Rome in a Day

After we finally got a hotel (in the boondocks, requiring a subway, a bus ride, AND a hike up a very steep hill) we got settled and rushed off to the Vatican after we ate at a panani shop. (YUM!). It was really cool. The sun was starting to set and the light was very pretty, plus a mass was going on so the chanting of the monks added a majestic feel to the whole experience. We also think we may have seen the pope at the mass, yet to be determined, but Cathy is pretty sure that no other person wears the funky pointed hat. We got a really terrible picture of the hat (which we had to shove through crowds to get) just in case. The museum in the basicilla was free on Sunday, so we got to see some really interesting relics and other things. We also induldged in some gallato, and let me tell you, the Italians know ice cream! After we type up this blog, we think we are going to go get some more.

Getting through Rome is a claustrophobic experience. They stuff people into the bus and subway, and there are crowds everywhere. So far we have managed to not get seperated or miss our stops, which is amazing. Both Cathy and Jeremy have managed to get their bags tangled up in the turnstill, which was awesome. As for the crowds, you cannot be polite here, you have to shove your way through if you are going to get anywhere.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at the Colosseum, even though we knew it would be closed. We were glad we did. It was all lit up and it looked really pretty at night. We got a ton of really great pictures, which we will hopefully be able to upload soon.

We had hoped to see the Sistine Chapel today, but the line was several blocks long so we decided to move on. We are off to tour the Colosseum, and do as many other things as possible before the train leaves for Naples at 6 PM. We already have a hotel reservation, at a place that will not involve a bus or subway ride for once (we hope!). We will be in Naples and Pompei for tomorrow.