Previous
Thursday June 28, 2012
Vernazza, Florence, and Rome
Friday June 29, 2012
Rome - Pope Benedict, Trevi Fountain, Cappucian Crypt, Spanish Steps,
Pantheon
Next
Saturday June 30, 2012
Rome - Vatican Musem and St Peters
We had three full days (and four nights) in Rome - Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday. Sunday the Vatican museum is closed. Saturdays
are crowded at the Vatican museum. This left us with Friday, so
we decided to try to see the Vatican on Friday June 29.
When we arrived at the Vatican we saw a large crowd in St Peter's
Square, saw a few jumbotrons, and eventually were told that the Vatican
museum was closed due to a religious holiday that was later learned is
the Feast of St Peter and St Paul. (Had we paid much closer
attention to Rick Steve's guides we would have found this relatively
obscure holiday listed.) Tour guides were telling everyone that
it
would be nearly impossible to get into the Vatican on Saturday since it
was closed on Friday. We foolishly listened and bought a tour
package for
Saturday (which we then had fully refunded on Saturday after a real
hassle)
Eventually the mass let out and priests and nuns from around the world
exited St Peter's Basilica and entered St Peter's Square. I began
to wonder if perhaps the Pope would address the crowd, and sure enough
we eventually saw them open the windows in his apartment, put out a
tapestry, and the Pope spoke..
Pope Benedict
Pope Benedict
2012-06-29 12:05
2012-06-29 12:06
So while we spent hours in the heat of St Peter's Square accomplishing
very little, we did get to see the Pope.
After lunch we decided to wander in the opposite direction of the
Vatican to see other sites.
the Trevi Fountain
2012-06-29 14:22
Karin's pic
The Capucchian Crypt had just re-opened with a new and mandatory
museum. The museum was not at all interesting, but at least I can
now tell you the difference between a Jesuit and a monk. Bob and
I were the only two who had visited the Capucchian Crypt in 2003.
We were pleased to see it again, and everyone else enjoyed it as well.
We then wandered over to the Spanish Steps, where the real attraction
of the day was the large fountain in front of the Steps were tourists
and locals alike refilled their water bottles to rehydrate.
2012-06-29 15:34
2012-06-29 15:48
In line for the fountain at the
Spanish Steps
2012-06-29 19:18
Our apartment was only a few minutes walk away from the Pantheon
2012-06-29 21:08
Previous
Thursday June 28, 2012
Vernazza, Florence, and Rome
Friday June 29, 2012
Rome - Pope Benedict, Trevi Fountain, Cappucian Crypt, Spanish Steps,
Pantheon
Next
Saturday June 30, 2012
Rome - Vatican Musem and St Peters
