The Vatican and St. Peter's, the Coles Notes version

The story is that if you spent only one minute looking at each piece of art in the Vatican, you would be there for 120 years.  We weren't there for that long, but I can tell you that 4 hours was certainly not enough.  We had an English speaking guide, with microphone, and we all had earphones so that we could hear over the din.  And did there was; I tried to take pictures, but my camera, at least, could not do the crowds justice.  They say that there are 12,000 visitors a day on some days, and I swear every one of them was there yesterday.  They did have things fairly well organized, but it still couldn't help feeling like Grand Central Station in rush hour - and not much more polite than that either - except more languages!

Nonetheless, both of us thought it was hugely worthwhile.  We got the history, and the art - albeit too briefly - Hank was blown away by the Cistine Chapel, and the size and scope and mosaics of St. Peter's.  Not forgetting, of course, Michaelangelo's Pieta, the multitude of Caravaggios and Berninis.This is Hank's first visit to Rome, and he's happy!  I have been here before, but it was almost 30 years ago and they have cleaned up the Cistine Chapel ceiling since then; the difference is amazing. 

All in all, definitely to be put on your bucket list!



Name this Pope!






The Papal Gardens



Detail of the ceiling



Symbol of one of the Papal families


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Not even the Cistine ceiling, just one of hundreds!



Hank tries to get a grasp of it all!