When in Rome.....
Ok.... Aaaaarrrrrggggg! ....So the Latina girls in our room were so loud, last night and this morning. I can tolerate a lot of noise, but incessant laughter at 7 am, banging the door, and other carrying on.... Is too much. Alli and my patience can only extend so far.
Eventually we slumped down to brunch... O what a surprise... Toast and cereal with warm milk.... But food is food... So we ate. Alli had the foresight that we probably could hang out in the room this morning, and just apologize if they came in for cleaning (for those who don't know in a hostel there are lock out hours for cleaning everyday usually from 10am until 2pm). We used this time to charge cameras etc, and I settled in for a post breakfast nap.
Waking up close to 1pm we departed from the hostel for food and the 2:30 'When in Rome' Vatican tour. We quickly grabbed food and chugged water, then took Line A in the metro to Ottaviano. Once above ground we tried to orient ourselves quickly, but a tour salesman was right on top of us... Let me help you, let me help you. Ugh, we thanked him for pointing out the correct street and quickly ran away... We appreciate the help... But every one of these "helpers" has the same lines. "beautiful girls let me help, come back tomorrow, i have the best deal" Goodness, we honestly cannot walk 3 blocks without cat calls... It gets old really fast. We arrived at the meeting spot early for the tour and hung out in the much appreciated air conditioning. I believe our tour guide was named Sara. She has been giving these tours for over 10 years, and really had a quick wit about her and a thorough knowledge of art and architecture.. She actually reminded me a lot of Sarah Eastly... So I couldn't help thinking of her the whole time.
We sat in the shade and our tour guide showed us up close pictures of the different frames in the Sistine chapped and explained the nuances, mistakes, time line, and historical significances. it really was intriguing, and I found myself trying to absorb every word. Once our head was filled to the brim, we crossed the rest of the courtyard to the sculptural hall "be ready to see a bot of broken statues...that really don't mean anything" mind you, i broke my walky talkie ear thing....and got made fun of at this point... "o pennsylvania, what am i going to do with you!" I laughed a lot at her, maybe too much, but I couldn't help it. Once inside the hall I found it fascinating that these sculptures weren't always white, they used to be painted realistically, but centuries of sun and rain etc had washed it out. Please see the pictures... I cannot begin to explain the vastness of the assortment of artwork on display.
I must note that there was a long tapestry hallway. The best tapestry really uses the geometry of vantage points. When you stand on one side and look at 2 tapestries side by side the long skinny stone door that Jesus is standing on and the table in the tapestry next to it are facing you.... Then as you walk down the hall and look back... They are facing you the other way! it was really neat!I had to go back and do it again.
Our tour guide bid us fair well, and we walked into St Peters Basilica. It was huge! This is what I imagined the sixteen chapel would look like. Alli and I looked to the rit and there was the Pieta (sp?) behind bullet proof glass, so beautiful. Then I saw what shocked me to the core, Pope John Paul's area... Huge statues all blocked off by fencing, a single nun was sitting in the pews in front of his tomb. I knelt right there behind the fencing to pray... Getting trampled on and hearing a crack as an Asian girl tripped over my feet, "thank you God for giving me the gift of this trip..oooouch!" But it didn't matter, this is what I had wanted to see more then anything else in all of Italy. JP 2, I miss you.
There was a mass going on further down the Basilica, so I listened to the prayers and sang along, getting looks from tourists who just didn't understand. And yes I knelt and prayed in many many areas... Thank you Alli for being so so so patient with me. (might I mention that Alli has a new thing with taking pictures of interesting looking angels... Especially cherubs, and that one drunk lute playing one hehe, you have to ask her). Seizing my once in lifetime opportunity, I did the touristy thing and marched into the gift shop and bought holy metals and holy water containers.... Now, where can I fill them? I kept asking security personal after security personal....but... it was closed... The holy water font was closed. I could have cried...and yes I may have... Right there in front of the stone slab listing the names of every Pope. But one of the guards saw my despair and said... Hold on.... He swiped my bag of Vatican merchandise and sprinted off jumping over a velvet rope. I waited and waited... Hoping this guy really worked here and that I hadn't lost what I just purchased. And there he came back with a big smile on his face, "there you go miss". Yessssss! I am sooo thankful! All I wanted was to bring back some holy water from the Vatican to my parents and grandparents, Thank You!
Alli and I reconnected and walked the Piazza... Admiring the view...then agreed we were hungry and needed food ASAP. Yes yes yes, all we talk about in this blog is moving around, drinking, sleeping and eating.... But that is life... And it is awesome.
We found a nice little place and shared a pizza, several waters, a tiramasu, and more coffee! After being well fed, we found a nice gift shop, then boarded the metro to go back to the hostel. Our feet were screaming, I mean for goodness sake, we entered another country today! We settled in for what seemed like an early night, we have big plans for the next couple days.
Overall, seeing the Vatican tourist style was nicer then expected: our group was small, our tour guide was entertaining, and the sites were awe inspiring. Another great adventure, with the best friend anyone could have in the whole world... Honestly... Does it get much better then that?
<3
Kait and Alli
(nose taps)
Ok.... Aaaaarrrrrggggg! ....So the Latina girls in our room were so loud, last night and this morning. I can tolerate a lot of noise, but incessant laughter at 7 am, banging the door, and other carrying on.... Is too much. Alli and my patience can only extend so far.
Waking up close to 1pm we departed from the hostel for food and the 2:30 'When in Rome' Vatican tour. We quickly grabbed food and chugged water, then took Line A in the metro to Ottaviano. Once above ground we tried to orient ourselves quickly, but a tour salesman was right on top of us... Let me help you, let me help you. Ugh, we thanked him for pointing out the correct street and quickly ran away... We appreciate the help... But every one of these "helpers" has the same lines. "beautiful girls let me help, come back tomorrow, i have the best deal" Goodness, we honestly cannot walk 3 blocks without cat calls... It gets old really fast. We arrived at the meeting spot early for the tour and hung out in the much appreciated air conditioning. I believe our tour guide was named Sara. She has been giving these tours for over 10 years, and really had a quick wit about her and a thorough knowledge of art and architecture.. She actually reminded me a lot of Sarah Eastly... So I couldn't help thinking of her the whole time.
We all had ear buds in which helped us hear her as we sauntered through the museum. Our tour guide took us from room to room, giving interesting facts, and telling us where there were faults, and what to skip because they weren't all that important. At one point we hung out in the pinecone courtyard and she asked... "The guards aren't looking, who wants to play spin the sphere?" Of course Alli and my ears pearked up right away! She had me hop the velvet ropes in the center of this courtyard, to go up to a sculpture and push it....and it began to turn on the spot... Wahooo! I bet you are jealous... Well you should be... And maybe if you are good, Alli will post the pic!
We sat in the shade and our tour guide showed us up close pictures of the different frames in the Sistine chapped and explained the nuances, mistakes, time line, and historical significances. it really was intriguing, and I found myself trying to absorb every word. Once our head was filled to the brim, we crossed the rest of the courtyard to the sculptural hall "be ready to see a bot of broken statues...that really don't mean anything" mind you, i broke my walky talkie ear thing....and got made fun of at this point... "o pennsylvania, what am i going to do with you!" I laughed a lot at her, maybe too much, but I couldn't help it. Once inside the hall I found it fascinating that these sculptures weren't always white, they used to be painted realistically, but centuries of sun and rain etc had washed it out. Please see the pictures... I cannot begin to explain the vastness of the assortment of artwork on display.
In the Sistine Chapel we weren't supposed to take pictures, so I didn't. But Alli was brave, so maybe she will share some with you. I was shocked at how small it was! I had pictures a huge cathedral.... But wait.... It's called a chapel.... Not a cathedral.... Should have been a clue. Oh well... When in rome..... Bumping into people every few seconds and feeling like my eyes and brain may fall out of my ears at any moment... I started to stair at the floor for a bit.... Overload Overload Overload. We ended our tour by walking out into the steps of the Piazza San Pietro. 'Wow here it is', I thought... This view floored me, more then anything else, as I stared up at the Popes balcony and looked out at the circular arena.
Our tour guide bid us fair well, and we walked into St Peters Basilica. It was huge! This is what I imagined the sixteen chapel would look like. Alli and I looked to the rit and there was the Pieta (sp?) behind bullet proof glass, so beautiful. Then I saw what shocked me to the core, Pope John Paul's area... Huge statues all blocked off by fencing, a single nun was sitting in the pews in front of his tomb. I knelt right there behind the fencing to pray... Getting trampled on and hearing a crack as an Asian girl tripped over my feet, "thank you God for giving me the gift of this trip..oooouch!" But it didn't matter, this is what I had wanted to see more then anything else in all of Italy. JP 2, I miss you.
There was a mass going on further down the Basilica, so I listened to the prayers and sang along, getting looks from tourists who just didn't understand. And yes I knelt and prayed in many many areas... Thank you Alli for being so so so patient with me. (might I mention that Alli has a new thing with taking pictures of interesting looking angels... Especially cherubs, and that one drunk lute playing one hehe, you have to ask her). Seizing my once in lifetime opportunity, I did the touristy thing and marched into the gift shop and bought holy metals and holy water containers.... Now, where can I fill them? I kept asking security personal after security personal....but... it was closed... The holy water font was closed. I could have cried...and yes I may have... Right there in front of the stone slab listing the names of every Pope. But one of the guards saw my despair and said... Hold on.... He swiped my bag of Vatican merchandise and sprinted off jumping over a velvet rope. I waited and waited... Hoping this guy really worked here and that I hadn't lost what I just purchased. And there he came back with a big smile on his face, "there you go miss". Yessssss! I am sooo thankful! All I wanted was to bring back some holy water from the Vatican to my parents and grandparents, Thank You!
Alli and I reconnected and walked the Piazza... Admiring the view...then agreed we were hungry and needed food ASAP. Yes yes yes, all we talk about in this blog is moving around, drinking, sleeping and eating.... But that is life... And it is awesome.
We found a nice little place and shared a pizza, several waters, a tiramasu, and more coffee! After being well fed, we found a nice gift shop, then boarded the metro to go back to the hostel. Our feet were screaming, I mean for goodness sake, we entered another country today! We settled in for what seemed like an early night, we have big plans for the next couple days.
Overall, seeing the Vatican tourist style was nicer then expected: our group was small, our tour guide was entertaining, and the sites were awe inspiring. Another great adventure, with the best friend anyone could have in the whole world... Honestly... Does it get much better then that?
<3
Kait and Alli
(nose taps)
1 comment:
Nose Taps back at ya!!
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