Wednesday we made our way out to the Via Appia Antica, taking the bus the entire way. Good thing we stopped at a TI for help on which bus to take. We arrived at the Appian Way and started walking. And walking. And checked out this.
Then we just had to play around a bit...
Then the dark clouds rolled in on thunder and the rain began to drop. FYI ~ buses run few and far between along the Appian Way.
Wednesday night we went to see La Traviata at a wonderful theater, Salone Margherita, near the Spanish Steps. It was fantastic, in no small part to the free pasta between the first and second acts.
The rain was still falling as we left the opera and walked to the Spanish Steps; it was lovely.
Thursday - Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica tour
After our very late night at the opera, we awoke very early to meet for our tour of the Vatican. It was totally worth waking up early because it meant that we were able to see the Sistine Chapel with only a few of our closest 100 friends. As opposed to our closest 400 friends. It was spectacular. Our tour guide, Vera, from Walks of Italy, was fantastic. Tour guides aren't allowed to present to the groups while in the Chapel, so she shared with us points of interest before going in. We weren't allowed to take any pictures, of course, but that's OK.
After the Sistine Chapel, we moved on to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. By the time we arrived in St. Peter's, the mad crush of crowds had arrived. The Pope was scheduled to perform some ceremony that afternoon, so much of the center of the basilica was blocked off. You can see the chairs in the below picture.
Michelangelo's Pieta.
View of the outside of the Sistine Chapel. There are no lights inside, because it would damage the paintings. The windows are lit from the outside.
One of the many fresco maps in the map gallery.
Random ceiling. Probably was a bathroom or something.
Now it's time for a siesta before going back out for dinner. Ciao!
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