Vatican and more

I thought this was a holiday!!??  Up before the fountain cleaners today – had an appointment with the Pope at 7.30, we had to get the Metro from our place, change at Termini and get another to the Vatican.  Arrived and met the guide.  As much as we despise the tour groups we were glad of this one.  Roberta was our guide and there were only 6 of us in the group.  Supposed to be 3 hours and we were with her for over 4 hours.  She gave us a tour through the complex of museums, the Sistine Chapel and St.Peters.  Such good value at 22 euro when entry alone costs 15. 

St.Peters.

Columns around the square.

Fountain and spire in St.Peters Square.

Vernon - waiting for lightening to strike.

Pam praying it doesn't?

Vatican gardens - we'll go for a stroll around here later with my mate Ben. (the Pope for the uninitiated)

Quadrangle in the museums of the Vatican.

The 'pineapple'.

Statues in the Vatican Museums.

Ceilings in the Museums.  The picture bottom right are paintings - not carvings, a real optical illusion.

Paintings of the walls/ceilings in the museums.

This door is opened every 25 years on the Jubilee year for the Catholics among us.  The 25 years signifies a new generation of Catholics and is attended by Catholics all over the world.  Queues go for ever to walk through the door and all year round it is at least a 2 hour wait to walk through the door to symbolize the entering into Gods world. 

The other side of the door which is bricked up after the Jubilee year, is broken down with a special silver hammer kept for this purpose and the door is opened to let the believers through for the year.

Tomb of Pope John Paul II.

Altar of St.Peters Cathedral.

Dove in the Apse behind the altar.

Dome of St.Peters.

You wouldn't believe it....first souvenir shop....Pam runs into someone she knows!!!

Swiss Guard looking after the Pope since about 1400.

After finishing the tour and the obligatory shop in every shop within about 500 metres of the centre of St.Peters Square we decided to make our way home on foot which would take about an hour.  Left the Vatican and called into Castle Saint Angelo.  This castle was actually built for Rome Emperor Hadrian as his mausoleum in about 130AD and was later used by the Popes as a retreat in time of conflict and to ‘get away from it all.’ (I think it may have had the Fox Sports channel too??)

There is a round castle here somewhere...Castle Saint Angelo......geez...I can't read these Italian maps!!!!

Lucky Pam has an eagle eye!!

Foot bridge over the Tiber River from Castle Saint Angelo.

Pam with St.Peters in the background.

The passage the Popes used to get away from the turmoil in The Vatican.

Down the Tiber.

Government offices from the castle.

Wandered home, said g’day to our friends in the riot Police who were quelling a demonstration down a side street.  They seriously outnumbered the demonstrators tonight so they didn’t need my assistance.

Got home sometime after 5 a little weary and looking forward to a sleep-in tomorrow.