All Roads lead to Rome

First of all, let me say, I am incredibly tired. We met for class at 10 am this morning at the Campoliglio. It served as a palace and home of the senate. The original buildings were redone by Michaelangelo and in sits up on a hill with very awkward steps. We were there for about an hour working on study. For those of you who are curious, as to what we do as landscape archiecture srudents in europe, i will explain. Generally we got to a location, whether well renown or hidden. Someone, student or our prof Joe will give a schpeal on the site. We will learn about its history. We are then released to draw it, and explore, while always experiencing it as a user. We then meet up again to analyze the goods the bads and why work, or dont work. we've done this so much after 4 days, i feel as though looking back, my head might spin. So, I will try to update this as often as possible so that i dont have to keep looking back in my journal on what i did that day.
After Campodoglio, my roomies and I headed towards the vatican. We grabbed a slice of pizza on the way, and got in line for St Peter's. The line was deceptively short as we wanted to climb the cupola, or dome. We waited in line for about an hour to buy a 4 euro ticket to climb 552 steps to the top. The view was gorgeous, and as a group we clmibed even higher on the butresses than generally allowed so that we could have photos without other poeple in them. The bells rang while we were on the roof, and the whole building vibrated. Aftre we climbed down form the dome, went inside the cathedral. As we were taking pictures we say a censor burning and some acolytes walked out of a hallway. Many men of the church were lined up and i am pretty sure a was just a few feet away from a cardinal of st peters. I suppose i would be more proud if i were catholic, but i think the experience was neat. We listened to much of the mass from inside the vhurch for a while as we could not see it. When we left church the service was actually being playe don some mega screens outside.
Atfer the vatican, we walked down one fo the major shopping districts, but found that the prices were too steep to bother. We decided we will wait until florence to really buy anything as it is much less touristy. I am very tired, as are my poor feet. I think i destroyed my shoes in a matter of one week walking around this city. I wouldnt be suprised if i need a new pair by germany. Anyway, jackie is making dinner tonight and i want to go to bed early since tomorrow we are going to tivoli to visit the villa d'este and villa adriana.