These guys would move a little when you'd put change in their cup. It was kind of cool. It was kind of creepy too.
The street to the Vatican. I have to say that Rome really isn't tourist friendly. I'm pretty good at finding my way around but I have friends, who shall remain nameless (you know who you are,) who would either be totally frustrated and lost, or broke from taking taxi's everywhere. I took the subway and there happened to be signs pointing to the Vatican. First time I saw really obvious signs to an attraction. Anyway, when you get to the edge of the Vatican, the wall in the picture, there will be two options. You can go up and to the right or straight.
GO STRAIGHT!
I went up and to the right first, which is an option on one of the signs. What they failed to tell you is that the up and to the right option is for tours booked online. I walked all the way up this big old hill, in the blistering heat, past guys trying to sell me purses, umbrellas and key chains, in direct sunlight, only to be told that I had to walk all the way back down and another couple of blocks and to the entrance for those of us who did not make a reservation. I don't know if you can tell, but I was not a happy camper. Especially on the second round past the purses, umbrellas and key chains. Apparently they took my first no as a challenge.
P.S. Kathy, I was tempted to buy you a purse, but I couldn't figure out what on earth I was going to do with it. Plus I decided that it looked too much like the one you already have. Lets face it--I am useless when it comes to purses. I tried though. Do I get an A for effort?
The entrance, finally!
Check out the size of those pillars!
St. Peters Cathedral.
A fountain in the smallest country in the world.
Maybe it's just me, but I am having a really hard time being intimidated by these guards. Not sure why...
I saw them on my first time out of St Peter's. You read that right, first time. I thought it was the Sistine Chapel... ahem... oops. When they told me it wasn't, I left. Then I was told that the Sistine Chapel closed at four and it was five, so I decided to go back to St. Peters. I had to get back in the long line, in the sweltering heat, and go through the metal detectors again.
Which I have to tell you isn't that easy. Turns out that there are metal springs in my shoes, so every time I go through a metal detector I beep. Then I get frisked, and then they use one of those beepy wand thingies on me and then I have to take off my shoes and send them through the x-ray... Not fun. Airports have been especially tiresome.
This was in the dome of St. Peters.
Must have taken forever.
View from the dome. They were having a service.
Main floor.
Michealangelo's Pieta. There is a copy of this in Utah, which I like to go see every once and awhile, so I was especially excited to discover the original was in St. Peter's and not in the Sistine Chapel like I thought.
Anyone totally impressed by my carefully researched trip?
Anyone totally impressed by my carefully researched trip?
It really is a lovely building.
Once again, I offer proof that I was there.
