We didn't set out to go to the Vatican this day, in fact the plan when we set out was first of all to reserve our seats on the train for the trip to Firenze (Florence) and then see if we could perhaps go see the Colosseum.
On the way back from the train station we were accosted by a vendor selling tickets to the open air double decker bus trips. It was only 18 euros for the day, and you could hop on and off as often as you liked. It seemed like a good idea, so we bought tickets. We had seen all the sights the night before, but we had not really had the chance to take photos. We hopped on and headed off on the route to the Colosseum.
I really can't remember why now, but we decided not to get off here, but to head to the Vatican instead. There was an awful lot of people at the Colosseum, and I think that was what made us decide to try it another day. Little did we know, but the crowds that were ahead of were even worse.
We got off at the Vatican stop, and headed towards the entrance. There were a lot of people there, but we kept heading toward the entrance anyway (dont know why, because there were a LOT of people there!). As we got closer we were approached by a girl asking if we spoke English. Yes- she then proceeded to tell us that we could purchase queue jumper tickets, for - I think 10 euors more. We could wait in the line for 3 hours, or we could pay 10 euros more, and be done with the tour in 1 and 1/2 - 2 hours. Seemed like a good idea as we were on a time schedule, having to be at the train staton for the 3.15 to Florence. She said follow her to get the tickets. We followed her several hundred metres, where she then handed us over to another girl. This one told us to follow her and she would take us the the ticket office. We walked several blocks with another couple of people who were on the on the same deal. After a while you began to wonder exactly where you were going. The english guy with us commented that he wondered if we were being led to some alley, to be robbed!
Eventually we did end up at a ticket office, where we purchased our tickets, again we were told to wait. The tour guide would be here in 5 minutes! Well 5 minutes turned into into more like 20, but eventfully a guide showed up. He told us to follow him, which we did for several more blocks??? Eventually we arrived at the entrance to the Vatican museum, where he hands us over to another guide. I tell you the number of people involved in most of these transactions is amazing.
Ok, so into the museum. We have to go through metal detectors and have our bags screened. There seem to be a lot of people there, but they assure us that it is just slow because of the security checkpoint. We are all given Close circuit headphones so we can hear our guide, and forward we go into the museum.
We start off in a large square, where strategically placed at several metre intervals are three boards.
On these boards the tour guides each bring their group, and they explain via the boards about the artwork that you are going to see, and what it's significance is. It is probably just as well, because once we got inside you really had no hope of either hearing the guide, or really seeing too well what you were about to see. Repeatedly during the visit inside the vatican buildings, our guide was heard to mutter "mamma mia" as she had never seen crowds like this at the Vatican before. Why were the crowds so huge? Who knows. The following day (25th) was a public holiday, but the Vatican was still open. In fact there was to be a service, with the pope in attendance, so no one really knew why the crowds were so big.
We got pushed along with the crowd, being elbowed and shoved all the time. The situation was rife for pick pocketing, but thank goodness, that didn't happen. At times it was almost claustrophobic, but you had to continue, there were no other options. Imagine if you will - wall to wall people. The only way for each tour guide to be sure their group stayed with them was to hold something above their head such as an extended (unopened) umbrella, an antenna with a scarf tied to it, or a large flower. You just had to remember what colour umbrella your guide had!
While the crowds may have been claustrophobic, the experience was definitely worth it. It was absolutely unbelievable to see so much incredible artwork. The detail in them was amazing. There were whole huge sections (on ceilings) that we trompe loeil (optical illusions),
there was a whole corridor filled with 500 year old tapestries.
There were thousand of pieces of artwork, everywhere you looked! Statues, paintings, mosaics.... It was absolutely beautiful.
We reached the end of the tour, which was the actually the Sistine chapel.
We were told that it is a sacred place, and that there was to be no talking, and no photos...... Well that rule was definitely not adhered to. In fact our guide continued on (in whispered tones), and iPhones could be seen "flashing" everywhere. What amazed me was that the famous michelangelo painting, you know the one - was actually only a very small section of the ceiling!
On reflection, I am glad we did it, but boy, the crowds were something else. Barb dubbed this tour, "the tour from hell,". I think she's gonna pay for that comment!
That's it for Rome, we get on the train, and head to Firenze to start the Tuscany part of our adventure!
Lucky for us our hotel is located just at the end of the Ponte Vecchio!! Oh, the jewellery shops!!!
On the way back from the train station we were accosted by a vendor selling tickets to the open air double decker bus trips. It was only 18 euros for the day, and you could hop on and off as often as you liked. It seemed like a good idea, so we bought tickets. We had seen all the sights the night before, but we had not really had the chance to take photos. We hopped on and headed off on the route to the Colosseum.
I really can't remember why now, but we decided not to get off here, but to head to the Vatican instead. There was an awful lot of people at the Colosseum, and I think that was what made us decide to try it another day. Little did we know, but the crowds that were ahead of were even worse.
We got off at the Vatican stop, and headed towards the entrance. There were a lot of people there, but we kept heading toward the entrance anyway (dont know why, because there were a LOT of people there!). As we got closer we were approached by a girl asking if we spoke English. Yes- she then proceeded to tell us that we could purchase queue jumper tickets, for - I think 10 euors more. We could wait in the line for 3 hours, or we could pay 10 euros more, and be done with the tour in 1 and 1/2 - 2 hours. Seemed like a good idea as we were on a time schedule, having to be at the train staton for the 3.15 to Florence. She said follow her to get the tickets. We followed her several hundred metres, where she then handed us over to another girl. This one told us to follow her and she would take us the the ticket office. We walked several blocks with another couple of people who were on the on the same deal. After a while you began to wonder exactly where you were going. The english guy with us commented that he wondered if we were being led to some alley, to be robbed!
Eventually we did end up at a ticket office, where we purchased our tickets, again we were told to wait. The tour guide would be here in 5 minutes! Well 5 minutes turned into into more like 20, but eventfully a guide showed up. He told us to follow him, which we did for several more blocks??? Eventually we arrived at the entrance to the Vatican museum, where he hands us over to another guide. I tell you the number of people involved in most of these transactions is amazing.
Ok, so into the museum. We have to go through metal detectors and have our bags screened. There seem to be a lot of people there, but they assure us that it is just slow because of the security checkpoint. We are all given Close circuit headphones so we can hear our guide, and forward we go into the museum.
We start off in a large square, where strategically placed at several metre intervals are three boards.
On these boards the tour guides each bring their group, and they explain via the boards about the artwork that you are going to see, and what it's significance is. It is probably just as well, because once we got inside you really had no hope of either hearing the guide, or really seeing too well what you were about to see. Repeatedly during the visit inside the vatican buildings, our guide was heard to mutter "mamma mia" as she had never seen crowds like this at the Vatican before. Why were the crowds so huge? Who knows. The following day (25th) was a public holiday, but the Vatican was still open. In fact there was to be a service, with the pope in attendance, so no one really knew why the crowds were so big.
We got pushed along with the crowd, being elbowed and shoved all the time. The situation was rife for pick pocketing, but thank goodness, that didn't happen. At times it was almost claustrophobic, but you had to continue, there were no other options. Imagine if you will - wall to wall people. The only way for each tour guide to be sure their group stayed with them was to hold something above their head such as an extended (unopened) umbrella, an antenna with a scarf tied to it, or a large flower. You just had to remember what colour umbrella your guide had!
While the crowds may have been claustrophobic, the experience was definitely worth it. It was absolutely unbelievable to see so much incredible artwork. The detail in them was amazing. There were whole huge sections (on ceilings) that we trompe loeil (optical illusions),
there was a whole corridor filled with 500 year old tapestries.
There were thousand of pieces of artwork, everywhere you looked! Statues, paintings, mosaics.... It was absolutely beautiful.
We reached the end of the tour, which was the actually the Sistine chapel.
We were told that it is a sacred place, and that there was to be no talking, and no photos...... Well that rule was definitely not adhered to. In fact our guide continued on (in whispered tones), and iPhones could be seen "flashing" everywhere. What amazed me was that the famous michelangelo painting, you know the one - was actually only a very small section of the ceiling!
On reflection, I am glad we did it, but boy, the crowds were something else. Barb dubbed this tour, "the tour from hell,". I think she's gonna pay for that comment!
That's it for Rome, we get on the train, and head to Firenze to start the Tuscany part of our adventure!
Lucky for us our hotel is located just at the end of the Ponte Vecchio!! Oh, the jewellery shops!!!
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