So, Lina is under the impression that I am going to leave her here. I told her she can come back, but she has to head back to the States with me.
We have made friends every day we have been here, including a lovely elderly couple on the bus tonight. Lina has adopted them as her grandparents.
We totally f'd up today. We overslept because we both woke up at 3 am and couldnt fall back to sleep until 5:30. So we rushed, the bus stopped at every stop between our hotel and the Vatican which was like 40 stops - and then the Swiss jack-hole gaurds didn't tell us the right place to go. Instead of saying to go out of the square they told us to go to the left of the square. When we asked the French jack'hole in the Information booth where we need to go he very snottily replied "It started at 10.30" Needless to say, we missed the Papal audience. I had a mini break down moment and then we decided to go eat breakfast and start over. Where the jack'hole restaurant charged us $80 for breakfast. Yes, you read it right ' $80. $80 for cheese, bread, a few sliced of ham, bellini and a coffee. WTF?!
We wandered back over and decided to do the Vatican Museums which is where the Sistine Chapel is. We managed to some how skip the majority of the museum and were able to work our way up into the Chapel rather quickly. We went through these amazing rooms which hold all of the art and history of the entire history of Christianity and Catholicism. It was freakin unbelievable! Tapestries, pantings, chalices, ornaments and everything you can possibly imagine.
The Sistine Chapel is at the end of about two dozen papal apartments that depict various Saints and stories of the bible. When we finally got passed the Asian tourist groups - we walked in and I was like "Is this it?" Lina turned around and nearly smacked me, but I was not asking as a this is stupid, but more of a we went through so many rooms, followed so many signs, went up so many stairs and I was confused. Especially since the Asian tourists kept trying to push me.
What was really remarkable about the Chapel is I had envisioned the famous painting of the Creation of Man to take up the entire ceiling. On the contrary, it is one of like a bizzlion depections on the ceiling. There is so much to take in! The floors, the walls, the altar, the mouldings, the windows, the enormous scene of the Rapture (which is enough to make you freak a bit). It was spectacular. I got yelled at for taking pictures and Lina and I made a plan to secretly snap a photo of her laying on the floor of the Sistine Chapel. She is SUCH a rebel lately!
It was amazing.
We then walked back over to St. Peter's Basillica and words cannot even begin to describe it. There is an enormous depiction or crypt or sarcoughagi for each Pope. The altar is breathtaking with a huge wooden sculpture by Bernini just in front of it. We heard vespers and the confessionals were open. I however went into a benediction that was so moving. I really felt blessed and like God was there with me.
I didn't realize we did so much today. Heading South tomorrow. Hope the weather holds out.
Ciào!
We have made friends every day we have been here, including a lovely elderly couple on the bus tonight. Lina has adopted them as her grandparents.
We totally f'd up today. We overslept because we both woke up at 3 am and couldnt fall back to sleep until 5:30. So we rushed, the bus stopped at every stop between our hotel and the Vatican which was like 40 stops - and then the Swiss jack-hole gaurds didn't tell us the right place to go. Instead of saying to go out of the square they told us to go to the left of the square. When we asked the French jack'hole in the Information booth where we need to go he very snottily replied "It started at 10.30" Needless to say, we missed the Papal audience. I had a mini break down moment and then we decided to go eat breakfast and start over. Where the jack'hole restaurant charged us $80 for breakfast. Yes, you read it right ' $80. $80 for cheese, bread, a few sliced of ham, bellini and a coffee. WTF?!
We wandered back over and decided to do the Vatican Museums which is where the Sistine Chapel is. We managed to some how skip the majority of the museum and were able to work our way up into the Chapel rather quickly. We went through these amazing rooms which hold all of the art and history of the entire history of Christianity and Catholicism. It was freakin unbelievable! Tapestries, pantings, chalices, ornaments and everything you can possibly imagine.
The Sistine Chapel is at the end of about two dozen papal apartments that depict various Saints and stories of the bible. When we finally got passed the Asian tourist groups - we walked in and I was like "Is this it?" Lina turned around and nearly smacked me, but I was not asking as a this is stupid, but more of a we went through so many rooms, followed so many signs, went up so many stairs and I was confused. Especially since the Asian tourists kept trying to push me.
What was really remarkable about the Chapel is I had envisioned the famous painting of the Creation of Man to take up the entire ceiling. On the contrary, it is one of like a bizzlion depections on the ceiling. There is so much to take in! The floors, the walls, the altar, the mouldings, the windows, the enormous scene of the Rapture (which is enough to make you freak a bit). It was spectacular. I got yelled at for taking pictures and Lina and I made a plan to secretly snap a photo of her laying on the floor of the Sistine Chapel. She is SUCH a rebel lately!
It was amazing.
We then walked back over to St. Peter's Basillica and words cannot even begin to describe it. There is an enormous depiction or crypt or sarcoughagi for each Pope. The altar is breathtaking with a huge wooden sculpture by Bernini just in front of it. We heard vespers and the confessionals were open. I however went into a benediction that was so moving. I really felt blessed and like God was there with me.
I didn't realize we did so much today. Heading South tomorrow. Hope the weather holds out.
Ciào!
1 comment:
I'm catching up on your posts and my mouth is watering from your food descriptions.
Thank you for this blog. I truly feel like I am along for the ride. Have some gelato for me...do you think they have white chocolate rasberry?
Thank you keeping your promise. Do not leave Lina in Italy!
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