Vatican visit ...

The Vatican trip is just about over. Yes, I am taking a break at a nearby internet cafe. I got here via the crowded Metro A at a bit after 8:30 a.m. before the crowds, but being the tourist I am, I got in the wrong line first. Not that walking the inside of St. Peter's Basilica is a wrong thing to do. It's just not the right thing to do FIRST. I should have veered off to my right and gone to see the Dome and the crypts for the popes (including PJP II) because when I got out, went to the small post office to mail individual post cards for my mother, father, brother, my sister-in-law and nephews as well as two for myself (one blank on the back, one with a message), I didn't realize I should have done the other one first.
The long line and wait --- the guidebook I have says to allow an hour to get up to the Dome and and hour to get down -- means I need to take a break here (it's just after 2 p.m.) and see if I can't get a second chance at it today. No worries, really, though because I've got enough extra time on Saturday (albeit much more crowded) to do it if I want ... after all, I'm on vacation.

As for what I did see inside the church, it was quite immaculate. Michelangelo's Pieta is to the right after you walk in the church. It's priceless. As you make your way through the church, I stopped to take some holy water which was surrounded by an impressive display. I walked slowly along, taking a moment at each to ponder the artists' works (it wasn't crowded when I was doing this so I wasn't in anyone's way). I then took care of the request from my friend Marie to rub the foot of Peter. (Side note to Marie: If you're supposed to rub his foot to be forgiven, what does it mean if you touch both feet and do it many times if a person is trying to have a picture taken? I saw A LOT of people touch both feet and then have to stand there and touch it a lot more just to be sure the camera got it!).

I walked around some more, tried to take a picture of St. Peter's Tomb and elegant main altar, but the photo again came out too fuzzy and too blurry to use. I walked around some more and then headed for the exit.

After I messed up what I should have done in terms of St. Peter's Basilica, I instead walked and chose to get in the even longer line for the Vatican Museum. The line actually moved very fast. I was pleased with that, even if the word "line" doesn't really exist.

Anyway, I got my ticket (12 Euro) and headed off to see many of the sites before finishing with the Sistine Chapel. It was a very moving experience seeing all of the sculptures that, if you look closely at the detail in their faces, makes you think they'll actually come to life. There were impressive, but many just pieces, of humans as well as a room dedicated just to the animals. I wandered on and found the way to the Sistine Chapel. And it kept going, and going, and going, and going, and going, and going, and going, and going, and going. And then it kept going a bit more --- not that the Chapel is THAT long, but with guides every step of the way, someone stopping to take a photo and, of course, since we are in modern times, cell phones going off and people stopping to answer and chat (who invented cell phones again?). Don't get me wrong, I have one and I am even using a secondhand one while I am here in Italy, but I don't use it when I am visiting one of the most famous places on EARTH! .... OK, sorry, a little tourist rage there.

When I finally reach the end room, with the famous paintings that do take your breath away, all people were allowed to do was to be there and be quiet (LIKE THE SIGN SAID!). Not that a few people didn't still use their cell phones and others still took photos (no flash). I was finally able to carve out a spot where I could set my guidebook down and take everything in. It was wonderful. Almost as wonderful as following some of the guidebook's advice ... take the exit marked only for tour guides and you escape the mass exodus back to the main entrance (unless you did purchase the set of of audio headphones then you have to go with the herd) and you, instead, return right to St. Peter's Basilica. that part was great. I went back inside and tried to shoot some more good pictures, but alas, ones that I really wanted came out blurry or not great light at all. I might have to buy some extra postcards just for photo purposes!

Ok, that's it. I'm going to go back and see if the line for the Dome and the crypts isn't too long so I can do everything in one trip after all.

Hope everyone is doing well. Also, a note to Susan, a friend of mine from Oxnard, I have found a thimble for you. It is from the Trevi Fountain in Rome and I hope you like it as much as I liked seeing the fountain on Thursday.

Ciao!