Day Two - Vatican City St Peters, Sistine Chapel and the Colloseum

August 4, 2012 One thing I learned in Italy is that - while lunches and dinners are delicious - breakfast not so much.  The coffee is very strong - but I like strong - this is borderline for me :-)

Today we had to get up and in the lobby early - we had an appointment at the Vatican.  Breakfast was a buffet.  Lunch meat, cheese, hard breads.  There were scrambled eggs too. Yogurt, melon.

We met Max in the Lobby - we had to leave on the bus at 8am.  When we got on the bus we were introduced to Nora.  She was a wonderful older lady - in a blue flowered long caftan type dress.  Short grey hair and very knowlegable.

 We were given headsets that we would keep for the rest of our tour with Max.  They made hearing what they said very nice.  We made our way in the bus thru the streets of Rome.  The bus dropped us off and we walked past thousands of people lined up along the walls of Vatican City who didn't have appointments.  Max left us in Nora's hands for the tour of the Vatican.  We pretty much walked up to the door and got in.

  The initial entry point once you go thru the door is very modern.  With a lot of art and a very contemporary stair case.  One of the first things we saw was a model layout of Vatican city.  We saw  the dome of St. Peter.

The hall of tapestries -  two of with stood out to me - One that had the killing of the babies from from the time Herod sent the rule out to kill all male children under 2 years of age and there was one of the resurrection where Christ's eyes followed you where ever you went.. 

We saw Michealangelo's pieta - or a replica of it in the halls leading to the Sistine chapel - it was really something to see.  We could get up close to it - the real one is in St. Peters behind protective glass because in 1972 a mentally disturbed person attacked it with a masons hammer - it was painstakingly  restored.  It was one of Michealangelo's first  The sculpture, in Carrara marble, was made for the cardinal's funeral monument, but was moved to its current location, the first chapel on the right as one enters the basilica, in the 18th century. It is the only piece Michelangelo ever signed   It is one of the most remarkable things I have ever seen. 

Then we went into the Sistine Chapel.  You were not allowed to take photos and they asked you to be quiet.  Every now and then you would hear NO PHOTOS NO PHOTOS.  Nora explained to us where the Papal Conclave took place - we sat along the walls where so many cardinals have sat choosing popes.  Nora explained quietly (because she wasn't supposed to be speaking to us)The ceiling is one of Michealangelos crowning acheivements  - but he didn't want to paint it the Pope forced him to - he want back to Florence and the pope sent people after him telling the people of Florence it will be bad for you if you don't give him up.  So he painted the ceiling when we was young.  He came back and painted the last judgment when he he was in his 50s. 
That fresco covers entire wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel. It is a depiction of the second coming of Christ and final judgment of God.The souls of humans rise and descend to heaven and hell crossing the river of stix.  It is really quite something to see.   The Last Judgment drew a lot of criticism  within the church. Michelangelo was accused of being insensitive to proper decorum because of the nudes.A few years after the fresco was complete in response to certain accusers, when the Pope's own Master of ceremonies complained it was disgraceful that in so sacred a place there should have all those nude figures," Michelangelo worked his face into the scene inthe  bottom-right corner of the painting him with donkey ears - while his nudity is covered by a coiled snake. It is said that when he complained to the Pope, the pontiff joked that his jurisdiction did not extend to hell, so the portrait would have to remain and it is there to this day. 
Along the walls on one side is the story of Moses on the other the story of Christ.  You could spend days in there and not see every thing there is to see in those paintings. 

From there we proceeded into St. Peters Basilica.  You really can't get a clear understanding of the emense size of it.  Everything is in proportion so it is hard to tell unless you see a person standing next to something.  The apostle Peter is buried beneath the alter - which is just overwhelming to think about.   That is why it is call St. Peters.  We couldn't get close to the alter at first - there were special guests - a Bavarian pilgrimage.  Nora asked them if they were German - the replied almost insulted.  Nora called them crazy bavarians.   She would always say ANYWAY... as we were about to move to another destination.    She was full of all kinds of information - I wish I had a way to record all the things she was spouting.  Once the Bavarians marched out in ceremony - we all lined up by the ropes - and I was one of the first to touch the foot of Peters bronze statue which is mostly worn away because so many people touch it.Suppose to be blessed if you do.    The canopy over the alter itself is made from Bronze - much of which was taken in from the Pantheon..  It is over 100,000 lbs of bronze.  It is enormous!

Afterwards we had lunch in Vatican City - bought a few souveniers.  I got Marty a Pen from Vatican City.
We sat at a table on a side walk.  Watching buses go buy with tourists.

Then we met back up with Nora and we got on our bus and put on our head phones and listened as we drove thru the streets of Rome and Nora explained what various buildings were and the stories behind them.
We went by the ruins.  Then we went to something I have only dreamed of seeing - The Colosseum.

 That was a surreal moment for sure.  Looking out the bus and there it is. didn't even notice Constantines Arch for a while sitting right next to it.

 I touched it - I walked up the steep stairs and walked completely around the top.  You should always use go with a tour group where you tours are scheduled - I say that because we walked by tons and tons of people who were waiting in line - but because we were scheduled - we got right in.  The gates were all numbers - like our stadiums today ONLY in Roman numerals - And FYI - 54 is LIIII not LIV

 I have pictures - hey - the Romans themselves numbered the gate -...I would think they know more about Roman Numerals than my elementary school teacher :-)  I have to say it was spectacular.

After we got back some of us went to a gelatoria - Me, Gina, Tanner Jeanie Rita and Dennis.  Tanner is on a mission to have 24 different types of gelato :-)  He wants to beat a teachers record.

Later that night we went to dinner at this little restaurant.  We had met Massimo at the hotel and he joined us.  We found out that Max was jumped on bus 64 and robbed.  He was supposed to give us the tour of the Colosseum but was at the police station so Nora took over for him.  He had some bumps and bruises.  He said it was the crazy Peruvians - they rob him and have others situated on the bus to say it was he who robbed the others.  Poor Massimo!  NEVER RIDE BUS 64!!!

Dinner was great - they all were!

After dinner we walked back to the hotel - and had a night cap , play some Euchre (which Rita and I beat Dennis and Mike in the Championship).

They had a piano player at the bar singing - well I guess in Rome you don't sing along with the Piano player EVEN if he is playing Piano Man - we got yelled at. :-)  It was late and I will say for the second night in Rome - I was pretty tipsy!  And we had to get up very early the next morning.  I went out on my balcony and stared at St. Peters again for a while.



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Finally the day has come... we leave for Italy!

Laurie's First Day
After two years of planning - the day has come!
We left at 3:30pm Ohio time that is 9:30 pm Italy time.  Bringing the parents!  Well cut out of their heads.
Me, Fred, Jeanie and Martin Beaver are on a separate flight than the rest.  We fly into Detroit.

Rita, Dennis, Ali, Tanner, Jeanie and Ken Burch, Howard and Sara,  Gary and Ann Smith, Glen and Annette leave before us from Columbus and land in New Jersey.  They meet up with Mike, Gina, who left from Charlotte and Deb and Tom Ernest. 
We will all meet up at the airport in Rome!!!

On the first leg of our flight the plane was small - so they weren't serving drinks - well not to anyone but Fred that is.  I think the attendant liked him.  I was sitting two rows behind. 
We had a 9 hour flight from Detroit to Rome and arrived at 9:30am  on August 3rd 2012.  Didn't sleep much on the flight - if any - too excited.  Our attendants were very nice = Shauna and Shauna.  One gave Fred a hard time about his OSU Shirt.

When we get off the plane - our luggage was there very quickly.  We were very warmly greeted by the rest of our group.  So excited. 

Massimo is our guide, we can call him Max.   The bus is waiting - so off we go!

Max has check in lined up at the Hotel Cicerone on Vie de Cicerone in Roma.  We are told not to sleep so we can get on Italy time.  We get road maps of Rome - this is our free day.

Not all of the rooms are ready when we get to the hotel - we were early.  My room was ready - Room 708! - Fred's his was next to mine.  Mike Gina Howard Sara Rita and Dennis all come to my room.  Fred and I have balconies - Fred and Marty were out on Fred's balcony - - and we all lined up and looked out onto the streets below - the streets of Rome.  You could see the Vatican from our balcony.  How amazing was this trip starting off!  We were there for an hour or so.  Once everyone had their rooms around noon- the 20 of us charted a course! 

We were going to all the locations that a bus tour can't take you.  The skies were crystal clear - so blue... Mike had the map - he has that Dad given gift of direction. 

We walked across the Tiber River.  We stopped at a Piazza that had a fountain with Neptune - first group photo op.  Everywhere you look ancient architecture.

Next stop - the Spanish Steps!

History - The Spanish Steps are  a set of steps climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti  and the Trinita dei Monti church at the top. It is the widest staircase in Europe.There are 138 steps was built  in 1723–1725, linking the  Bourbon Spanish Embassy and the Trinità dei Monti church  both above the Holy See in the Palazzo Monaldeschi located below. The Holy See- I have been reading it the mother church and cathedral of Rome.   :-)  I always thought St. Peters was.  I saw the dome in the distance but thought it was St. Peters. 

Some of us walked all 138 of the steps - it was a very warm day - so some decided to find a place to get a drink instead and went to the Caffeteria del Barcaccia.
We joined them once we were done and I had my very first "official" meal in Italy You could see the Spanish Steps from the restaurant - Lovely view.    The steps are made of marble and are very slippery and over the years they are not exactly flat because of being 300 years old.  Some man fell as he was walking  down them.  I can't imagine trying to walk down them in the rain.  As I said it was a very warm day so on the side of the stair were there was a little shade - there were a lot of people huddled are. 

As we left this restaurant this man speaking in italian kept trying to give me a rose - telling me I was beautiful - kept trying - I kept saying no because I was told not to let anyone do anything for your or give you anything because they will want money - for example if they are dressed as a Roman soldier - and offer to let you take your picture with them they will expect payment.  But this guy was persistant - so I took it.  Then he wanted money I said no.  Finally - Mike stepped in - handed the flower back to the guy and told him to leave - he left.

FYI - When I ordered my Euros - they gave me 3 $500 euro bills and some smaller bills too - but if you go overseas and  you order your Euro ahead of time - make sure they give you smaller denominations :-)  No one can cash that - the Italians all looked at me like I was on crack :-)  I ended up paying for big things and people gave me the cash. 

Once we left the Spanish steps - we headed in search of the Trevi Fountain.  We found it - The fountain is 86 ft. high and 143 ft wide.  It was amazing to see in real life.  I know I use amazing alot but it seems to describe so many things.   I didn't have any coins to throw in - very disappointed! And I wasn't about to throw in a 500 euro :-)

Little History - Trevi Fountain is in the district of Trevi. Its name means the Fountain at the Junction of 3 roads - Tre Vie. It marks the terminal point of the  the Aqua Virgo, one of the ancient aqueducts that supplied water to ancient Rome. In 19 BC, supposedly with the help of a virgin, Roman technicians found a source of pure water 8 miles away.  The Aqua Virgo led the waters into the Baths of Agrippa which served the Romans for 400 years! 
There is a lovely church by there - Church of the Sacred Hearts -It was very old too - Gina and I walked thru it together.  By the way the Parent Heads were getting their pictures taken along the way.  The fountain is really something to see.

Next stop the Pantheon.
One thing I had heard was you could stop and buy a beer and drink it on the street - so some of us stopped and got a cold beer and headed in that direction.

You just keep winding these roads.  The street signs are on the side of the buildings - and they say Like Vie de Cicerone.  So you have search for them.  They are narrow - or maybe they seemed narrow because of the amont of people.  I was in awe of the architechture - everywhere you look.  So we are winding down these streets - little shops here and there.  We turned this corner - and there it is - the Pantheon.

It was a WOW moment.  I mean "Are you kidding ME!  I am at the Pantheon!  HOLY COW! WOW moment"  It was something to see - they still have mass there.  Can you imagine - "where do you go to church?"  I go to 5pm mass at the Basilica de Pantheon. 
Basilica by the way has to do with the shape of the building.  I teared up in there - the artwork was amazing - just being there - in a building I had read about for so many years and never ever could I have imagined I would see it.

History -The Pantheon was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome in like 40BC, and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in about 126 AD.
Almost 2000 years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 142 ft.
It is one of the best-preserved of all Roman buildings. It has been in continuous use throughout its history, and since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a Roman Catholic church. The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza della Rotonda.  The Catholic Church would tear down ancient pagen buildings and statues or let them decay UNLESS they converted them to a Christian something or rather - which is what they did with the Pantheon.  Much of the decor in the Pantheon was removed and used in St. Peters Basilica. 

By the time we left there - we had all been up way over 24 hours.  I felt amazingly awake  We headed back to the hotel.  It was about 4:30.  Winding back thru the streets of Rome on foot

Walking back across the Tiber River.  Some stopped in the bar of the hotel and had some drinks, laughs and some played cards.

We went to dinner at a little restaurant nearby that Max recommended.  They gave us our own room so we could all be together.  I should have written down what I had but I really can't remember at this point.  It was delicious - all the restaurants had wonderful meals.  HUGE meals.  Walked back to the hotel - thru the streets of Rome at night.  I went into my room - opened my patio door - walked out on the balcony - looked down the street at the lit up dome of St. Peters - the one Michaelangelo designed.... and stared for a long time - trying to burn it into my brain so I would never forget that beautiful view.

We need to get up early because we have an appointment at the Vatican.........