June 9, The Vatican and Friends

Catholicism was the focus of most of today's events. In all honesty this is Rome, the seat of catholicism. You cannot really escape it. However, today was the day we went to Vatican City and surrounding areas. This was not a day trip for the weak of heart or foot. There was a ton of walking, a ton of waiting and a ton of climbing (if done as cheaply as possible.)

We started the day bright and early in an attempt to beat the crowds (this proved wise.) We went first to the Vatican Museum since we had heard that this fills up first and yields the longest lines. The Vatican as it turns outm houses not only the largest collection of stolen Egyptian artifacts but also a good percentage of irrationally rude French people. Maybe it was just today but man oh man, I got sick of the French. Thankfully I realized that if I just made the sound of a german tank that they all ran for the nearest border. However, the noise does something weird to the Italians, but I digress.

After looking through the antiquities for a while, we moved on to the Sistine Chapel having accidentally missed the Raphael Room. A mistake I regret. The Sistine Chapel was very different than I ever imagined it. It was much smaller than I had previously pictured and their weren't flights of angels singing to me as I gazed upon it. For ever bit that I was overwhelmed by the Pantheon, I was taken aback by the Sistine Chapel. It was beautiful and without a doubt a master work, don't get me wrong. I just, for some reason, expected more.

Upon leaving the Vatican Museum and Sistine chapel we walked south around the ramparts of the Vatican City to the back entrance of the Basilica San Pietro. Honestly not the ideal approach but it did provide and bit of a "behind the scenes" view of the colloonade and once again, as with the Pantheon, chills ran up and down my arms. The arms of San Pietro are breathtaking and exciting, welcoming and intmiidating at the same time. The Collonade rises high above you with faces of the dead leader and thinkers looking down upon you. They draw you in, these arms, to the masterpiece that is St. Peter's Basilica: a building that took generations to complete, not to mention going through ten architects.

Megan and I made our way inside and our first goal was to climb the dome to the cupola at the top. This is the best view of the city that Rome can provide. But it us not easily achieved. More than once we had to stop our ascent due to the curved walls, cramped passages and extreme exertion causing us to lose our bearings. It was, however, completely worth it. Once atop the Basilica you can see everything for miles. You cn only imagine the feeling of power that one would have felt 500 years ago standing atop the building and surveying the land. Godlike would suffice.

Once back at ground level, we explored the Basilica proper. Most interesting to me was a sculpture Michaelangelo carved in 1499 (when he was 25 years old) called the Pietà. This sculpture was magnificent to behold in true sight. I had seen it many times in history books, art texts, slides etc. but the photographs could not bring it justice. The subtle detailing of the human anatomy, the proportions of it, just the harmonious way the whole composition worked withing itself was enough to humble me (and I imagine many many others.) I could not even bring myself to photograph it.

The next stop was the Tomb of Saint Peter. A lavishly decorated resting place for the Saint himself.

After leaving the Vatican and Basilica, we made our way east to the Piazza Navona to view in particular the three Bernini fountains there. Fontana de Moro, Fontana do Fiumi and Fontana de Nettuno were beautiful but at this point I could focus on little else that my feet so I was not able to give them the credence they deserved.

We left Navona to go into San Luigi Francesi to view the Caravaggio frescos housed within. The paintings of St. Matthew and the Angel, The Calling of St. Matthew and the Martyrdom of St. Matthew were amazing pieces. I was once again appalled by some french tourists and their capacity for being rude but I was quick to forgive.

It was a long day and at this point, Megan and I went home for our well deserved rest.

Tomorrow: Ancient Rome!