Monday 12 February 2007

Day III

Vatican City. Seems the Pope wasn’t home. Well... he didn't answer when we knocked.

So… if you aren’t awestruck by that first turn into St. Peter’s Square by the shear expanse, then just wait till you get inside. Pictures don’t do it justice. Michelangelo’s Pieta was the “artistic” highlight (I guess), but the smaller domes, the marble columns, the memorial statues, the Papal altar (made from metal “recycled” from the original pagan Roman sites), and the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament were all to much to take in. Seriously, we could have stayed here all day.

I added St. Peter’s Dome to my “Things I’ve Climbed” list, as I climbed the stairs the whole 390 ft. to the top. Amy took the lift to the gallery (the interior ring looking over the Papal Altar), but chose to let me go solo the rest of the way. Good thing because you actually have to lean to one side as you make your way up between the narrow space between the exterior and interior domes. It was worth it not only for the accomplishment of making the climb, but for the view from the very top.

The Vatican Museum was next.

I really liked the Greek and Roman statues, not sure why…just one of those things. The Tapestry Room was ok… but just entering the Map Room was incredible, almost like the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles (almost). There was some refurbishment work going in the Rafael’s Rooms making them VERY crowded so we didn’t get to truly appreciate them.

The Sistine Chapel. You know… I didn’t realize it wasn’t in St. Peter’s itself, but once you realize the Museum was originally the Papal Palace I guess it makes sense. I digress. Where was I?? Oh yeah… You’ve seen the pictures, you know the history, but it’s like seeing the Pyramids for the first time; nothing prepares you for actually SEEING it. The room was packed, but we were able to snag a couple of seats on the benches against the wall, and sit down and truly appreciate what it was we were experiencing.

This evening we took an “Illuminated Rome” coach tour that ended with dinner. There were only two couples that signed on for the meal (us and a Dutch couple), but the four course meal in a family style Italian restaurant ended up being the highlight. The special treat was the operatic entertainment supplied Francesco and Elizabeth. Amy was so impressed she purchased their CD as a memento (It didn’t have anything to do with the bottle of wine she had I swear!! They were pretty good).