when in Rome part 2

painted ceiling and walls

How many pictures of painted ceilings should I post... How many roman ruins pictures... statues... tiled floors... tapestries... maps......

We 'did' the Vatican Museum today - finishing up with the Sistine Chapel - it was a mammoth 3 hour slog - and when I say slog I don't mean it wasn't enjoyable but its bit like trying to walk backwards on a conveyor belt of people - round a most beautiful building with incredible exhibits from amazing tiled floors to the obvious painted frescoes and ceilings.

such detailed stone carving 

In-between all this were sculptured bits of marble sliced and mirrored and in every kind of colour and pattern marble could ever be seen in. it was all very sumptuous -and completely over the top!!!!  Every surface was patterned, tiled, marbled or painted.  The Map corridor was just amazing -

map fresco only one I could get pretty much whole there were so many people about

I cant help thinking of the poor starving people out there in the world who do not in anyway benefit from this culture and beauty but as Dr Fred says you can hardly sell the Sistine chapel  to clear world poverty and I know really its just the atheist in me coming out when I see such blatant opulence that I am actually privileged enough to go see.

fierce creature

I took hundreds of photos mainly of statues which were just so beautifully carved with such intricacy I couldn't leave them.  I also bolstered my mythical creatures collection quite a bit and might have got a tad carried away with tiled floors!

fabulous detail of tiled floor

There was a bit of me that wished we could start the tour with the Sistine Chapel because it is so stunningly gorgeous but the glory is slightly lessened by all the previous grandeur you have just witnessed.  That coupled with museum leg and the insanely packed in amount of people takes the edge of some of the worlds most iconic art.  On a busy day 25,000 people visit the Sistine Chapel!!!!  Still amazing and awe inspiring though to see the Michelangelo paintings for real (without additions such as coffee and spliff...)

After the museum - St Peters Square - busy and no seating!  I would have liked to rest my weary legs and reflect on what we were looking at, and what we had seen. We were in St Peters Square a few years back when we discovered we had totally lost track of time and suddenly it was Easter Sunday and there was huge Mass going on and the Pope was throwing blessings around.. the choir were incredibly beautiful and it was quite spiritual but I'm still an atheist... it was a bit quieter today but lack of seats meant we carried on.

Up, up, and up A LOT  of steps to the most amazing view point across the city - we could see for miles and miles.  All the iconic buildings were glinting in the 32 degree heat and it was rather splendid and we sat looking eating more delicious ice cream.

view across Rome 

We walked and walked and walked a bit more through the old town - up and down more steps down by the river and finally realised we were getting footsore thirsty and hungry but were also very very hot - so back to base for a shower and then a nice restaurant at the end of our road.  Perfect end to a long hot culture filled day!