So we got up at 5 am to walk to the Vatican. It's free on on the last Sunday of every month, but we were told that it would close early (at noon). We planned on spending the morning there, and then maybe napping in the afternoon. We mapped a few possible routes to the Vatican last night, so we were very prepared.
We arrived at the Vatican at about 6:45, which turned out to be 7:45. Surprise, they just had daylight savings time! No big deal, we just got in line with everyone else. We didn't know how to get in, so we followed the crowd. They opened the gates to St. Peter's Basilica, and people literally started sprinting in (including lots of nuns). We belatedly realized that they all had red or blue cards--which turned out to be tickets to Palm Sunday mass. We didn't know where we'd even get one, and we really just wanted to see stuff. So I asked a guard (one of 4 that I talked to) and a) he spoke English and b) he said that everything closed for mass at 10, but that it all reopened at 2. I specifically asked about the Sistine Chapel.
We decided to get breakfast while waiting. Then we stood outside the gates, and got the see the Pope. We got to hear him speak too, but I don't understand Latin...
Partway through mass, we decided to stop watching, and go find somewhere to sit until we could get into the Sistine Chapel, etc. We went back to St. Peter's around 1, and waited for all the people to trickle out. We asked a few more guards where the line was--so we found the line, or should I say A line. We were near the front, but it was packed and hot. Not fun. The woman behind us turned out to be originally from Michigan, and she was able to tell us a few things. 1) We were in the line for the basilica and 2) The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel HAD been open earlier, but closer at 1:30. We were disappointed, because the Sistine Chapel is supposed to be pretty great.
On the bright side, we got to see St. Peter's Basilica AND the Pope. All in all, it wasn't too bad. I'm trying to focus on the things that I have gotten to see, because there is so much that I haven't (and probably won't) see. I like the think about the things I've been lucky enough to see, like the Colosseum. I loved the Colosseum!
After the Vatican, we went to a park by the Colosseum, and just hung out in the sun. We napped outside, but weren't patient enough to actually see the sunset. We had dinner instead. I had cannelloni, but there was nutmeg in it, and I didn't really like it. Sad day.
Now I have to shower and repack. We'll be getting up at 5 am tomorrow--again. Ugh. But we have to get to the airport early. I don't think I like airports anymore. And I'm so tired! But I can sleep when we get to Madrid in two days! Tomorrow is Milan, and we'll be sleeping in the airport again. Public transportation needs to start earlier in the mornings :S
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