Our morning began with an amazing free breakfast – yogurt, bread, meat & cheese, pastry, muselix, juices, and the sweetest red orange I’ve ever tasted. Thank you God for a beautiful sunny day in Rome. We slept very well except for the sound of the trolley beneath our window.
Found our way to the Vatican on Bus #40. Had no idea where to get off and no one spoke English. We got off at the right place and stood in a 15 minute line to get into St Peter’s Basilica. Went through some bronze gates, up the steps to where two Swiss guards were standing. We told him we wanted tickets for the Wednesday morning Papel audience. The one walked away and returned with two tickets. While he was gone, I quickly tried to take a photo. It was the only time the Swiss guard on duty turned his head and gave me eye contact with his hand raised. Fortunately they did not take my camera and still gave us tickets.
We entered St Peter’s Basalica and spent a relaxed morning strolling through the amazing art and watching a special mass occur with a long parade of cardinals walking in. Another beautiful choir sang accompanied by a pipe organ. Got some great recordings to bring home on my phone.
Finally found our way over to the Vatican Museums where we spent the afternoon enjoying lots of history, art, and the Sistine Chapel. A good time of the year to come – no lines, no waiting, and no crowds.
Found our way by metro to a location where special carnival activities were happening. Here there were large crowds, many costumes, lights, programs, and crowded cobblestone streets. Walked several blocks to the Spanish Steps which we walked up to the top where another church stands. Exhausted and tired, we sat in the church for a while to meditate on all of the day’s activities.
Took the metro back to the Termini station and are now back in our hotel around 9 p.m. with lots of sore muscles.
No comments:
Post a Comment