The Eternal City, Day One

Wednesday was our first day in Rome, and it was a full one. We arrived at the Termini Station at 10:00 AM, found our B&B a short walk away, and were on the Metro headed for Vatican City by 11:00. Remember that Vatican City is its own country --- although nothing really changes physically when you leave Rome and enter this tiny little state (expect perhaps that things seem cleaner).

When we got off the metro, our first stop was the Vatican Museum. The line to enter stretched along a wall and around the corner, and we took our place at the back. It moved surprisingly quickly, and within 15 minutes we were inside --- only to stand in another line to purchase tickets. At least this new line was located in an air-conditioned building. It was basically wall-to-wall people, and the crowds made everything seem like it was taking longer than it really was.

When we arrived in the museum itself, we started in the rooms concerning Mesopotamia and and Egypt. We saw mummies, burial trinkets and lots of statues. Some of the items dated from 2500 B.C. It was amazing. We passed through rooms of Roman art, ornate halls hung with huge tapestries and maps, and slowly made our way to the cherry on top of the sundae --- the Sistine Chapel. Before we entered this amazing room, we passed by some very cool modern Christian art which was quite refreshing after all that Renaissance stuff. :) Right before the chapel we saw rooms decorated by Raphael and his impressive School of Athens painting. Finally, with about a million (give or take) other visitors, we entered the personal chapel of the pope and by craning our necks viewed Michelangelo's story of creation on the ceiling. Behind the altar was his later version of the Last Judgement. The message: Christ will come again, some will go to hell and some to heaven --- so get your brownie points in while you can.

From the Sistine Chapel, we took a little side door, and headed down to the greatest church in Christendom, St. Peter's Basilica. I cannot even describe how impressive this building is. We just stood at the back for awhile and gapped up. The basilica itself covers six acres (and this is NOT including St. Peter's Square outside). We toured the inside, saw Bernini's glorious starburst above St. Peter's throne and his massive, 7-story high bronze canopy over the main altar, and marveled at Michelangelo's dome (if you took a football field and stood it on end, it wouldn't touch the top of the dome). We stopped at a little side chapel for venerating the Eucharist and went in and prayed for awhile, stepped back out into the church, and went outside so that we could climb the dome.

After riding a lift up to the base of the dome, we went inside to peer 70 feet down inside the church. Although there is a fence, neither Jason or I could be near the edge for long before vertigo got the better of us. The letters that make up the base of the dome --- and that declare Peter as the rock of the church --- are themselves SEVEN feet high. From the inside we began the long climb up 320 stairs to the cuppola. The stairs gradually got narrower and narrower, and eventually we had to curve our bodies inward and follow the shape of the dome. Finally we emerged into the light and had views of Rome worth all the claustrophobia in the world. After climbing back down the dizzying spiral staircase, we stopped on the main roof and paid the gift shop a visit. I bought a small icon of the Madonna and Child from a little nun and we were on our way back to the basilica.

At 5:00 we attended mass under St. Peter's Throne. It was a lovely experience, with beautiful music, prayers and incense wafting heavenward. I kept trying to remind myself that we were in ST. PETER'S! After the service, we went outside to view the massive square. We saw the little balcony that the pope uses to speak to and bless the masses, and the windows to his personal living quarters. After marveling some more at the home of our faith, we headed back to the metro for home.

For sheer ease, we ate at the train station and had a surprisingly good meal. Once back to the hotel, I was able to talk to my dad and then we both fell quickly asleep.