Breakfast at the hotel was continental style and just enough to get me out the door. I walked to the Vatican Museum, and I was really early. I had purchased a ticket for 9:30 but I was there by 8:20. It evidently didn't matter. so I got in early. The vatican museum is quite big..... REALLY big actually. Rooms and rooms of paintings, tapestries, sculptures... all of which I knew nothing about, and kinda didn't care. However, if you want to see the Sistine Chapel. you gotta get through the maze. Before entering, I made a pit stop in a cafe to check out what exactly I was going see using the Rick Steve's ROME book. Good thing I did as I wouldn't have figured anything out if I hadn't. I was surprised that the chapel was rectangular and not round. For some reason, I thought it would be round. And there are no pews and chairs. Oh, and incidentally, you can wear shorts as long as they are below the knee. I wish I would have known that - because I would have killed to be wearing shorts for what followed.....
Like I mentioned, the Vatican museum is a maze, and there really is only one way in and out for what I could tell, so I went out. My next destination was St Peter's Basilica and St Peter's square. So I figured I'd exit the museum and walk there. Well, I think I went the wrong way, which of course was the long way. Up and down some hills, in my khakis, at the time without a hat, in 90 degree Rome heat. I sucked it up, offered it up and finally made it to St. Peter's.
Entering the square, it was totally like being home, even though I'd never been there. So much history in this place. I got in the enormous line to get into the basilica and waited for about an hour. While in line, latched on to a few tour groups and listened to what their guide was saying. No one really cared and it was great way to chat with people. This one nice lady told me I was looking pretty red, and I guess I was so I took out the hat I bought at the museum and put it on. Why I hadn't before then was beyond me.
I finally got to the basilica and entered. I listened to Rick Steve's podcast tour of the basilica and learned a whole lot about it. I was amazed that there are little to no pews in St Peter's. I guess you can pack more people in if you're standing.
After the Vatican, I got some lunch and decided to walk back to the hotel as it was obvious, these long pants were not going to last long. I tried using the maps app on my phone to get back a different way. But wouldn't you know, it took me back the same way I came, this time mostly up hill. I thought I was going to keel over, but I made it back to the hotel, after picking up a sh*tload of water and was welcomed by a nice a cool room and a cold shower. And a nap!
---------
Sorry about the lack of pictures in this post. For some reason, I can't seem to get my photos on my iPad to upload to google and then be recognized by blogger. I'm going to keep trying. In fact, I fell asleep last night while trying to do so - it took over two hours and I'm still struggling with it.
I'm quickly trying to notate the events from yesterday while enjoying my new day today. I'm actually sitting at a cafe near the Trevi Fountain (more about that later) trying to catch up..
More to come soon!
Ciao
I finally got to the basilica and entered. I listened to Rick Steve's podcast tour of the basilica and learned a whole lot about it. I was amazed that there are little to no pews in St Peter's. I guess you can pack more people in if you're standing.
After the Vatican, I got some lunch and decided to walk back to the hotel as it was obvious, these long pants were not going to last long. I tried using the maps app on my phone to get back a different way. But wouldn't you know, it took me back the same way I came, this time mostly up hill. I thought I was going to keel over, but I made it back to the hotel, after picking up a sh*tload of water and was welcomed by a nice a cool room and a cold shower. And a nap!
---------
Sorry about the lack of pictures in this post. For some reason, I can't seem to get my photos on my iPad to upload to google and then be recognized by blogger. I'm going to keep trying. In fact, I fell asleep last night while trying to do so - it took over two hours and I'm still struggling with it.
I'm quickly trying to notate the events from yesterday while enjoying my new day today. I'm actually sitting at a cafe near the Trevi Fountain (more about that later) trying to catch up..
More to come soon!
Ciao
Sounds like fun, Matt! You can drink the water in Rome. Really. Ask around.
ReplyDelete