Rome and the Vatican- Cruise part 6

Have you read Angels & Demons or the Da Vinci Code? I have and so did everyone else who went. So we were excited to find out that our tour guides/ drivers used to do tons of A&D tours. As we drove throughout Rome and the Vatican they would point out certain places or details from the book, as well as site obvious inaccuracies. But still it was amazing. Our driver this day was one of my favorites. He learned how to speak English in four months after moving to Boston when he was younger. So his accent was so funny. Let me take the time to point out how well everyone dresses in Italy. I mean even our drivers were in designer jeans, silk ties or some times full blown suits! Hair done perfectly, nice shoes ect. Our driver in Pisa wore driving gloves to protect her hands from the sun, honestly, the Italians are awesome.

We went to the Colosseum first. We were taken to a smaller gate away from the crowds to buy our entrance tickets. While we waited we saw a large section of the aqueduct and the boys played in some rocks that were 30% rocks 70% cigarette butts. Smokers were EVERYWHERE. I still marvel at being able to keep my hair smelling like shampoo for more than a day after being out and about since we got home.

The Colosseum was huge and incredible. Most of the damage to the one side was from an earthquake not a war, which is what I thought. We spent about an hour walking around before we headed to see Caesar's Forum. The forum was hard to imagine. Since there isn't much but the footprints of buildings left. We also went to Trevi Fountain, where tradition lets you throw a coin in and make three wishes. The first is to return to Rome, the other two you get to chose. We had a lot of fun there. The water was so cold and refreshing. This was where the aqueduct pooled and the citizens got their water. It was Roman custom to build these beautiful fountains endpoints, but this is the largest in Rome. It has been in tons of old movies. From there we headed to lunch which was just outside the walls of the Vatican. Lunch was yummy as ever and we loved that our guides would tell them to serve us fast so we didn't have to spend hours there (as is the norm).

Then to Vatican City. The Vatican has a wall running all the way around it. Inside we went though the Vatican Museum where we had the world's most knowledgeable guide (really- this guy talked and talked and talked-even when we asked him to just show us the stuff. What part of it is hot and we have sick babies, and we really only want to see the Sistine Chapel didn't he get???) But it was cool to hear all about it. We took tons of photos until we went into the actual Sistine Chapel, where photography is prohibited. But not for the reason you think- it is copyrighted! There is a protective film on it so the flash doesn't hurt it, but aghhh you gotta love commerce. Looking up at Michelangelo's most famous work you are in awe. It kinda hurts your head to take it all in (tilting back to see it all doesn't help your neck out any either). It was one of those pinch me moments- I just saw The Sistene Chapel. We also walked through St Paul's Basilica. It was huge. And it was hard to wrap your brain that standing a few feet from you was where this Apostle was buried. Berk was sick that day and it only got worse once we got back to the boat. He did perk up on the way back when we stopped for gelato. He ate most of mine and Rusty's. Our driver was so cool, he even offered to have us all stay at his mom's house on the seaside. He promised she would feed us --sounded pretty good to me...

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