The Jewish Ghetto and Church of the Sky

Back in October (5th) when my little red-head was still 2 and a half, we went with some friends of our to the Jewish Ghetto and a nice long walk around the city. And I'm just getting around to the pictures now :)

This turtle fountain is one of Emma's favorites, and I think mine too. In fact I may buy one of those turtle rings I see on the streets when I see them again. They're just so cute! (BTW, street vendors for me and my stroller are like drive-through's for a mom with a kids in a car. Very convenient and very tempting.)

We also saw a bunch of restaurants that served Jewish food. Or so I think. I don't really know what Jewish food is, but I know its out there somewhere. After a while we decided that our calves were much too happy and that we should tackle over 200 stairs with said double stroller. (We took the kids out for this one)

Look at those men work.
No, not the ones on the left. They're wimps.

 I think I remember Emma kind-of whimpering/complaining as she went up all the stairs. On the inside, I was doing the same thing.

What a trooper!

 I can't remember the name of the church now, but I think it was the Church of the Sky, or the Church of Heaven, or something that meant, the Church that will burn off the last few meals you've eaten, or Reeaaallly Reaaaaalllly High up in the Air Church.

Here's the view from the top

  Everything is either connected to building next to it, or only a few inches away from it. The building on the left is connected and it overlooks this cool piazza.

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 As usual, the inside of the church was beautiful. I think its the oldest church in Rome? (this is why I need to post sooner.)

Love it. Two nuns with a backpack saying their prayers to Mother Mary.

I don't think I had ever seen so many glass chandeliers in one church. they were gorgeous!

Emma and her friend Viola had fun lighting candles with their intentions (aka playing with the candles)

The back of the church, and a corner of the ceiling. Ceilings may be one of my favorite features in a church.

Emma touched too many candles so we sent her to confession.

Again, there was some significance to the bees (help me out Leon!) but I don't remember them now. Sooo, cool bees, huh?

Actually, they might  be the bees referred to in the Easter Exultet text.

The floors were so worn, but the mosaics were still very neat. They also had what looked like carven pictures of the Popes or others' in the ground, which made it a little hard to walk on.

Emma tries really hard not to smile sometimes

 She was proud to recognize our Mother Mary.

Here's a picture of one of said tombs. The faces and details are worn away by people walking on them through the centuries.

These three were holding hands and going to all the different altars to kneel and pray. It was very cute.

Here, (sorry, not turning it) you can examine the beauty of the carven ambo or the beauty of my husbands face.

Eventually we released the baby and she wanted a closer examination of the Marian altar. It's so huge next to her

She was loving her freedom. While it lasted...

Which wasn't long.

We were up so high, it was freaky. Especially as I watched Stella toddle around out on the balcony. Just look at how close we are to the clouds!

 Ahhhh, that's better. Safe in Daddy's arms.

This didn't really give me much comfort either. But she never was that succesful scaling the stone fortunately.

She and Giacomo were really quite the team when it came to daring feats.

Then the treck down!

We soon stopped for a snack. And only ate with our most delicate manners.

Those two girls almost look like they could be related. They all had a good time together.

 Then there was Stella, still trying to escape.

 But doing it in a very cute fashion, as usual.

 We all sat on some benches and watched the kids make rock castles and listened to the drum core that was performing somewhere in one of the lower piazzas. It was another lovely day in Rome!

:)