One more day in Rome

The dome of St. Peter's
Entrance to the Vatican Musuem or, as the closeup shows, Museu Vaticani

We lined up outside the wall that surrounds the Vatican City.

The first thing we saw was this model of Vatican City. We are looking through St. Peter's square toward St. Peter's Basilica. We entered on the right side. Once inside we went through miles of beautiful hallways filled with gorgeous tapestries, statues and painted ceilings.





In the Sistine Chapel we were packed in shoulder to shoulder but fortunately what we wanted to see was on the ceiling. I did remember with much envy, my aunt Peggy saying that when she saw it she was able to lie on the floor and enjoy all the paintings.

The Creation of Adam
Expulsion from the Garden of Eden
From the Sistine Chapel we went to St. Peter's Basilica. It is very beautiful, overwhelming and special. I took off the headphones and just walked around looked and felt what was there. Good feelings were present there.


Bernini's "Baldachino" or Canopy which is over the high altar and St. Peter's Grave.

Michelangelo's "Pieta" my all time favorite over the years. I saw the "Pieta" in New York at the Worlds Fair. I was just returning from my mission in Brazil. It was and still is the only time that the "Pieta" has been out of Italy.

Leaving the Basilica we went out into St Peter's Square where we saw the a Swiss Guard on duty
I was so enchanted by the guard and wanted to get the perfect picture that when I looked up no one in our group was anywhere in sight. I frantically looked for them everywhere. I couldn't find them. I had no money with me, I could not remember the name of our hotel and my Italian is non existent. After a hour of unsuccessful looking I was frightened. A police officer who spoke some English ask me to think back could I remember anyone in my group mentioning a future destination. I remembered the guide telling someone that she would have an opportunity to buy some books. I had already check all of the shops within the Vatican but the policeman knew of a small book store just outside the wall. There they were.
This is a picture of the balcony that you see in the news with the Pope waving to the people.
They tell us that this is the Pope's apartment. He was in Spain the day we were there.

One of Marvin's and mine favorite spots in Rome was the Pantheon

Four Rivers Fountain
Trevi Fountain