When in Rome...

T-minus 2 days til home. Today, Les and I had 1 big activity to do: check out St. Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Mind you, although this is really just visiting Vatican City, it really does take about 5 hours and wears the bee-jeezus out of you. With an early morning wakeup and a trip down to St. Peters Square (that took 1.5 hrs in that crazy Rome traffic that is only 4 mi away), we are ready to rumble.

Brief background on Vatican City, for those who don't know much about the homebase for Catholism: it's technically the smallest country in the world, with its own police, post office, and janitors. The cool guards get to wear something from a Halloween costume party too. Getting into the city requires going through extensive security like at the airp0rt, and dress code is a must. I specifically brought some pants to change into too (it was way too hot to wear it all day). Unfortunately, I probably should have worn the pants when I left because I had to change in the Vatican City bathrooms that has the hole in the ground instead of the toilets. Just so you all know, its extremely difficult to not let anything touch the pee-soaked ground while changing.

As we quickly walk through St Peters Square, I do my quick side quest and find the West Potente ground marker for the Air Altar (see old post about my Angels/Demons quest). Check. I feel somewhat accomplished for the day. Meeting the rest of the tour group near the train station, we all get a pair of headphones and a radio receiver so our guide can talk us along as we walk. Pretty cool. Now I really do feel like a tourist.

As we line up for security, I can't help but look at everyone else's attire to see if they are wearing pants like me. I spot some guys with John Stockton shorts and girls who look like they are about to go to a club. I can't wait to see them get turned away. We make it to the museums (yet again) and see what seems like the billionth painting I've seen so far. Catching my eye...hey! John Stockton shorts-guy is walking around! And so is club chick! Now, I'm upset. My pants are on fire it's so hot here.

Finally, 3 hours later and through the maze, we make it to the Sistine Chapel. This is the holiest of holy chapels since the entire giant ceiling is painted by Michaelangelo and has the most famous artwork known to Catholics. The Creation of Man is the most recognizable, I think. It's the one where God is pointing to Adam and their fingers are about to touch, although it seems that Adam is being lazy and not trying very hard to stretch out his hand. I guess it's accurate...man is pretty lazy. Look at me.

The funny part about being in the chapel is that they force feed everyone in there at the same time. You're not supposedly to take pictures or talk, but everywhere I turn, someone is blatantly ignoring the rules and taking a snap. There are guards that roam the room to warn people, but they aren't much of a scare factor. Of course, there are the stealthy ones who point their cameras up from their waist, too. I think about doing that, just to see if I can do it. But Les doesn't want to get yelled at by Vatican Guards. Chicken.

Once we get out of the meat grinder, we get stuck out out in front of the giant basilica. Now, St Peters is the biggest cathedral in the world, and it is not kidding around. It's a good thing we ended our tour of cathedrals with this one, because it's the mother of all churches. I'm not going to bother explaining the enormity of this building, but suffice to say, I'm pretty sure it's longer than a football field. I wish I had a frisbee to see how far I can throw it inside.

Pretty much drained from walking all day, we head over and grab dinner. After that, we check out the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, but this time, at night. I think this is probably my favorite part of Rome...actually, probably of anywhere. Even better than the Bellagio Fountains. What's kind of cool is that everyone stays out at night too, so anywhere with a fountain will be hundreds of people lounging around, chatting, and drinking. Not a bad way to close out a long day.

One more day of the honeymoon to go, and not a day too soon. At least tomorrow, we can sleep in.