Greetings From The Vatican -
When they say going to Vatican City is a once in a lifetime experience, they really mean it. Once is plenty. It’s like cattle going to slaughter. Again, we had the pre-arranged tour. If we had walked up and seen the line, believe me we would have purchased some post cards and come back and looked at photos on the internet. The Vatican buildings are in this walled community, which is a separate country from Italy. The tour takes you through the Vatican Museum and then the Sistine Chapel (no talking and no photos).
The Popes over the years did some big time collecting. I guess in some cases they took what they wanted and in other cases they saved what they could from destruction. They say the Vatican Museum holds some of the greatest art in the world. Well, we were there. We should best say we were pushed and shoved through the museum. There was no standing and admiring the art.
There is no realistic way to describe the museum. I took random photos, primarily based upon when I had a shot free of other tourists. There are a couple of photos outside on the Vatican grounds. Then there is a photo of the Wilsons intently listening to the tour guide. Inside we went, and you get a look at some of the sculptures, of which there seemed to be an endless supply. Not only was the art spectacular, but many parts of the museum buildings were spectacular, as you may be able to determine from the photo of the room with a typical crowd of onlookers. Then, on the way out of the museum (and after going through the Sistine Chapel) and headed to the St. Peter’s Basilica, we took a couple of shots of the outside of the buildings.
The Sistine Chapel contains Michelangelo’s famous ceiling. The chapel is the pope’s personal chapel and the place where new popes are elected. It was impressive to stand on the floor with hundreds of other tourists, looking up at the amazing ceiling.
When the tour comes to a conclusion, you are left at St. Peters Basilica and St. Peters Square. That is next.
The Wilsons
