Day 3 - Vatican City

I think our jetlag finally caught up with us. We all slept in 'til 10 this morning. After assembling we headed of to spend the day with the Pope. Arrived at the Vatican around noon and St. Peter's was closed. So we went to the museum first. Only waited 1/2 hour in line, not bad considering we didn't have any reservations. We walked through the museum, the only way to the Sistine Chapel, I can't believe we were sitting under the master works of Michaelangelo. Just amazing!!

After the museum we walked back to St. Peters and we were able to get in. There was a mass being held and attended by a number of german bands. We could hear them playing hymns, but couldn't see them at the 2nd alter. The Basillica was blocked off before the high alter and the mass was still too far away to see anything. The Basillica is over 2 football fields in length! But we did stick around for the procession of attendants. Why German bands? Ahhh, is the Pope German? We walked through oohing and awing at the incredible sights. Of course the most impressive is the 95 foot Canopied Bernini alter, the remains of Pope John XXIII, and Michelangelo's Pieta. We can see pictures, but nothing compares to standing in front of these masterpieces. Incredible!

We were going to climb the dome, but time was running out. So off we went to the Colosseum. We hoped to get in before the sunset cutoff, but missed it. So we walked along the streets viewing the Forum ruins, then found a cafe for dinner. We found two cafe's side by side. The B's ate at one and we decided to eat at the one with a little lighter fare. We had pizza, a couple of beers, great coffee, the italian version of flan, and then limoncella! Whoa, I think I saw the green fairy.

After dinner we walked past the Colosseum showered in lights..
My pictures don't do it justice. Again, an amazing sight. We decided to get up early tomorrow (Saturday) and tour the Colosseum before we leave. John & the kids headed back to Trevi Fountain for the night view. Gail, Tony & I headed home to pack up to leave the Mimosa in the morning