Day Two -- Rome

Up at 5:15 am to shower, drink Nescafé and eat pastries in the room we had purchased last night. We took the Metro to the stop nearest Vatican City. We had signed up for a walking tour of the Vatican. We had 12 people in our group and got Mauricio as our guide. He is a student of art and archaeology and, hands down, the best tour guide I have ever had. We picked this tour because it promised to get us in to the Sistine Chapel before it was open to the public. We waited in a short line and during that time Mauricio gave us a short tutorial on what we would see in the Sistine Chapel. As soon as we passed security we quickly made a beeline through most of the museums with the promise that we would circle back and take our time later. We did stop in the Raphael Rooms when we had them completely to our little group. It was a treat. Raphael's paintings seemed to come alive in emotion, action and color.

Then to the Sistine Chapel, where new Popes are elected. There were other people there but we were able to move wherever we wanted and were given 20 minutes to take in the room. It wasn't at all what I expected. I have seen many photos of Michelangelo's depiction of God creating Adam. I expected it to be the focal point of the room, but it was one small panel among many. What caught me was Michelangelo's painting of the last judgment which covers the whole front wall. We were not allowed to take photos or talk while in the Sistine Chapel.

Next we backtracked and went through the museums.  We saw the tapestry room....

 

the map room where I was more captivated by the ceiling than the maps...

 

We saw statues like this one of Hercules...

 

and works of art like the crucifixion by Dali.

 

When we're finished with the museums we went back to the Sistine Chapel because it was our only exit to St. Peter's Basilica. This time the Sistine Chapel was wall to wall people. A priest was saying prayers. I have been in crowds before but nothing like that. I imagine it felt like being born. I felt smashed and forced out the door. I was so glad we had seen the Chapel when we had time to appreciate it. Past St. Peter's Square and into the basilica--the largest church in the world. The canopy over the altar was designed by Bernini and is 13 stories tall. The length of the church is two football fields long.

 

I got to see the Pieta by Michelangelo, housed in the basilica. This fulfilled a lifelong dream even if I couldn't get anywhere close to it.

 

That concluded our tour. We were left in the basilica. There was so much more to see but I was spent. I have been having trouble with my ankle, a leftover injury from childhood. We were agreed that the experience was amazing but our energy was all used up. We left the basilica and headed for St Peter's Square but we stopped to buy postcards and stamps so that we could send them from  this small country of Vatican City. Afterwards we identified the window from which the Pope blesses the crowds on Sunday. By now the crowd to get in seemed endless. 

 

We headed home for a nap and to rest our aching joints. After sleeping for several hours. We got up to make our way to the Pantheon. Back past the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon is not far from our hotel. But just as we arrived the door  was shut for the day. I was devastated. So we strolled north and found the  church of St. Mary Maddalena.

 

A short stroll home. We fell in bed. We have another early morning. When does the vacation begin?