Rome I

Greetings from Rome, Italy!
We had disembarkation from the ship this morning at 10 a.m. in Civitavecchia. Found our driver easily. Loaded luggage easily. Drove 1 hour and 15 min. to Rome.


Checked in to our hotel….The Exedra. Beautiful!
Talked to concierge right after check in. Let’s face it – we’re only here 3 days and there is MUCH to see….so we felt we needed to “move and shake.” He lined us up with Thomas on a private, walking tour of the Vatican for the afternoon. We went to our room, unpacked, walked around a bit and then it was time for Thomas’ tour.
We had a lovely afternoon. Ended up spending 4 hours with Thomas! We took the subway to Vatican City.



This photo is of the Vatican walls. Once you pass through them…you are no longer in Italy!


The Vatican is its own country with its own government, post office, passports, radio station, television station, newspaper, police, etc….

The Basilica and St. Peter's Square can hold 600,000 people!!!
The Basilica is 700 feet long, has 11 chapels, 45 alters and 8 additional chapels.
And, remember to dress properly....or you won't get in! Your shoulders must be covered and no short shorts, etc....
The Vatican Museum takes at least 1 week to see it properly....but who has that much tiime?!
There is no place to sit.......anywhere. It's far too busy a place.
The Vatican architect.....Bernini.
The Sistine Chapel....do not speak in here or the priests will go BONKERS.



It encompasses 100 acres with under 1000 residents which makes it the smallest country in the world!!!
***And, it’s the only country in the world with a birthrate of ZERO!!! HA!
The amount of art, history and its sheer size make the Vatican impossible to write about or even photograph! You really have to come here to experience it.


My poor camera was on steroids today. I think I took 201 pictures at the Vatican alone! So….I will talk about a few things…….but mainly, you will simply have to enjoy some photos today.


We really enjoyed the map room.


I have a picture of one of the huge maps painted on the wall………and there were about 20 of these grand maps painted in one room. Awesome!


I also took a photo of a coffin. It was so interesting to me because first – they are marble and very ornately carved and fantastically gorgeous! But also because, if you look closely…you will see that one of the faces/heads in the carvings is blank. They did this to wait and see who it was that passed away and then would carve the appropriate face on it at that time. Customization at its finest!!! Another interesting fact is that most old coffins were used first as coffins, then second as fountains around the city and then put into museums on display. Most of the ones we saw today had drainage holes on either end…showing that they used to have water in them for fountains!


I have one photo of two Swiss Guards. They have been chosen to guard the Pope and his grounds since the 15th century, I believe. There was an assination attempt and a Swiss guard saved the Pope’s life…..so he then began to especially want men from Switzerland to patrol for him. You have to be a man, you have to be Swiss and you have to be Catholic – to get in to the Vatican guard. And it’s quite an honor. I think they stay for 2 years here in service. They have to have served in the Swiss Army first. Then, when they are chosen to come here…they have to renounce their allegiance to the Swiss while they serve at the Vatican. And when they are finished….they go home to very good jobs because it is quite an honor to be chosen to serve at the Vatican. Very prestigious!


Okay….on to St. Peter’s Basilica. Here’s where I will plug in photos….because there are just no words to describe it. Thomas told us that 148 out of the 265 Popes are buried at St. Peter’s. I do show you a picture of Pope Pius the 10th…lying entombed now in St. Peters. He died 100 years ago.


























Our guide gave us a recommend of a small little restaurant that he likes in another neighborhood tonight. Authentic Italian food, of course!
Tomorrow, we have hired Thomas again………to take us to the old Imperial Rome area. We’ll see the Colosseum, etc… Should be a good day.
Ciao!