Day 2

Day 2 in Italia...started early with a fabulous breakfast and a scenic bus ride to Vatican City, the smallest country in the world. It was an action-packed day for all of us from the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel (inside the walls of Vatican City) to the Piazza di Spagna and the Trinita dei Monti Church at the top of the famous Spanish Steps. Roma is a city of incredible architecture, countless fountains, and great works of art. But music brings all of us together and music brought us here. So, your won't be surprised that my favorite moment of the day was hearing the sounds of the orchestra waft up to the open windows of our hotel rooms as they rehearsed in the courtyard in front of the hotel and knowing that the sounds of the handbells rehearsing on the terrace were "serenading" the rooms on the back side of the hotel and the people on the street below. Then the chorus took their turn rehearsing in the beautiful courtyard just before dinner.

In short, the girls are amazing...and they are very happy to be here. We will send other highlights from today when we wake up after a good night's sleep! Until then, a few pictures:
The Corelli Bus with chaperones below St. Peter's Basilica and just above St. Peter's Square.
The VIvaldi Bus outside the Vatican Museum with Michelangelo's dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the background.

MJP