First stop the train station to book our 2x1 tickets for tomorrow. We had to wait about 15 minutes but were entertained?? by a young guy and 2 girls working the tourists in an area where you can purchase tickets through a machine. They would offer to help if you had trouble. We were not sure if they were checking credit card pins or if they were pickpocketing. They would move away quickly every time security showed up. But finally they got taken away by the scruff of the neck. Just the kind of thing everyone warned us about but there were a lot of people who were letting them help....what can I say !!!
We spent the rest of the day in Vatican City.... the world's smallest country.
First in the lineup to go into St Peter's Basilica. It snaked around and around in 25 degree weather with humidity, no shade and poor Ron in long pants as no shorts allowed.
In the line...we can almost see the entrance with binoculars :)
The Basilica is described as "the richest and grandest church on earth". We have been surprised at how each basilica we have visited in every city have been so different. I would definitely describe this one as immense.
Michelangelo's Pieta, sculpted when he was 24. I learned that a Pieta is a work that represents Mary with the body of Christ taken from the cross. It was exquisite. Took me 5 minutes to wheedle my way to the front to get the picture :(
The Bernini altar.... massive
Then we went into the Vatican Museum. Once again it was huge....4 miles of paintings, tapestries and sculptures. I must admit, although we spent over 3 hrs there, it was not a very pleasant experience. It was soooo crowded and ultra hot and we were constantly surrounded by large tour groups. We couldn't even see some of the displays and we felt "herded".
Hercules in bronze from 300 AD. About 20 feet tall. It was at some point hit by lightening so as tradition went it was buried in travertine for centuries before it was discovered.
A part of one of the tapestries of the Massacre of the Innocents. Harod the Great was appointed king of the Jews by Rome and he ordered the execution of all new born males in the vicinity of Bethlehem
That being said it was worth every bit of frustration just to see the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's ceiling. He started it when he was just 33 and it took him 4 years to complete. No photos were allowed but it took my breath away mostly because of its beauty but also I had to pinch myself to be sure I was really standing under it. A moment to remember !!
Before we headed home we had pizza and beer for dinner/snack. But this time we checked the prices first... lol
Even though it doesn't look that way, I am actually enjoying the pizza ... just hot and sticky and tired !!
My goodness, we have such good memories, the sisteen chapel was amazing, but indeed so crowded that you were herded through . But it is all very beautiful and amazing. Again thanks for sharing .
ReplyDelete