Travel~ Travel~ Rome - 3rd May 2008 (Part One)

" Morning call 6, breakfast 6:30 and departure 7:30!"

*Arrgh...*

This morning we joined another optional excursion to visit the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and the Colosseum. We had a group booking according to our guide so I guess that was why we didn't have to queue that long before we entered the Vatican Museum. When we arrived, there was a big crowd of tourists outside the entrance, all with group bookings, I suppose? We were given walkie-talkie lookalike radio devices for listening to our guide's commentary inside the museum without her having to shout. Quite convenient.

Our guide was explaining to us how the Romans had viewed themselves being in the middle of the world with this lopsided map of Italy.

I don't know why but somehow I wasn't as impressed with the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel as when I first visited. Perhaps I didn't need to visit twice? I wonder how our guide feel about the place having been there countless times explaining to tourists over and over again the same old things? Maybe it was because of the crowd, didn't remember the place so crowded when I last visited. However, I must say that all art pieces were still amazing. I particularly liked one piece of tapestry of Jesus with his eyes looking down at us no matter where we were standing. And I loved the ceilings! But I had always wondered why they had to put so much emphasis on the ceilings?

After walking through the museum with our guide, we arrived at the Sistine Chapel with it's legendary ceiling paintings by Michelangelo and we were given 20 minutes to appreciate the art in silence. We were suppose to be silent but I found that the tourists just couldn't keep their mouths shut and there were guards shooing at us! *Sigh*... We were also not allowed to take pictures inside the Sistine Chapel, but the most famous piece of painting inside the chapel, "God creates Adam" can be found printed on postcards and all sorts of souvenir items everywhere.

Next up, St. Peter's Basilica where I particularly liked the marble sculpture "Pieta" made by Michelangelo in 1499 when he was only 24. The virgin Mother Mary's face was made so serenely beautiful! It was said that Michelangelo had created Mother Mary's face thinking of his own mother. She had died when he was only 5...*Pity*

Then I went under the balcony where the Pope will stand and give his blessings to the crowd below on special occasions such as Easter and Christmas imagining myself blessed. *Smile*