http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Vatican City en-us Fri, 04 Dec 09 09:03:15 +0000 Fri, 04 Dec 09 09:03:15 +0000 Monday 19th OctoberA day at the home of the Pope The VaticanAfter yesterdayrsquos close encounter with the Cardinal at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore we were ready to see what might happen when we spend a day at the Vatican looking over the RC churchrsquos riches.The day has started out beautifully fine and sunny but rather cool and so we shall go prepared for the temperature to reach http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-447028.html Irsquom not a religious man but that doesnrsquot mean I donrsquot respect religion. And it certainly doesnrsquot mean I canrsquot appreciate the sometimes magnificent architecture that comes with places of worship. To be truthful I have often stated that ldquoif yoursquove seen one cathedral yoursquove seen them allrdquo. This is obviously not true they are all unique in vario http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-432448.html But Maybe Not Quite As Much As This PlaceSo I mentioned that I was heading to a city thatrsquos a country within a city today. It also happens to be the smallest country in the world at just one square kilometre and was given itrsquos independence from Rome in the 15th Century I think. It has itrsquos own postal service currency newspaper and radio station and has a unique army of Swi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-429900.html After visiting the Vatican museum we proceeded to visit St. Peter's Basilica the mother of all churches. St. Peter's Basilica is undoubtedly the greatest Catholic Church on earth both in size and in significance. It was said the Church built on the site where St. Peter was martyred by the Romans crucified head down. The church altar contains the bones of St. Peter so goes the Christian leg http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-426129.html Disclaimer The following blog contains discussion of religious and philosophical nature. Viewer's discretion is advised.We all know the saying that Rome was not built in a single day. However the Christian Church was not built in a single day either. Many martyrs and saints in the Christian frame of reference died a horrible death and shed their blood to spread and enhance the faith through http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-425087.html photo vatican http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-420036.html Bon pour nos deux derniere journee a rome...nous avons ete visite le chateau st angelo puis le vatican. Le vatican c est gros gros gros mais j ai ete tres dessus. Point positif on s est paye une visite prive avec un guide. La chapel sistine est over protected et pas extraordinaire si vous voulez mon avis. Content de ne pas avoir attendu 3h pour cela. La basillique est tres belle parcontre super g http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-420027.html St. Peter's Basilica is an unassuming name for what seems to surpass all churches in the world. And well it should be as it is situated in Vatican City the residence of the Pope and the Holy See. However it is not a cathedral.Our plans to visit the Basilica were foiled when we arrived on Saturday June 9th and were turned away being told that President Bush was inside speaking with the Pope http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-403237.html Ack i got up at 740 but johnny didn't get up til a little late after i got out of the shower. by the time we were both done getting ready and out the door we hadn't made the bus number 64 to the vatican city in time and as we got over near the stop which we actually passed and had to get off and walk back it was after 900 when we were supposed to be there. o oh well instead of do http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-402216.html The Vatican City. It has it's own post office police uniform and is technically a separate country to the rest of Italy. Unfortunately we ran out of time to explore St Peter's Basilica as we waited hours in the line to the Vatican Museum. Probably should have done the former as the most interesting object in the museums was a 4000 year old mummified body of a small pharaoh. You could still see h http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-397531.html We decided not to head down the coast for a 16hr day gee I wonder why I hear you ask. Experienced travelers will tell you that there is so much to do just in Rome and that our lsquowish listrsquo of things we would like to see and do was a little ambitious however until you are actually in the thick of it you really donrsquot appreciate the advice This holiday was never about a checklis http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-396017.html While Mom and Dad were visiting we took a trip to Rome and Vatican City to have a general audience with the Pope and then tour the Vatican Museums and what not. It was so much fun and I'm not sure I've ever seen my Mom so excited or happy to get to see the Pope live. It was pretty cool. He also spoke Italian German French English Latin and some SpanishPortugesePolish. It was pretty cool. Als http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-394387.html My internship at the U.S. Mission to the EU was over and my Italian lsquovacationrsquo had started. As if this entire trip hasnrsquot felt like a vacation. It took me about 2 hours to get from the airport to my hostel. As soon as I finally found it the receptionist opened the door for me and asked if I have a hungry friend waiting there for me. I had to laugh because yup Michael w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-390616.html RomeThe ship was to dock in Civitavecchia Italyrsquos largest passenger port where about 5 cruisers were side by side. This port is known as the gateway to Rome. We had booked our trip into Rome a 1 journey by coach. The sun was shining and it was a pleasant 16 although rain was forecast.Again we were very excited about our first trip to Rome although we wondered if we would actually be abl http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-390310.html 14 Stations of the CrossOn Friday night 9 pm Laura Jordan and I walked down to the Colosseo to see the Pope do the 14 Stations of the Cross from the Ancient Temple of Rome and Venus. There were supposedly 20000 people there and from the looks of it I believe it. We fought our way through the crowd to a spot where we could at least make out the Pope's face and settled in for a ceremony that s http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-389915.html Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form no appreciable ideaof what one man is capable of achievingJohann Wolfgang von Goethe 1787The Vatican City is the world's smallest state by both population less than 1000 and area. It is one of only three sovereign citystate worldwide and located within the city of Rome.For the best approach to the Vatican walk across the beautiful Ponte Sant http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/blog-378864.html Passport Canada emailed me and said that my passport was ready to pick up. So we caught the train from Florence into the train station in Rome Termini. We decided to try a different hostel and were recommended the Yellow Hostel which was a lot cheaper than the Pop Inn we stayed in last time.The night we got in we toured around the ancient part of Rome armed with our camera this time. The Colise http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-347529.html Although we had an incredibly long day the day before the girls and I were up bright and early. Learning from our mistakes we did not stop by breakfast this morning. Instead we headed to the little cafe we had seen that had everything a girl could want. My breakfast consisted of a chocolate croissant and a double shot of espresso. Amazing. I was finished before we even got out the door. It was http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-346182.html We spent a day at the Vatican where we got a tour of the museum saw the basilica and the Sistine Chapel filled with Michaelangelo's paintings. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-342262.html To text http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Vatican-City/Vatican-City/blog-330505.html