Vatican Day

This morning I sat up on the roof terrace and looked at St. Peter's. I managed to get some sun and watched as the lawn guy mowed the grass down below me. I wondered how he mowed down the hill.

Paul and I left before 11 and caught the subway to the Vatican Museums. It was only a short ride. We came up out of the subway, crossed two streets and saw the line to get in the museums...oh, my goodness! I was so happy we had made reservations. We didn't have to wait at all and got inside very quickly. It was very crowded and a bit confusing but we just followed the crowds.

We went to the Egyptian Rooms first. Lots of statues of Sekhadt (sp) goddess with lion head and a few cat mummies too and everyone's favorite things the mummies. We went to the Etruscan Rooms which I really enjoyed because not many people were interested in those exhibits. Wonderful bronze items, even a hibachi! Of course we looked at lots of Roman statues some quite good and some pretty awful. The mosaic floors were so wonderful and considering how many people walk on them every day in remarkable shape. Going into the Raphael Rooms was not pleasant because of the crowds. We were shoulder to shoulder and had to just go with the flow. There were so many tour groups (we didn't hear one in English!) so if you got caught in one it was hard to extricate yourself. We did manage to find a tiny cafe and get a pastry and coffee to keep us going. We passed through the Greek Vases and more statues to find ourselves in the map corridor. It was the longest corridor that I think I have every seen. I asked Paul if the end was real and not just a vanishing point in a painting. The ceiling was gold with paintings and gold decorations it was amazing. The walls were covered with immense maps of Italy. The view from the window was of the gardens. We followed the crowds as we wound our way through tiny spaces, many, many stairs, through the modern Christian painting galleries until finally we were at the Sistine Chapel. We were in a huge crowd and managed to make our way into the space.
It really is as I imagined but with 1000's of other people trying to experience it too. You cannot sit but you can stay as long as you like until your neck gets so tired. I was able to find a few things that I had read about (M's self portrait on a piece of flayed skin!) The ceiling is much higher than I thought it would be and I wished I had brought binoculars. I'm going to rent The Agony and the Ecstasy when I get home.
We left and went through the Borgia's galleries and another map room plus the old library with its corridor lined with painted cabinets. Some amazing ceilings!

I knew the whole experience would be overwhelming so I tried to focus on just a few things intently...
an amazing rabbit bottle from the Etruscans, some of their gold work, a beautiful attic vase of Oedipus playing dice with a sphinx, the bust of Homer, the story of the Lacoon statue and its missing arm, some of the ancient Roman glass vases, etc.

We went down the amazing stairway, stopped at a gift shop and left. We (especially Paul) were so tired but we bravely walked along the wall to St. Peter's hoping the wait would not be longer than an hour. What a pleasant surprise, there was no line and no wait, Thank the pagan gods! We were able to view the Pieta right up close, Pope John the 23rd's tomb, and just about everything but a large section was blocked off because they were getting ready for some event. I just sat there amazed at the size and magnificence of this holy place. I tried to imagine what the early catholics from all over Europe must have felt when they entered through the doors and beheld it. Wow! Talk about ostentatious displays! But I was impressed...I loved how they have inlaid on the floor how large it is compared with other cathedrals all over the world...none really come close in size. The dome is so beautiful and huge I felt like a little bug. We were there about an hour and decided to head back..Georgio and I did get our photo taken with two of the Swiss Guards...I don't know what they thought of Georgio! Took the bus back, rested went to Vespers, dinner and now packing to leave for Florence. Goodbye for now to Rome and goodbye to Richard who has been wonderful to us!