Tuesday 15 December

Today started with a wake up call at 6am to allow us to have breakfast and get ready to leave at 7.30am. We had an 8am appointment at the Vatican museums (otherwise known as privileged early entry!). Our travel director handed us over to a local guide, Chinsia, who took us through the museums and into the Sistine Chapel. She taught us so much in the three hours we spent there, and everything we saw was just so amazing and indescribable. And the kids were very impressed we left Italy for another country by visiting Vatican City! 

I have Catholic friends who are quite disheartened with the church currently, and while my knowledge is limited, I can see the difference the current Pope is making at this time in history. Everyone here speaks highly of him and he seems very humble, turning down the large papal apartment to live amongst the people, and refusing to wear gold crosses or Prada shoes for example. 

One of our tour members caused some excitement in St Peters Basilica when she fainted while Chinsia was speaking to us. Tim felt bad he was right next to her and not quick enough to realise and catch her (he may have been squashed if he tried!). She told us later that she suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, and couldn’t cope with the crowds in there. And she is travelling on this tour alone – wow, brave!

Jarrod and Ross took some good photos on our “proper” good camera, but nothing I took on my iPhone could do justice to what our senses took in today. I learnt so much about “The Judgement Day” by Michaelangelo and other paintings and tapestries throughout the museums. I have a new appreciation for and interest in art and art history. No photos were allowed in the Sistine Chapel because the company Fuji paid for the restoration, but below is the dome of St Peters Basilica and the tomb of Pope John Paul the second. We will take some time when we get home to go through and organise all the photos we took, and then Jarrod will upload them.

   
 
I also have a new appreciation of Michaelangelo and his genius, the optical illusions he created, his ability to sculpt and paint, and even his humour and the way he could exact revenge on Popes and employers that he didn’t agree with.

We had lunch (paninis!) in a cafe nearby, and Ross was very disappointed to learn from our guide that the beggars were not genuine and almost all were related to the mafia. He had been wondering how we could do more to help them, but the guide told us to stay clear of them.

After lunch, we crossed the border back into Italy and headed over to the Colosseum. Chinsia took us inside to give the explanation and some history and then gave us half an hour to explore it for ourselves. Bucket list item achieved 👍 and more inadequate photos which do not do justice  to the experience. 

     
We then returned to the hotel for a two hour rest before heading back into Rome for a walking tour and dinner. Chinsia took us straight down the street in which we started our journey of Rome, to the Trevi fountain, back streets to the Pantheon and on to Piazza Navona. She did tell us it was an area for locals, not just tourists, which was comforting for someone who had sat at home months ago not knowing where to book accommodation! Once the commentary was complete, we were given one and a half hours to explore on our own and find dinner.

    
With so many restaurants in the streets surrounding the Piazza, Ross made me choose where to eat. I picked a restaurant called Saltimbocca – surely it must be good with a name like that? It was delicious, and for dinner we had…pizza, but by a whole pizza not just a slice. Either way, we are eating quite cheaply here – the eight of us can eat in a restaurant for 20 – 50 euros, but our diet is limited to mainly pizza, pasta and paninis! 😬 The hotel meals when on offer are more varied, and there is plentiful fruit which I am encouraging everyone to avail themselves of! Our waitress brought us a free lemonchello (?) after our meal – so lovely of her but not to my tastes!

     
(Last photo but worth including – the stock exchange!!) 😉