Hello Vatican City!
I’m not quite sure where the borders are, but we went in, did the requisite stuff and came back to Rome again.
We caught the metro, then followed the crowds of people who flocked to the Basicila for the papal address, passing by a random-seeming procession. We weren’t terribly fussed, but followed the crowd thinking we would go see the Basilica while everyone was preoccupied with His Holiness (is that the right title?). After a grumpy queue incident regarding some rude queue jumpers (but an amazingly quick-moving queue!), we got in and found out the Basicila was closed until the papal address had finished anyway!
So we posted some postcards from the official VC post office, sighted the Pope, and wandered back down the hill to the Vatican museums. Again, the queue was amazingly quick. Glad we hadn’t paid attention to the touts promising a quick entry for a low low fee!
The museum was extensive, and the inevitable horde of people followed the signs to the Sistine Chapel. Loooots of signs. Through the entire rest of the museum!! We walked up stairs, through galleries, down stairs, along corridors, along balconies (!), through more galleries, down more stairs… you get the picture… I think they wanted to make sure people saw more of the museum rather than just the S Chapel!
Once in there, it was pretty amazing. The painting was gorgeous, and most of the people seemed to be appreciative (apart from some who didn’t quite get the “silence please” and “no photos” signs). A bit claustrophobic though.
After the Chapel, T and I wandered through the bookshop, where we were very restrained – our only purchases were watches hung on carabiners with images of the touching hands from Mickey’s The Creation of Adam on it. Very cool. Then down to the caffe to slake our thirst.
We were very honoured to see one of the museum cats! It even deigned to pose next to an old block of stone for me – how fabulous!
Once out of the museum, we stopped for lunch at one of the ristorantes that line the street outside. Our waiter very kindly asked the kitchen to make my risotto gf, and he assured me earnestly that they had used a new pot and fresh water (rather than the water from cooking pasta, presumably). The poor man nearly had a heart attack when he saw me eating the bread roll I’d brought with me – “No, no, not for you!” I assured him I’d brought it, and showed him the packet before he calmed down. How thoughtful was he?
T and I left R to retun to the Basilica to climb the duomo, while we went to the stazione Termini to organise her sleeper train to Zurich. Sounds quite nice!
We wandered the shops a bit but I was unable to find anything suitably fabulous enough to pique my fancy, apart from a pressie for my brother. We did find a couple of very interesting designer shops, with colourful clothes and appliques etc, but they were a bit out of my price range. If only I needed a 500E coat!! (I know the dollar’s looking a bit less unhealthy against the euro at the moment, but it’s still $900!)
After a short rest, and watching R return from his climb and walk pretty hot and bothered (it was 27C or something, and ridiculously humid), we set out for the Trevi Fountain and to have dinner. The Fountain is pretty, but soooo many people went to see it at night as well!
Dinner was at a small place around the corner from the Fountain. Snce I couldn’t face risotto twice in a day, I had a capricciosa salad – greens, tomatoes, buffalo mozarella, artichokes, black olives and (I asked for these to be omitted) anchovies. Yum! I needed some more vegies, even though we’ve been doing pretty well with lettuce sides and our fave Caprese salad! We finished with a gelato down the street – yummy peanut butter and chocolate!
After some more souvenir shopping (and absinthe shopping!) we retired, as we were all pretty exhausted. Busy day, and another one tomorrow, as we’re planning the Colosseum, the Capitoline museums and possibly the Catacombs and Spanish Steps. Phew!
Two Weeks Away 