Christmas Day

We spent Christmas Day in Rome. We went to the Papal Blessing in the morning and a tour of the city in the afternoon. Rome is a beautiful city!

Look at all the people!

Coliseum

Trevi Fountain

The Pantheon

Christmas Eve

After we left Pisa, we went to Rome. What a beautiful city! There is so much to see and do. We definitely didn't have enough time to see everything we wanted. Christmas Eve dinner was at an Italian (bet you couldn't have guessed that one) Restaurant. The food and wine were great! We were serenaded at dinner by 2 opera singers and piano music. After dinner we headed over to St. Peter's Square for Mid-Night Mass. Words cannot describe how awesome St. Peter's Square & the Basilica are. Pictures don't even get close to doing it justice.

Brian and I in St. Peter's Square

The Nativity Scene. This picture doesn't show beautiful it really is.

The 2 opera singers from dinner. The guy was singing right in my ear. Yep, my ear drums were ringing after wards. They both had beautiful voices.

The Basilica

Our Christmas

Brian and I went to Italy for Christmas! The trip was awesome! We visited Pisa, Florence, Rome, Sorrento &Pompeii. I think we need a vacation from our vacation! We definitely missed our family and friends during the holiday season. It just wasn't the same! View of the Swiss Alps on the way there.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Our first stop was at The Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was a very foggy morning, as you can see from the pics.

And...We're off!

to Rome! We are so excited and thankful that we get to spend Christmas in Rome! As Christmas is getting closer, we miss family and friends more & more! We love and miss you all! We wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt

Brian and I went with some friends to the Christmas Market in downtown Stuttgart on Monday night. It was really cold, so we drank some Glühwein. Glühwein is usually prepared from red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, cloves, citrus and sugar. It's a Christmas tradition in Germany. It's pretty good and makes you feel a lot warmer :)

Esslingen Christmas Market

Today was my Christmas Party for work. We went to an awesome restaurant in Esslingen. After lunch we went to the Esslingen Christmas Market. There were so many neat authentic things here, I don't know where to begin. The market had a medieval section where you could throw a bow and arrow & ax's. Yes, you get to throw an ax at a target with crowds watching at a minimal distance! So if you miss, not good. I had a great time!

Chillin' at the entrance...

This is an incense holder. The smoke comes out of the computer.

: Yes, they have mimes here too! I caught him on break :)

The Ferris Wheel. Yep, no motor.