Rob and I have both been to Rome before but this is the first time we have been here together. So it was with great delight that we strolled hand-in-hand around Vatican City and along the Tiber River today. It’s a very romantic city (Rome is romantic. Hmmm. Must not be a coincidence) so as much fun as I had here with my mom 5 years ago, it’s an entirely different vibe with my hubby.
We decided to dedicate today to staying awake to as close to a reasonable bed time as possible by exploring the Vatican and St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. Neither of us felt a strong pull to tour the Vatican Museum again so instead we just waited in line and went into the Basilica for free. Sadly, it was sort of disappointing.
The church itself is awe-inspiring. The marble sculptures, the mosaics, the intricate carvings, the art that defines both the ceiling and the floor, and the overall size all require one to simply stand in the center, jaw dropped, and spin around for a bit.
The trouble today was that so many people visiting this hallowed place seemed more interested in taking pictures on their phones and iPads and less on appreciating what they were taking pictures of. Some people literally ran from spot to spot to grab their shot and move on. And this resulted in a lot of bumping and toe stepping and other painful invasions of personal space that found me taking refuge in corners and behind pillars just to gather my wits.
It was also a bit annoying that we were not allowed to sit or lean anywhere to take in all that was around us. Every time we tried, some surly Italian man in a suit with a nametag pointed his finger and made disapproving gestures making it clear we were a disappointment and an annoyance. By the time we exited the enormous doors of the church, Rob and I were both a little testy. But then we decided to do something neither of had ever done before and it turned the entire afternoon around.
For 5 Euros each, we gained entry to over 600 stairs and climbed up to the cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica. Yes, the very top with the most incredible 360 degree views of Rome. I had no idea a view like that was available to the non-flying public. It was breathtaking. Literally.
We huffed, we sweated, we paused, we let young fit people pass us, and we got dizzy. The climb up was a doozy, with worn marble stairs and no handrails. As we got closer to the top, the walls started to angle towards the center, making for some oddly unbalanced stair climbing. The stairs were also very narrow, making it clear that a good portion of American tourists could never do this trek because frankly they couldn’t fit. When the last bit of the climb included a large dangling rope for support, I pondered what the fine print in our travel insurance might say about our little adventure. But finally, FINALLY, we got to the top and were rewarded with this.
And yes, we were a bit pooped:
Tomorrow is our only full day in Rome before we head to the coast to catch a boat. We plan to roam about the Coliseum area tomorrow and also do a little shopping. And eating. And probably enjoying some (more) gelato along the way. That’s assuming my legs have stopped shaking by then.
32 hours! Time for bed.
(Note: all dates and times are local to me, not Woodhaven)
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