Josh Bernstein, DDS, Cosmetic Dentist

Buongiorno!

Mama Mia, what a day! Our faithful guide, Claudio picked us up early and in his heavy Italian accent guided us through parts of Roma a little out of walking distance. We saw the Church of the Monks of Cappucini, where the walls, unbelievably, are literally decorated with the bones of the monks!

As we drove around and saw Bernini’s fountains and the obelisk over Marcus Aurelius’s tomb, we found our way past the Coliseum and up to the Church of St. Peter in chains. There we saw the actual relic chains that held Peter in captivity. Right next to this amazing relic we saw Michaelangelo’s masterpiece, Moses, whose horns were confused linguistically for light. We continued around Roma and saw Circus Maximus, the Roman Baths, Nero’s palace, the mouth of truth (of “Roman Holiday” fame!), the original city wall and aquaduct. We talked about the Cloaca Maxima, but decided against doing the tour of the sewer! As we ventured out of Roma along the Appian Way with its 2,000 year old cobblestones we stopped at the catacombs but we all got a little freaked out, cold and claustrophic so we got the heck out of there! We took a pleasant drive to the countryside winding our way up to Villa d’Este and Tivoli Gardens with its vast display of gorgeous fountains.

Returning to Roma after a delicious pizza lunch in charming Tivoli, we bid farewell to Claudio and arrived in time for a short line at the Vatican Museum. We wound our way through an abundance of incredible sculpture, frescoes, mosaics and paintings, culminating in the incomparable Sistine Chapel. Michaelangelo’s ceiling is absolutely breathtaking in person! To add frosting on the cake, we concluded our day in awe inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica, which rightly deserves the title of greatest church in the world.

It positively must be seen to be believed as no words can describe the sheer size, the artwork and the popularity of the seat of the Vatican—especially in these few days before Easter. Michaelangelo’s Pieta, now protected behind glass after being vandalized a few years ago, is nevertheless spectacular.

After all this touring, our day became a little like “The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Sightseeing,” but the kids were troopers, in spite of the jet lag! While the kids rested, Allison and I went out for a fabulous granita and one of our numerous daily peeks at our next door neighbor, the ever impressive Pantheon, this time to see how the ancient drains handle the rain sprinkling through the oculus! Tomorrow we rest and sip on cappuccino!

Ciao!