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Published: August 3rd 2009
This morning we met downstairs at 8am. We were told that we could not wear shorts so everyone is in jeans. It’s gonna be another hot day. We boarded the Metro over to Vatican City. We didn’t take into account that today is a work day so at 8am the subway was packed. Some of the boys didn’t make it onto the same train as the rest of us but they weren’t far behind.
Once into the vicinity of Vatican City we met up with our tour guide for the day, a very beautiful half Italian-half German woman named Sandra. At least I knew they guys would be paying attention today. She gave each of us a headset so we could hear her as she took us for a three hour tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. She was very intelligent and informative and it was definitely worth the price of the tour. She pointed out all of the things that were important to see meanwhile giving us the background information on all of the artists and their paintings and sculptures.
Everything was absolutely incredible. From the exquisitely detailed paintings, tapestries and sculptures to
the unbelievably accurate maps that are still relevant today. We then toured Rafael’s Rooms where Rafael and his students painted. We got to see his progression as an artist through his career going from room to room, seeing how he at first despised Michelangelo and then eventually was inspired by him. The high point of the tour was viewing the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Sandra explained to us all of the secrets painted into the ceiling by Michelangelo in his efforts to rebel a bit, but you’ll have to go see it for yourself to find them out. One of the rules when the viewing the Sistine Chapel is absolutely no video or still photography. One of the geniuses in our group thought it would be a good idea to take pictures anyway as was immediately thrown out by one of the security guards. I won’t tell you who it was, you can find out from your son.
After viewing the Sistine Chapel we ended the tour by visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. The Basilica is massive and is the second largest dome in Rome, falling short by only 1.2 meters to the Pantheon. It
does however take the crown in the height department as it is the tallest building in Rome and by law no building may stand taller. That way it can look out over all of Rome.
After our tour was over we went to a local pizza place for lunch. The food was good and I hope the guys enjoyed it since starting tomorrow in Hungary we will pretty much have no choice over what we will be eating. The guys are free for the rest of the day until we meet up for dinner. Some are going back out shopping, some to the Spanish Steps and some just resting in the hotel.
I will attach many pictures from our day in Vatican City and if you haven’t noticed I went back and updated all of the previous pictures be deleting some and adding captions to others. We leave early tomorrow for Hungary and I don’t know what the internet situation will be like in Eger, but I will update the travel blog when I get a chance.
I will say that to this point the trip has been a tremendous success. The guys have been very well
behaved and we have gotten to see both great water polo and all of the historical sites Rome has to offer. Hopefully the boys have enjoyed their break out of the water as beginning tomorrow afternoon we get back in to take on the Hungarians! Ciao!
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Bob Carlsen
non-member comment
bcarlsen@aol.com
So where is a picture of Sandra?