Blogs from Vatican City, Europe - page 6

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 grande. Pour ce qui est du mussee il est bien. Pour la soiree on est aller manger avec bcp de gens de l auberge (client et employer) dans un grand restaurant. Ensuite nous sommes aller boire quelque verres dans different endroit. c etait tres bien. Surprennant le nombre de Irish pub ici...yen a partout. Nick ps depart dans 1h pour rome.... read more

Ack! i got up at 7:40 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 9:00, when we were supposed to be there. :o( oh well - instead of doing the basilica at 9 and then the museums at 10:30 we changed the tickets to do the museums at 10:30, have a break, and then do the basilica at 15:00, no biggie. we putzed about for a little bit, walking up and down the street and popping into every ... read more

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 Spanish/Portugese/Polish. It was pretty cool. Also seeing the Sistine Chapel was amazing and I never thought I would be able to see that either. It was awesome, smaller than I thought it would be, but still beautiful.... read more

Rome The ship was to dock in Civitavecchia Italy’s 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 1½ journey by coach. The sun was shining and it was a pleasant 16º, although rain was forecast. Again we were very excited about our first trip to Rome, although we wondered if we would actually be able to get close enough to see anything as it was Good Friday. Where we were heading was the final destination of the route taken by the Pope-the Coliseum, so we expected large crowds. It was a lovely drive in and rural parts of Italy were very green and full of colourful blossom. It was so refreshing to see familiar fields and ... read more

I’m not a religious man, but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect religion. And it certainly doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the sometimes magnificent architecture that comes with places of worship. To be truthful, I have often stated that “if you’ve seen one cathedral you’ve seen them all”. This is obviously not true, they are all unique in various ways, but many churches and cathedrals resemble each other. A lot. Same shape, same exterior, same interior, same purpose. A lot of the things that can be found in most churches can be found in St. Peter’s Basilica as well. And then some. This is the boss of all churches. The mothership. Naturally in the sense of its administrative, historical, religious, spiritual, or what have you power as a seat for Christianity. But also and equally important ... read more