On Monday, May 6th, we had a 1:00 reservation for a tour of the Vatican museum. Again we spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to get there. We took a bus and a train, which required a lot of running around and asking for help of those Italians who spoke a little English, but we managed to get there before the allotted time. Even finding our way to the museum entrance was not easy, but we made it. My feet were already tired when we met our guide who made us stand for half an hour listening to her history lesson before we even began the tour. The lesson was interesting, but I wondered why she had to tell us over and over that Saint Paul was crucified upside-down. Visualizing that horror once was more than enough for my sensitive imagination!
Tourists visit the Vatican to see the Sistine Chapel, not realizing that the famed room will be at the very end of the two-and-a-half hour tour. There are so many rooms, all decorated with fabulous murals, statues, and ceilings, that we were grateful to find a snack bar where we could take a break before entering the Sistine Chapel. On entering the chapel we were asked to be silent, because the sound vibrations will cause erosion of the frescoes. Unfortunately, a lot of tourists ignored this plea, commenting to one another about the famous figures painted by Michelangelo, the sculptor who had been strong-armed into doing this work WITHOUT PAYMENT for Pope Julius II.
After seeing the chapel, Mark and I went back through the museum to find the gift shop where Rosy works. She was so happy to see us, and us her - as if we were meeting an old friend. She gave us directions to get back to Brevetta. She even offered to give us a ride home if we wanted to wait til she got off at 6:30, but it was only 4:00 and we were exhausted!
Before heading to the bus stop we dropped in at St. Peter's Basilica, largest church in the world. It is so huge, we couldn't take it all in, especially since we were already tired and overwhelmed by all we had seen at the Vatican. My thoughts about the opulence of these buildings were that - while they are awe-inspiring, they do not reflect the simple life that Jesus led and his compassion for the poor and oppressed. My over-all feeling about Rome is that the ancient ruins are a testament to the Roman Empire's wealth and power, and the Vatican City is a testament to the Roman Catholic Church's wealth and power. I know many Catholics who are deeply spiritual, but I think their faith comes from within, not from the opulence of their buildings.
We took a bus to Termini Station in order to find the right bus to Brevetta. Termini is a huge "stazione" where you can get either a bus or a train. We went inside to stand in line for the restroom where we had to pay a euro to use the toilet, and then, way at the far end of the building, found an espresso shop near a grand piano. People took turns playing the piano, and when one Asian man played "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You," the crowd of people from various countries all sang along in English! A man standing near me commented that Mark had a beautiful voice, and said how heartwarming it was to hear so many people, who don't know one another, joining their voices in song. There was more music after that - the young man was a terrific pianist and knew a lot of songs! This was one of the highlights of our trip - a wonderful surprise that wouldn't have happened if we had been on a tour!
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| Just one of the many ornate ceilings in the Vatican. |
Tourists visit the Vatican to see the Sistine Chapel, not realizing that the famed room will be at the very end of the two-and-a-half hour tour. There are so many rooms, all decorated with fabulous murals, statues, and ceilings, that we were grateful to find a snack bar where we could take a break before entering the Sistine Chapel. On entering the chapel we were asked to be silent, because the sound vibrations will cause erosion of the frescoes. Unfortunately, a lot of tourists ignored this plea, commenting to one another about the famous figures painted by Michelangelo, the sculptor who had been strong-armed into doing this work WITHOUT PAYMENT for Pope Julius II.
After seeing the chapel, Mark and I went back through the museum to find the gift shop where Rosy works. She was so happy to see us, and us her - as if we were meeting an old friend. She gave us directions to get back to Brevetta. She even offered to give us a ride home if we wanted to wait til she got off at 6:30, but it was only 4:00 and we were exhausted!
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| Rosy, our Roman angel |
Before heading to the bus stop we dropped in at St. Peter's Basilica, largest church in the world. It is so huge, we couldn't take it all in, especially since we were already tired and overwhelmed by all we had seen at the Vatican. My thoughts about the opulence of these buildings were that - while they are awe-inspiring, they do not reflect the simple life that Jesus led and his compassion for the poor and oppressed. My over-all feeling about Rome is that the ancient ruins are a testament to the Roman Empire's wealth and power, and the Vatican City is a testament to the Roman Catholic Church's wealth and power. I know many Catholics who are deeply spiritual, but I think their faith comes from within, not from the opulence of their buildings.
We took a bus to Termini Station in order to find the right bus to Brevetta. Termini is a huge "stazione" where you can get either a bus or a train. We went inside to stand in line for the restroom where we had to pay a euro to use the toilet, and then, way at the far end of the building, found an espresso shop near a grand piano. People took turns playing the piano, and when one Asian man played "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You," the crowd of people from various countries all sang along in English! A man standing near me commented that Mark had a beautiful voice, and said how heartwarming it was to hear so many people, who don't know one another, joining their voices in song. There was more music after that - the young man was a terrific pianist and knew a lot of songs! This was one of the highlights of our trip - a wonderful surprise that wouldn't have happened if we had been on a tour!
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