Horse-drawn carriage in front of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.July 1, 2012 HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE IN FRONT OF THE COLOSSEUM IN ROME, ITALY.

I recently returned from three weeks in Italy and Paris, France. I was even in Paris on Bastille Day.

The Eiffel Tower was adorned with a disco ball during the disco-themed Bastille Day fireworks show, in Paris, France.July 14, 2012 THE EIFFEL TOWER WAS ADORNED WITH A DISCO BALL DURING THE DISCO-THEMED BASTILLE DAY FIREWORKS SHOW, IN PARIS, FRANCE.

In Italy, I visited Rome, Florence, Siena, Sorrento, Pompeii, the Vatican, San Gimignano, Turin, and Milan. In Paris, I visited the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacré-Cœur Basilica, and Versailles.

Leaning Tower of Pisa.July 6, 2012 LEANING TOWER OF PISA

Residents of the Siena contrade of Onda (Wave) march through the streets in celebration of their recent win in Il Palio, a twice-yearly horse race held in the town square. The winners parade their fla RESIDENTS OF THE SIENA CONTRADE OF ONDA (WAVE) MARCH THROUGH THE STREETS IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR RECENT WIN IN IL PALIO, A TWICE-YEARLY HORSE RACE HELD IN THE TOWN SQUARE. THE WINNERS PARADE THEIR FLAGS AND THE WINNER’S PENNANT THROUGH SIENA, ITALY, WHILE CARRYING A PACIFIER IN THEIR MOUTHS.

A priest walks in front of the "Cathedra Petri" in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City.July 3, 2012 A PRIEST WALKS IN FRONT OF THE “CATHEDRA PETRI” IN ST. PETER’S BASILICA IN THE VATICAN CITY.

A father and son play with a ball before the Bastille Day fireworks show on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France.July 14, 2012 A FATHER AND SON PLAY WITH A BALL BEFORE THE BASTILLE DAY FIREWORKS SHOW ON THE CHAMP DE MARS IN PARIS, FRANCE.

Interior ceiling of the Pantheon of Rome, also known as the Basilica of Santa Maria Ad Martyres (St. Mary and the Martyrs).July 3, 2012 NTERIOR CEILING OF THE PANTHEON OF ROME, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA AD MARTYRES (ST. MARY AND THE MARTYRS).

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