we've booked tickets for 9am at the vatican museum
so an early start is planned to get into rome before then
some issues down under means the day actually starts at 2am
a 7:30am departure is arrival at the gates with 15 minutes spare
a well-dressed, quietly-spoken 'tourist guide' then assails us
offering an upgrade on our tickets for extra internal access
we smell a scam and walk away as he offers more discount
have they no shame - they must trap so many naive tourists
our pre-booked digital tickets gets us past the long queue
we then load up with audio guides and go into cruise mode
the vatican houses one of the largest museums in the world
a huge collection of works gathered by popes over the centuries
our recent bike guide suggesting it is too much and best avoid
but the appeal of seeing the sistene chapel is a lucrative prize
our starting point is the egyptian collection - which says it all
the power of the papacy has snared works from far and wide
a suspicion that the objects may have been dispossessed?
lingering concern about that dissipates as we venture further
each large area entered presenting a different theme of objects
statues and busts as expected, tapestries, portraits and fine art
the hall of maps is of particular appeal - art easily interpreted
raphaels frescoes over several rooms also well appreciated
especially with the audioguide providing verbal explanations
the gathering of modern artworks is also very much enjoyed
a religious theme in common and an abstract 20th century look
by now we are won over by the museum after a couple of hours
as we enter the sistene chapel the excitement levels go up a notch
packed with people but fortunately the walls and ceiling are visible
noisy too - the request for silence ignored as people excitedly chatter
similarly the request for 'no photos' not applying to the smartphones
a booming amplified voice every few minutes requesting silence
which works for a few seconds - i am thankful for the audioguide
the headphone buds buried in my ears and some soothing words
detailed explanations of the frescoes on display well appreciated
repeat play is used to really get my head around the amazing art
at the age of 32 michaelangelo painted the huge detailed ceiling
then in his sixties returned to spend 6 years on 'the final judgement'
awesome - meaning - 'something that inspires awe' - very appropriate
i have visited the chapel previously but i guess without an audioguide
the voice in my head adding another dimension to what my eyes see
and usefully blocking out the loud and incessant chatter - heathens!
after 30 minutes or so we take a sneaky exit for 'tour groups only'
this passage is a short-cut to the neighbouring st peter's basilica
first a walk through the papal tombs where many popes lay
including pope paul the 6th who i remember from my youth
it's all quite overwhelming really but then - a few steps up -
st peter's basilica itself is beyond words - glorious and more
the scale of this place is unbelievable - the jaw it is dropped
and the breath it is taken but i manage to suppress the tears
we go into wander mode around this ginormous building
so much to see and and admire not the least the architecture
ancient and yet modern with clearly no expense or effort spared
we've seen a lot of cathedrals but this one has to be the pinnacle
michaelangelo's pieta sculpture is seen behind glass in one corner
that draws the camera-yielding crowds looking for the highlights
stepping out into the bright and hot day is a harsh return to reality
final thoughts - bring the aliens here - this is humanity at it's best
we wander silently to a cafe for lunch and re-gather momentum
the group splits - there are tickets for a show to be picked up
90 minutes spent walking and metro riding on this hot day
now feeling pretty comfortable traversing rome central
there's a bit of a mixup in the appointed time of meeting
leading to some anxiety and too many what-if thoughts
but shopping has been distracting - all good - let's go
on the way home we pass an athletics track and stop
a bunch of large surrounding statues catches our eye
64 of them - over 5 metres tall - rome loves statues
we get back to a partying town in the early evening
join in the festivities with beers at our favourite bar
seems the end of the school year is being celebrated
we are celebrating in our own way - what a day....
