DAY 112

Monday 31 October 2011

We woke up and hurriedly showered and dressed to catch our shuttle at 8:30. It was amazing how many people and baby carriages could be packed like sardines into our free Happy Village Camp bus that took us tearing around corners to the train station. On the way we ate bread, cheese and coffee from the thermos, then after switching to the metro, arrived at the Vatican at 10. HOLY GUACAMOLE! The line stretched at least six blocks and would have been at least a three hour wait. Dian and Nicole went to the end of the line while Charles went up to the front to see what his press pass could do. As Nicole said, "Yeah, right. I'm sure they get lots of journalists waving around their credentials." But a miracle happened. She looked up and exclaimed, "There he is!" The journalistic entourage hightailed it up the street and were in by ten oh two!!! We were told that tickets were full price but when we said Nicole was a student the ticket man winked and said, "She's 15, right?" We of course agreed.

Inside the Vatican museum we wasted no time covering as much territory as possible but also took time to savor things. What a magnificent collection of "the largest treasure trove of art in existence." Nicole gave us the treat of announcing that lunch would be on her. We entered the Sistine Chapel from the museum and marveled at the work of Michelangelo. To the repeated cautions of "Silence!" and "No Photos!" we enjoyed the ceiling as well as the people watching. (How many people took photos, we lost count.)


This whole trip is just a big bust...



A net to catch the crumbling plaster!

Instead of going directly into Saint Peter's Basilica, we were re-routed by guards who explained that the Pope was next door and all entry was prohibited. Well, it IS his house. So we opted to have the lunch Nicole promised us in the museum cafeteria. It was delicious pork, pasta, vegetables, dessert and bottled water. We really needed the lift and speaking of lifts, that's what we bought tickets for: the dome of Saint Peter's. It had an amazing view of Rome from the top and inside another amazing view of the inside of the basilica from high up. On the way down we became dizzy from the slanted walls of the spiral stairway.

We entered the basilica from street level and were floored by the size of Saint Peter's. The pieta, carved in marble by a 24-year-old Michelangelo, was stunning and touching in its depth of feeling, and the Raphael paintings and Bernini altar columns were incredible. There were lots of people and we were glad it was the "off season," only shaking our heads at how the crowds would have been at the height of the tourist season.

Getting ready for All Saints Day

Mosaic

Channeling our Ancient Comedian sides

This woman just strolled on through past the Swiss Guard

When we exited the bells were ringing like it was "all hallows eve"... hey, wait a minute, it was! We saw the trailer for an official Vatican City (our 17th country) post office. We bought a postcard to mail from this tiny country and when the change came, one of the coins had the pope on it from 2010 - a collectors item and treat for former coin collector Charles. Homing pigeon Nicole got us to the tour bus we had paid for the day before and we continued our tour of Rome from the top level of the double decker with a new perspective of beautifully lit sites. We caught the metro and despite having to wait for the Happy Village van for 45 minutes, we were HAPPY when we arrived back at our van and had homemade lentil soup.

Vatican City Euro!

Just about the only sign of Halloween we saw