We almost do it in our sleep now. Wakeup call at 6am,
breakfast at 6.45am and on the bus by 7.30am. Today we were heading to the
Vatican for our tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica
– one of my most favourite places in the whole world. It blew me away the first
time and did so again today.
There is so much to see at the Vatican but our tour was only
a total of 2 hours so it was somewhat of a whirlwind tour. The Sistine Chapel
is amazing – I think I’ll have to read a book on the life of Michaelangelo – a truly
incredible achievement. St Peter’s is also unbelievable – there was a mass
there today so we also got to hear a choir singing – very nice.
After a brief time for shopping we were back on the bus and
off to the Forum and Coliseum. Walking in the steps of the ancient Romans once
again found us traversing roads that are literally thousands of years old while
we imagined gladiators and average Romans alike as they went about their daily
business. The photos don’t quite do it justice – it is quite breathtaking.
So after grabbing a quick bite to eat (OK I admit we shared
a tube of Pringles) we went back to the hotel for a one hour breather and then
back on the bus to head off to visit the summer palace of the Pope in a small
village outside Rome. It was a charming little village and we wandered around
for an hour or so. Then it was off to another nearby town for a rousing dinner
together with an opera singer and piano accordion player entertaining us as we
consumed yet more delicious food – only 5 courses again…what is wrong with
these people??? I will have to be rolled onto the plane to come home at this
rate!
It was an early night – we were back by 8.30pm – which is a
good thing as we have a 5.45am wakeup call tomorrow to allow us to get to the
ferry on time to sail to Greece. Wow – Greece – I can’t believe I’m actually
going – all that Thucydides will finally come to life! In bed by 10.30pm…very
excited (assuming the Greeks will not be on strike or rioting of course…)
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