The Italy Series: Capitoline and Other Miscellania

WaaaBAM!  Capitoline Hill in your face!

Sorry, I'm a bit excited about the fact that we'll be walking around in 80+ degree weather tomorrow (Athens), so the world is all neon orange and fuchsia beach-drink-umbrella colors for me right now.

But, anyway, to finish our first Roman day, we hiked up the stairs to the Capitoline Museum.  Our mission?  To see this....

Exhibit from the Secret Vatican Archives

And, I'll be straight with you, it was pretty rad.  

Ever wondered what a 350-year-old letter written on birch-bark from the Iroquois looks like?  

Well, I don't anymore.  

Ever wondered how many wax seals were at the bottom of Henry VIII's letter to the Pope?  

Well, I still do, because I didn't take the time to count.

Oh, and on top of that, we saw some fancy statuary. 

What's left of Constantine from the Basilica Novo

Paul and Cicero

Goat and Paul, both rather excited about grapes

Then, skirting around the hill heading back to our convent/hotel, we took a quick glimpse into Trajan's Market (i.e. The Roman "Mall of America").   

And finally, one last stop...

St. Peter in Chains church to see Michelangelo's "Moses."

(Sorry, Buonarroti, but the neon colors were just going to happen no matter what on this one.  Because...I mean...Athens you know?)