This is such a bittersweet post to write! Our time in beautiful Rome has come to an end. This city was bustling, crowded, windy, and a little rough around the edges, but it was Roma. The ancient ruins, the gorgeous cathedrals, and the delicious pizza that didn’t taste anything like pizza all made this city memorable and full of character. Visiting our good friends the Dibert’s made it an even more exciting adventure. Our last day in Rome (we only got three days there!) was spent exploring San Giovanni in Laterano, a church that we heard housed Scala Sancta, the stairs that Jesus climbed up to Pontius Pilate before his crucifixion. People come here in troves to climb those stairs on their knees, and it is considered a holy experience by many around the world. We were kinda skeptical, but still wanted to see them anyway… you know, just in case they were the actual stairs that Jesus walked on (which would be pretty cool, right?). Unfortunately, in true Marcus family vacation fashion, the side building with the stairs in it was closed that day, but we still got to see this gorgeous church in all its glory!
The way light leaks through the windows in these European churches is breathtaking.
Haha, this next picture cracks me up!!! After weeks of touring Europe, I think we were getting tired of posing for pictures… my face says it all…
In front of San Giovanni in Laterano!
For the remainder of the day, we ventured into an adjacent town (no idea what the name was)! It was cool getting outside of Rome and seeing just a little bit of Italy outside of the city’s walls.
Justin and I decided to have some hot chocolate and cookies while everyone else enjoyed a pasta lunch (we had prematurely bought some turkish wraps from a street vendor a half hour before). These cookies were the BEST thing I had the entire trip, mostly because we dipped them in the literal liquid melted chocolate as we ate them…
Then we explored for a bit on our own! Check out this view!!
Shout out to Justin for trying to make sure I get a portrait every single place we stop. I love you.
Then we just started getting silly… :)
Me and my dad! :)
We passed these moss-covered stairs and knew we HAD to make some portraits there happen!!
Thanks, dad, for capturing these!!! Some of my favorite portraits of me and Justin from the whole trip! :)
Then I made the Dibert’s pose for a few family portraits…!
And then it was Alexa’s turn…
Just a few more in the last light of the day!
Anni and Justin were making fun of how I pose in pictures with Justin…
And Christian had to join in. But not before I got a nice posed picture with him, too. :)
We finished the day with gelato… and while everyone else was inside getting their dessert, I was outside with John and Leilani capturing some portraits of the two of them! It made me SO sad that I only had 10 minutes to shoot pictures like this in ITALY, but I’m so glad I got these for them!!
Italy was so romantic… like no other place I’ve ever been.
Our time in Rome has ended… but that only means that LONDON is next!!! My FAVORITE part of the trip!! Ahhh can’t wait to share those pictures of mine and Justin’s adventure in Great Britain!!!
