One more day until the Lord has risen!
Today on the agenda was the Vatican Museums and Saint Peter's Square. More things we absolutely had to do today because they would be closed the rest of the time we would be in Rome.
We started our day off with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. I even got to have toast with jelly, so I started the day off right. They had a huge selection of breakfast foods from croissants to yogurt with granola, yum.
Then we navigated the bus system and made it to the metro and on our way to the Vatican. I had bought ticket vouchers online which would take us to the front of the line, because I knew it would be super crowded today and I didn't want to wait in line. Not to mention the possibility of us not getting in, that was just not an option.
We walked right up to the entrance and right through security and over to the ticket window. The whole process took about 10 minutes until we were in and on our way looking around the museum. Meanwhile, the line for people who hadn't bought tickets online was around the corner and down the block. I'd say probably a two hour wait time. All I can say about that, Thank GOD I thought of getting tickets beforehand.
We walked around the museum and gazed at the beautiful ceilings and architecture. The Vatican is truly a beautiful place. You had to go through all of the museums to get to the Sistine Chapel. Eventually we made our way up to the top, the Sistine Chapel. Photography was strictly prohibited and strict silence was completely enforced. There were guards walking around the crowd, as well as, lining the walls. If someone was caught taking a picture the guards would literally make them delete the picture off the camera, they were that strict about it.
....However..... Amanda was sly with her Iphone camera and was able to sneak a picture ---> there you have it!
The Sistine Chapel was such a blessed and holy place, we were so lucky to be here.
After we were finished with the Vatican Museums we headed down Vatican City, and along the Vatican City walls, to Saint Peter's Square and Basilica. Due to the Easter Vigil going on later that night, the square and basilica would close at 2 p.m.
There was a road going in to Vatican City with a guard in the middle. The Vatican guards were dressed like jokers, it was pretty comical. I had to take a picture.
Then we got to Saint Peter's Square. WOW. What a sight. We got a little lost, but found an entrance off to the side of the square where we went through security and walked right in to the Basilica. I have no words for what I saw in the Basilica but to try to put it in to words, it was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. I've never seen anything quite like it before: it truly is a wonder.
We walked through, took pictures, but mostly stood there with our jaws dropped in astonishment at how beautiful the Basilica was. Unfortunately the grottoes (the Pope's tombs) were closed for the day so we didn't get to see those, but the Basilica was too great to be disappointed.
After the Basilica we walked outside of it, stood, and overlooked all of Saint Peter's Square for a little while watching people setting up flowers, the stage, the microphones, etc. for the Pope for the Easter Vigil later on in the day. We looked up and saw the balcony that the Pope stands on when he looks over Saint Peter's Square on Easter.
Then, at the end of the square we saw a huge line and were curious as to what everyone was waiting in line for? Maybe it was to be let in to find a spot for the mass? We didn't know. We found someone standing in line who looked like they spoke some English and asked. Apparently, that was the line for Saint Peter's Basilica, we, somehow, took a shortcut and were let in on the side. SCORE!!!
Not only had we bypassed the huge line for the Vatican Museums, but we also bypassed the huge line for Saint Peter's Basilica....on accident.... We were in luck today!
Leaving Saint Peter's Square, our next building to see was Sant Angels Castle. We took pictures of the outside of the castle, but the ticket to get in was another 13 euro for another castle we had no idea what it was.
We crossed the bridge in front of the castle to find a bunch of street vendors selling tourist trinkets and bums playing music for money. Along the street was a man playing the drums on pots, pans, buckets, etc. He was actually pretty good too, he kept a great beat.
We walked along the river more and found little tents with handmade jewelry and finally, our favorite, a dried fruit stand! Of course we had to stop; I got banana chips and Amanda got her normal dried fruit. We ate our fruit and walked along and then decided to hop on the metro and take a little metro tour.
We rode the metro and got off to see things and then got back on and went to our next destination.
Then we caught the bus, yes, the right bus, and rode around trying to find a place to eat for dinner near where our hotel was. Nothing was open because it was 5:30 and apparently restaurants in Rome don't open until 6:30 for dinner, but after a long search, we finally found a place to eat.
Then it began to pour (rain).
At the restaurant we had a calzone, which wasn't very good, but for dessert we had fried bread that were in little gnocchi balls with nutella and powdered sugar on the top: talk about delicious, my taste buds were in heaven.
After dinner we walked down the street to find a bus stop, but got all the way to the bridge over the river and couldn't find one, so we figured we would just go to the same bus stop we got off at and ride the bus all the way around and eventually get back to the hotel.
Well, while we were waiting across the street, we saw our bus and it stopped on the other side. We sprinted through the traffic, in the pouring rain, and jumped on the bus just in time!
When we got back to the hotel, we were soaking wet and ready to take a warm hot shower. We put on the Easter Vigil Mass that the Pope was giving and fell asleep.
Day 9: Vatican is the prettiest place in the world
No comments:
Post a Comment