To Italy and Beyond: Vatican through the Backdoor. June 24th

Today is Vatican City with the Mansels. It really starts out last night with a scramble to get tickets into the Vatican without having to wait in line. Of course it costs twice as much and we don't find out if we have the tickets till this morning. We have tickets, but there is a catch. Always a catch. We need to print them out. Fat chance. Renai tries to find a place that will do it with no success. So we walk up to the entrance of the Vatican Museum (95 steps) with an 11:00 entrance time. Then one of the guards points out that the meeting place for us to pick up tickets is over by Foot Locker , wherever that is. He points down some stairs and Renai and I are off. Ten blocks later, we find the place but are 3 minutes late. Quick call to their help desk, a forced march back up to the entrance, and we find the lady who will get us inside. It is a tour group that we have been added to but there is no tour. But we do get into the museum which is the key to getting to see the Sistine Chapel. The museum is very nice and so is the Sistine Chapel. No pictures allowed inside the Sistine Chapel. But Renai has read up on it and proves to be a good guide. One interesting thing. Getting into the Sistine Chapel, there are mobs of people and you are swept along with them. Once inside, the guards tell you to keep moving (we find seats on the side and get Renai's art lecture). Now upon exiting the Sistine Chapel, the mobs are gone and it is an uncrowded exit through the rest of the museum.

Mary Ann and Bryan with Last Supper Tapestry.

Beautiful Altar.

We have lunch in the Museum restaurant and head to tour St Peters Cathedral. We get there and the lines are unbelievable. Might have something to do with it being Wednesday and that is the day for the Papal audience in the square. Did I mention it is hot and no shade in the square. Renai and I walk up to one of the guards letting in tour groups to have him confirm the individual entrance is the one with the large line. He confirms that but also mentions to see his associate Michelle to his right for a fee we can skip the line and go in with a tour group. "Vatican through the back door". Gotta love Italy. When it is time to go in, we are lead in and taken to the audio self guided tour which is where we pay the fee and get the iPods for the self guided tour of the Vatican. One passport is held as hostage guaranteeing our return of the equipment. St Peters does not disappoint and it is even better with the self guided tour.

Kirsten waiting in St Peters Square.

Renai and Bryan entering St Peters.

Kirsten inside.

The Pieta by Michelangelo.

Now if there is a tower or mountain near us, Renai and I have to go up it. Same goes for church domes. And what better one to climb than St. Peters. 500 and some steps. And we convince Bryan to join us. Not much to say about the climb but the views are spectacular. Or breath taking if you walked up.

Bryan and Renai on the way up.

At the top.

St Peters Square from the top of the dome

Me on the dome.

Renai and Bryan on the roof with a Saint.

The Dome.

We walk down, back into St Peters and down into the crypt where a lot of the Popes are buried. No pictures allowed. It does show where the original church built by Constantine once was and has some of the old pillars on display. Cool. We head back to the apartment where Mary Ann and the kids are waiting. But wait we get a text that says they are locked out. Key won't work. Bryan has some shopping to do so Renai and I head back skipping the gelato and wine we had thought we would have. We get back and open the door, but no Bryan. Seems he took a wrong turn and doesn't get home till an hour later. Tired and sore we head out for our last dinner in Rome together.

Under the Dome they were above.

Swiss Guards.

Renai at the Magic Disc.

Dinner near The Spanish Steps. They are very very touristy but they still have to be seen. Nice farewell dinner and then walk to the Trevi Fountain which is under repair. You can still throw coins in though. A good night. Will be sorry to see the Mansels go. We have one more day in Rome then we head North.

Annie has lobster.