Vatican Museum

Sat March 20 2010

This morning we awoke with the very emphasis of having to get to the Vatican Museum before one pm, because thats when it closes said our Rome book. It was a cloudy day in the city with a light breeze.I took my grey cardigan along it was light but enough to get by. On our way in the taxi we noticed something along 5 blocks of people lining up against the museum. The thought of having to stand in that really bothered me.I honestly don't think we would have gotten in. Luckily as the we were getting out the cab we saw a women who was pass by and mouthing something about tickets and tours directly inside. We quickly followed her back to a small office around the conner. After purchasing our tickets we decided to venture onto the streets to find breakfast. Everything seemed to be still closes so we stumbled into a small cafe. Settling for some kinda cheese-less pizza it was and water. Not my first choice but had to do.

We returned back to the small business as people started gathering for the tour. The group was a lot larger then we expected and then dismissed into sections. The women who would be giving our tour was a frizzed headed ,not so good with the english older women. (Who later would into a italian fight for a board expelling the sistine chapel with another native) We followed her in to a mess of line among lines into a chaotic craze of a mess in the museums entrance. I don't think the europeans have a sense of organizational skills like us americans. We finally came to a point in the courtyard of the museum where we w ere finally about to relax and ease into the whole experience.

The museum itself was unlike anything I have ever seen in my life, There was no inch untouched of beauty and art. Sculptures laid everywhere from humans, angels, animals, prophets and roman mythology. It was beautiful! I think my favorite part was the detailing of the ceiling. The colors the stories, the detail was just so fine. I found it amusing that inside the halls itself where tons of tour guides- scratch that throughout the city of Rome tour guides would hold up different types of I'm not to sure what you call them, but some looked like sticks with handkerchiefs or cloths hanging from them. Our tour guides was cute a blue lacy scarf with a hint of tan ribbon and a flower. I thought it looked like a fairy's wings. (which she would randomly hit a person with here and there throughout the time) We wondered though the crowed museums taking pictures, admiring the works of arts and half listening to the explanations of one while being mesmerized by another one near by. I particularly liked the braze Hercules, The Animal room, The tapestry room,(Which was interesting yet scary, some pictures depicted children being killed and stabbed.) The maps room and of course the last judgment where I swore I saw me getting pushed off the boats into hell.

So the best part was approaching thee Sistine Chapel. We where told many times absolutely no photos, no talking in the chapel. Feeling a need to rebel i put my iphone on video and flipped the screen towards my tour book. We walked down a narrow hallway into the Chapel. We walked into the Chapel with our backs against last judgement. It was HUGE a cover the entire wall. I thought to myself the Chapel itself was a lot smaller and everyone was talking. It was huge mess and people where taking pictures! The guard where shouting for everyone to be quite but it would last for no longer then 3 seconds. I really liked the paintings seeing the story coming to life. I quickly snapped a photo even though your no suppose too. I had to! One painting in particular caught my eye. It was along the right wall, second to last. By Botticelly it was of the banishment of some men.

We exited and the tour guide brought us outside into Peter Sq. We said our goodbye and off she went. Then we went into another chapel to see glorious and huge statues of Popes, Angels and so on. Exited out the square to pass the river of the Castle St Angelo where angels starred down the bridge. Later we saw the spanish steps and purrused some shops like Gucci, Prada and Fay. Ate at a classic restaurant, where we where offered "fruit from the forest". An unmemorable place if you'd ask me. Followed by a taxi ride back to the hotel but an Italian women. I sank back into the seats wondering had she sprayed her seats to smell of perfumed flowers for her patron.

After my two days here in Rome I think one of the greatest parts of the city is the fact every corner you turn there is a beautiful historic fountain or figure. A square natives gathering and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. No one bothered by the tourist. A picture is worth a thousand words but an experience is a lifetime. Its so beautiful to feel apart of a something like the world when it seems like you've seen it all.