Glenn woke me up at seven and said I had to get up and post as he got three emails asking why I didn't write yesterday. The truth is we haven't stopped moving and yesterday we were up at the crack of dawn to make the first tour of the day at The Vatican.
Glenn woke me up at seven and said I had to get up and post as he got three emails asking why I didn’t write yesterday. The truth is we haven’t stopped moving and yesterday we were up at the crack of dawn to make the first tour of the day at The Vatican.
The combination of neither one of us having been here in so long and this being the girl’s first trip means we are taking in all the sights. Lucy is at that age where she does not want to look like a tourist anywhere, and I keep saying we are tourists!
To break up the monotony of too many churches, ruins, Raphaels and history we have broken it down so we do sights until four and then shop from four to seven. Sadly, I have to rush this morning, despite being woken up to blog and getting myself all juiced up on caffeine to do so, the internet went out for a half hour just as I was posting. In fact my first stab at this was better but I can’t remember what I said.
First stop day before yesterday was The Colosseum. Lucy had studied it last year and was able to throw in some facts that even Glenn was impressed by, Taylor got an A in Latin so she can translate certain signs and things so it worked out well. Glenn knows everything about everything and I don’t mean that snidely he just does, so he is our walking guide book. And me, well, even if I learned about it at one point I have forgotten it by now.
Needs no explanation.It sounds like a cliche but you do have to see it to believe it.I don't have a wide angle lens, I can't get it all in. I can barely use the two lenses I have.Glenn just said to say this was the locker room of it's day. So, this is the locker room of it's day.We spent much of the time losing each other in pairs. Had to grab photos when all together.This cross was added recently.The Arc of TiberiusFirst things first.Hot Italian guy of the day. He won on personality.We left the Colosseum and headed to the Palantine Hills. You could say they were the Beverly Hills of their day. It's where all the big cheeses lived,Augustus, Romulus and the rest of the A- listers.
This little walk took a two hour excursion into a four hour one.
You can see why they picked this spot. The views are tremendous. Though obviously it did not look like this in the first century BC. However it goes to show that location, location, location has been around a long time.It goes on forever.Three hours in Lucy is giving out.Someone else had only just begun.We stood in front of this and tried to figure out what he might have picked. We picked wrong. Taylor said I have never heard him mention Romulus, why would he want to see his hut? Well, he did.We found him in Augustus's house.This explains a little of it.The view from the top of the hill today.Another angle.They took our picture then sat on a bench and said we are not moving. Granted we had been climbing for two hours at that point.We headed down the hill to see The Forum. When in Rome!Lunch followed by gelato and then on more sights.The Pantheon. Glenn can't believe I didn't get the dome.I got it inside.Raphael's tomb.I have a thing for skulls. This one was especially compelling.They kept announcing this in every language. No one really paid any attention.I tried.We ended up having a coffee int his square and then walked home and collapsed before dinner.
I usually hate tours. In fact I avoid them at all costs. But the lines to get into The Vatican are so long and there is so much to see I figured we had better just sign up, and follow a guide.
Gearing up for tour."You've got to be kidding?"If you get lost look for the yellow flowers.This was The Ugg Family. Every member wore a pair.This is a snippet of the gardens. We stood outside for a long time hearing a lecture.One of the hallways. Oddly it's not an easy place to get photos. The crowds being one of the main ones., there is always someone's head in the way. They also do not allow any photos in The Sistine Chapel.These are one of those photos I take and Taylor says, "You've got to be kidding?" But like it.St Peters BasilicaSt. Peters inside.Michelangelo's PietaSt. Peter is buried under that spot.Better shot of the alterThe Cross The Pope touches when he enters the Cathedral. Everyone who comes in is allowed to touch it.
Pope's Private Apartments.St. Peters Square
In between all of this we got in about six Churches, seven coffee houses, three meals a day and many shops! My feet are killing me. Back out to the streets!
