Throwback Thursday #62: Images of Roma

"Traveling is almost like talking with men of other centuries." ~René Descartes

I'm a self-confessed church junkie.  Whether it was skipping class and a party to watch the vigil kept outside Pope John Paul II's death bed when I was in college, or taking pictures of every church (and every cow...I'm an ag girl you know!) in Europe on my last trip, or my desire to invite Cardinal Dolan to a dinner party, it's safe to say I'm a nerd about this stuff.  So watching the Papal Conclave was something I really enjoyed.  (I'm not talking about the fact that I was in court and missed the white smoke, announcement, and introductory speech.....)

The fact that just a few years ago, I was there, my very own feet from the middle of nowhere New Mexico stood in all of these fancy, historic, important places, makes watching even cooler.  I ate gelato in the streets and lasagna in the restaurants where the journalists, reporters, pilgrims and Cardinals are spending their time.  I've taken pictures of the churches in which the Cardinals say mass.  I've stood in St. Peter's Square, where Pope Francis I addressed the people.  I've sat in the Sistine Chapel, where the Cardinals sat and from which that white smoke rose yesterday.  This gives a fun perspective on this event for me.

In honor of that, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite photos from my trip to Rome back in 2009.

The Coliseum

Beautiful side street in Rome

Pizza del Popolo

St. Peter's Bascilica

Drawing of Pope John Paul II called "The People's Pope"

St. Paul statue - Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

St. Peter

St. Peter's Basilica surrounded by the Saints

Cousin Whitney and me entering the Bascilica

Angel statue on bridge leading to Vatican City

Me in Piazza del Popolo

Street near the Spanish Steps

Sun setting on my last night in Rome