On Tuesday I went back to the Vatican with Jen and Steph's class because they were going up to the dome, which I really wanted to see. Going to the basilica again was like going for the first time! There is so much in there to see, that everything I saw was completely different than what I saw the first time! This is the statue of St. Peter Enthroned. I guess we walked behind it the last time because I missed it. Anyway, people touch or kiss his foot when they walk past, and his foot is actually eroded from centuries of pilgrims doing this!









St. Peters foot worn smooth from people touching it. You can still see toes on the other foot.












The dome, just to point out where I'll be in a few pictures...












We got stuck in one corner because priests were processing from the sacristy for a Spanish mass. There were sooo many priests and at least 10 bishops and cardinals too.
















On the roof of the basilica. This is on level with the bottom of the dome, where you can go in and look down on the church. Its about 200 stairs up...











Looking down into the church from the dome. Jen has a better picture of the main chapel, my camera was going crazy. It was such a neat view of the church!










Then you climb about 300 more stairs and you're on top of the dome and look out onto the city. Here is the Vatican Museums complex from the top. The Sistine chapel in the last brown long roof that in the bottom of the picture.









Saint Peter's square. From this side you could also see the pantheon, the colesseum, and most of the other big sites in Rome!













Me on top of the dome! It was sooo crowded up there!












The green hill is actually Monte Mario, where my capus is! You cant see it because its on the other side of the hill, but we could tell because there brighter white building towards the bottom of the hill on the right side is the Stadio Olympico where we saw the soccer game!








This is part of the papal gardens complex. You can only go in them with a reserved tour, but they look absolutely gorgeous from the top!











Another view from the top. I'm not sure where this is... haha












Back to the roof of the basilica, right behind all of the statues on top! That was such a cool view. They look pretty intense with those clouds...











The dome from the roof. When you climb to the top you're where the little columns are waaay on top!