesar, Emperor Nero burning down Rome to build more monuments, the Coliseum, Christianity coming to Rome and a few more interesting things. It lasted about 45 minutes and was on one of those rides where you sit in the chairs, and it moves you around (reminded me of Walt Disney World.) We were so close to the Pantheon that we kept on going. It is now a beautiful Basilica. From there we stoped at San Maria in Minerva where much to my surprise was the body of St. Catherine is kept (her head is on display in Sienna). She was responsible for bringing the Pope back to Rome from Avigna, France... and is also the patron Saint of Nurses. While her body is incorupt... it is not on display (as they have split her relic in peices... part in Rome and part in Sienna. From there we walk back to Metro and back to the internet place only to discover that it was not open (even though the sign said so), we waited for an hour and decided to take the bus back... So Corey got on the internet by Mc Donalds, while I attempted to find a flash drive (unfortunately mine are all in my other computer bag on a chair in the dining room at home). I did not have any luck finding a flash drive, but I did find the Grocery Store! With all of that excitement we went back to hotel to admire the empty pool (too bad it does not have water in it!) One thing is for sure, we are definately getting a work out on this trip with all of the walking! Corey made the comment a few days ago that while camp made it difficult to prepare in terms of packing (and we are paying for that now...) it did prepare us in terms of walking. Although we are still very tired when we get back to the hotel at night. Corey thought we could try another way back to the internet place and restaurants tonight... turned out to be longer (but we found another internet site if we need one!) For supper we went to the Pizzaria down the street from the internet, the food was great... but they did not speak English, and that made Corey pretty frustrated.