Last night I successfully met up with Tavia, Ian, Riccardo and Christian. We had a meal out, a walk back to the Trevi Fountain and drinks at a street bar. It was great to catch up with news and discuss family. We managed a bit of vino to celebrate the end of my ride.
I had decided to get up early to see the Sistine Chapel. It was the one thing that I hadn't seen on my last Rome visit that I wanted to see. The Vatican museum website told me it was open from 9am just for the morning on the last Sunday of the month and more importantly it was free admission! I knew the queues would growing well before opening time and I was up at 6am and got to the Vatican at 7am.
I stood outside St Peters and had a look around the Basilica by 7.30am and joined the Vatican Museum queue at 8am which was already 400m long and growing fast! I managed to get in two hours later but I was cheesed off by people pushing in the queue. I had been in the quiue for about an hour when it dawned upon me that almost none of the people around me had been in the queue when i joined it they had all sidled into the queue at some point r other. I was a bit bolshy with a few people who pushed in after that, sending them back. People around me started to approve but I thought to myself, 'bloody hypocrites'! This kind of stuff really spoils it for me. Some people are ignorant, at least hats what I called the people who pushed in!
Once inside I was pleasantly surprised with how much there was to see. It was a big place and the ceilings, paintings and furnishings were fantastic. We could take photos everywhere except the Sistine Chapel. Many of the rooms leading up to the Chapel were just as grand but on a smaller scale. I managed to sneak a picture in the Sistine Chapel but it doesn't do any justice to the room or the artwork. Whilst I enjoyed the chapel and the museum, I think it is criminal what the church did with its wealth for its own glorification at a time when people were so poor and needy!
I walked back to the accommodation feeling shattered. The walking s tougher than cycling! Each time I walk to or from the city I go through Borghese Park which is a nice walk and there are four seater bikes available for hire. When we were here as a family we hired on the last day of our trip. I was sure I was the only person pedalling as it was hard work and the park isn't flat. I noticed that the bikes have electrically assisted pedalling now, what's the world coming to!
I got back to the room and had a snooze, wonderful!
You will know that I am still in need of a cardboard box to transport my cycle in. I knew this would be the tricky part of the travelling. It's not only getting a box that it will fit into, it involves dismantling the pedals and handlebars, taping it up and then getting it to the airport. All cycle shops n Italy are closed on a Sunday and most seem closed on Monday mornings too, till about 3.30pm in the afternoon. It makes me a little nervous about the whole process. I have found a couple of bike shops that look open in the morning so I will give them a try and keep my fingers crossed!
I have also been thinking about my packing. My front bag will go into a pannier, one pannier will be luggage in the hold and one pannier will be hand luggage.
I am very pleased to say that today the target amount for St Mary's Hospice has been reached. I know that there are still a few who still wish to donate, so keep it coming. I really want to thank everyone for their donations and for there moral support by email, texts and Skype. It's been great.
I will try and review my trip in tomorrow's blog. I haven't a clue what I'm going to write yet but it will either be deep and meaningful or shallow and frivolous, it may depend on whether I get the cardboard box or not!
Photo 1, Meeting up with Tavia, Ian, Riccardo and Christian. Nice meal out.
Photo 2, Worth getting up early for!
Photo 3, St Peters at the Vatican.
Photo 4, Inside St Peters.
Photo 5, In the Vatican museum.
Photo 6, Nice bit of Raffael.
Photo 7, Courtyard at Vatican Museum.
Photo 8, Sneaky picture in Sistine Chapel.
Photo 9, St Peters Square filling for Papa Franscesco's Mass.
Photo 10, Spot the Indian guys doing the illusion.
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