Roaming Through Rome

Everyone would laugh in our faces when we told them we were going to see the Vatican and the Coliseum all in the same day. It happens in almost every city. We usually have a billion things we want to see within a limited time, and so far I believe we’ve been quite successful. I forgive all of those people because they underestimate us. Not only are we running from place to place (with blisters on our toes) but we rarely sit down to eat (if we eat at all). The secret is to drink A LOT of water. Rome is the best city at providing water because all of their fountains are powered by ancient Roman aqueducts that brink fresh water into the city. We are constantly on the lookout for these fountains because the heat of Rome drains the body through layers of sticky sweat.

We were advised to get to the Vatican early in the morning before it opens at 8:30 am. We tried. However, we underestimated the Vatican. We got there at 8:29 am and stood in a 2-hour line. We were both too cheap to buy the “line skipping” pass. This would have been the worst part of our trip if it hadn’t been for the great conversation we had with some sweet, awesome Russians. They were so kind; they even bought us a bottle of water!

In addition to our 8€ student pass, we spent an additional 7€ to get an audio guide of the Vatican. We had no clue there was a museum in the Vatican. The popes collected ancient artifacts over many centuries. The Egyptian artifacts were fascinating, especially the dried up, dehydrated mummy the Vatican bought a couple hundred years ago.

Before we entered the Sistine Chapel, Susanna, the Finn we had met on the train traveling to Southern France, embraced me. What a coincidence! Her two friends had already flown home, so she joined us for the rest of the Vatican tour. Of course, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Cathedral were the two highlights of the Vatican.