Fine (The End)

Today, a 9:30 am bus departure allowed for a little sleeping in - which will come in useful for tomorrow.  However, today finally brought us to the Vatican museum and St. Peter's.  Both bus groups had much to see and hear over the course of the 3 1/2 hour tour - but again, the students were awestruck by the history and greatness of the collection.  A particular highlight was hearing a brass quintet perform/rehearse the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah while we were in St. Peter's.

After the Vatican, students had time to grab lunch and search for that last souvenir near the hotel in some nice shopping areas.  At 6:15, we got all dressed up and boarded the buses to a wonderful restaurant for our final meal together in Rome. This meal was particularly delicious and we were treated to a duo of musicians for some great, spirited dinner music - flute and guitar with both musicians singing as well. The musicians performed our Italian pieces - Funiculi, Funicula, Tarantella, and Nessun Dorma along with others.

We also continued our tradition of gift giving and poem reading.  Students shared some special moments in verse with their new and old friends, capping off a really great trip.

Since,we have a 5 am wake up call in the morning, I'm signing off for now.  There should be some new pictures on the snapfish account.  The next you'll hear from us, we'll be home safe and sound.

Ciao Italia!

Entrance to the Vatican Museum

Inside the courtyard in the Vatican Museum - note the famous Roman pine cone in the back

Posing :-)

A beautiful walk

The High Altar inside St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica

Some final souvenir shopping

Dressed up for dinner

Our evening's entertainment

Reading of the poems

Sharing a moment

An attentive group

The chaperones with our guides