Rome Day 3

I was very excited about our 3rd day in Rome. We were going to Vatican City to see the Vatican Museum, home of the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Vatican City is actually its own little country that is surrounded by the city of Rome. It was about a 25 minute walk from our B&B which was great so that we didn't have to take public transportation. I feared for my life each time we needed to take a taxi. I had read quite a bit in the guidebooks about going to the Vatican and how to make the most of it. I pre-purchased our tickets and made reservations. I scoured what the highlights were for us to see as we were only dedicating one day to this region.

Again what I love about Italy is how you are walking down a street and bam, here is the most incredibly beautiful place I have been in (St. Peter's Basilica).

As we approached St. Peter's Basilica we were amazed at the sheer size of this church and area, and the massive amount of people in line. I started freaking out that we were going to miss our reservation. We couldn't quite figure out all of the people and the various lines. Luckily, after about 15 minutes, Kent figured out that we were not in the area for the museum. It was quite a ways from the Basilica entrance, which I was not expecting. We finally found the museum and honestly, we were still confused. Maybe I didn't read enough to get all the rules etc. I know there was one crucial point I missed, how incredibly HUGE the museum is. Some people would send me to hell for saying this, but the museum was like IKEA. I can't stand IKEA, and here is why. The building is shaped like a maze. You are on a path and once you are in, you can't get out and must finish. Even if you only want some cheap tea light candles, you are forced to pass departments of furniture and masses of people. The museum was this way as well, except we weren't looking for a checkout counter, we were looking for the Sistine Chapel. Here is what was amazing about this place...it was beautiful. The ceilings, the walls, the sculptures, the paintings, the artifacts. This museum is overwhelming to the senses. Trying to capture it with my camera was impossible. Here are a few pictures we have.


After awhile I started to have almost glossed over eyes. It was sensory overload. PLUS, the constant signs pointing, This Way to the Sistine Chapel. It was such a teaser, honestly. We walked 4 miles, 4 miles of this museum to get to the finish line, the Grand Dame of the museum. I almost didn't realize we were within the room that houses this famous ceiling, because it was a crushed rat race. Guards were ushering you in and demanding no photos. There were so many people that it was difficult to strain your head up to fully get to take in the magnitude of the painting. I am mad that I didn't better prepare ourselves for this museum to be the length it was. I should have had a cappuccino before entering. I honestly was sad when we left and drained. I knew that we had already had an exhausting trip through the museum and now we would need to walk back and stand in the amazingly long line to get into the Basilica. I was beat. I looked at Kent and I swear I was going to cry. I was so excited to see this place, and it was just too much. Too long, too packed, too much information.
Kent knew I was ready to have a meltdown so we stopped and had a sandwich and beer and a handful of Excedrin. We made our way back to the main square and entrance to the Basilica. I remember when the Vatican was choosing the current Pope and seeing the thousands of people crammed into this area on a daily basis, waiting for the white smoke to spew into the sky as a notice that a new Pope had been chosen. This square is amazing. I mean HUGE, and beautiful.



I wish I could have taken a large panoramic photo to show these amazing columns that surround the square and basilica. It is hard to notice but there is just a small glimpse of the line that was wrapped around the square. Luckily we only had to wait 45 minutes. As we started getting closer and closer to the entrance I became very aware of the sheer size of this church. Honestly, I've never seen anything like it. The corridor alone is the size of most church's. As you walk in your eyes have to make an adjustment to the bright light from outside to the darker, formal interior of the church. The church has different sections, as it is truly large. There was a small mass that was taking place in one area, completely in Italian and Latin, so I didn't understand anything. I stood in line to touch the feet of St. Peter, but embarrassingly, I don't know why this was important or significant. Kent laughed at me, but I figured, everyone else is doing it. Here are a few photos, but again, they just don't do them justice.



After we finished the inside I knew we had one more thing left, climbing to the top of the dome. We had been touring for a good 5 hours, with a 30 min walk to the Vatican and back. I didn't care though, because I really wanted to do this. We paid an additional 2 euros so that we could take an elevator 1/2 the way up, but this still left 400 stairs to climb. In my younger, fitter days 400 stairs was a joke. I use to run the capitol hill stairs in Seattle and once did 1250 stairs without stopping! These stairs were different though, they were in a tight, hot stairwell and they went in a circle, then it would get so tight that as you were spiraling up to the top you had to hang on to a rope that was in the center...no railing! It took an act of God to get my butt up to the top, but it was worth it.

Here is a photo of Kent as he was doing his best to make it to the top!

This was an exhausting and frustrating day at times, but it was so worth it. I felt so blessed to have been able to visit these two places and share in the history that makes up the Vatican. I was baptised Catholic, but I don't attend church. I have my own values, but I still have respect for those in the world who find such solitude and peace within the Catholic church. The evening was finished with a nap, a wonderful meal (like we seriously gorged ourselves) and a trip to our little neighborhood wine bar. The owner and waitress both recognized us and gave us a little extra touch of Italian hospitality. Life is good!