Cafe, Bramante, Bidet...

A lot of new experiences yesterday! We woke up and had breakfast at the hotel (with capuccino, of course). We then took a taxi to Piazza Novono which is an outdoor marketplace filled with lots of Christmas ornaments this time of year. It also has a beautiful fountain in the center. After that we walked to the Pantheon. It is amazing to think of this building standing since AD120! It's an amazing architectual feat! It's close to the Trevi fountain, so we tossed out euro in and wished for a return to Rome! I know you see this fountain in movies some times, but it truly is a beautiful and magnificent fountain. It's difficult not to stop and look at every building, every fountain, every street. It's so different from the US and it seems that the focus of the city is beauty. I'm still in awe of how gorgous this city is and it is so rich in history that 3 days is just not enough! The people here say that a life time is not enough and I'm sure that's true.
Today was our cooking class. Now ladies, I didn't just learn how to make pasta-I learned from Fabio! Not the wierdo blonde guy in TV. Think of a dark, tall Italian man with a gorgous Italian accent who happens to own a 12th century home in the countryside! This Fabio owns a restaurant and he and his side kick taught me and Dustin how to make fetuccine and another type of pasta by hand. He then cooked it up with 3 different types of sauces, served it to us with wine and homemade bread and topped it off with the creamiest and most decadent tiramisu that I have ever had. What a memory!
Later that afternoon we went to the Vatican.Bramante was the main architect of this place along with Raphael, Peruzzi, Sangallo and Michaelangelo. They say that St. Peter's Basilica is built upon the grave of Peter the apostle and they consider him the first Pope. Everywhere you look inside that building is ornate and gorgous with detail and sculptures. While we were there a mass was taking place and they were singing Christmas carols and then all the bells outside were ringing as we left.
It was an amazing and intense day. So I've told you about our cafe, and the architecht, Bramante, and I'll leave the bidet to your imagination. Today we are off to the Colosseum. Please pray for Dustin, he is not feeling well and we have a huge day with sight seeing and then we take our flight to Addis tonight at 12:02 a.m. Hope everyone is well.
Love,
D & C