Visiting Jeebers at the Vatican and the most expensive coffee in the world.

Saturday 20th December

From the desk of signor Gook,

Yes we are in Rome and doing the tourist thing. Worked out the Rome metro, which is no mean feat, if it’s not confusing enough everything, is in Italian.
Decided to do the Vatican and do a tour so we could get immersed in the culture. After 7 hours it was more like drowned in the Vatican!!!! Bloody hell it’s huge. We were told if we spent one minute at each exhibit we would be there for 7 and a half years.
Don’t get me wrong it was fantastic and yes its beautiful but by the end you can walk past a priceless work of art and not even notice it. It seems a little unfair that so many wonders are all put in the same place. And right at the end you get the Sistine chapel and St Peters cathedral, there are no words that do these places justice, you have to see them to actually believe them true

Hooked up with a tour group of English speaking people to see the Vatican, all nice people as far as we could tell, from all around the world, got a bit worried when the tour guide said we had to go through airport style security to enter Vatican city and one South African mother had to hand over a knife she had in her coat sleeve!!!!
But there was also a great little Canadian Family with two little boys between 8 and 12. The tour guide was talking about the great artists who’s work we will be seeing, like Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael and Leonardo and one of the boys asked why the teenage mutant turtles were at the Vatican! Best question the young guide had ever had.

Finally came out of the cathedral as a military band came marching out onto St Peters square, absolutely fantastic, was a little disappointed when Linda insisted the band wasn’t just for us, after all who could have told them we were there? Apparently they were about to light up the giant Christmas tree that had been placed in the square and the band was for the official ceremony. We stayed and watched until finally some kid plugged in all the power points, the tree looked nice. Let’s face it how many people can say they have seen the popes Christmas tree being switched on?

Russell

And from Linda.
Its been a hectic couple of days, ending with us collapsing in our room exhausted. We’re certainly doing some miles. Russell has covered the Vatican except for a couple of things. My favourite question to the tour guide from a young fella… “Sorry which statue did you say was Jesus?” and the guide answered in his Jamie Oliver accent “ why he’s the one bang in the centre holding the really big cross!” and bless his heart he didn’t laugh out loud but there was a smirk carefully hidden.
And the other thing was knowing while in Saint Peters Basilica, that somewhere immediately under our feet was the tomb of the apostle Peter. That is just incredible. Just means there’s so much more I need to know!
Rome is really,really quiet; even compared to when we were here 3 weeks ago. There seems to be hardly any tourists around and that may be seasonal, but also a sign of the current economic times.
We took our own tour today, armed with a map and tickets on the met. We walked all over and found the Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and some other big old stuff that I forget the name of but will keep the map so I remember. Tomorrow its back to the Colosseum and the old ruins to have a good look around without rushing. Just love it!
We’re enjoying the food with absolute relish. Tonight we found a momma and poppa restaurant and I swear they were tottering around as the wait staff. Poppy waiter was bent over and shaky and momma waiter shuffled around I actually checked to see if she had her slippers on. But they served us the most lovely home cooked meal…bruschetta for entrée each and then cannelloni for me and osso bucco for Russ. Absolutely delicious and best of all, we were all served and treated the same as the Italians that came in and the prices were also the same. That’s so refreshing as usually they see you coming. We’ve been stung once for coffee today and serves us right for not checking but we needed a sit down and coffee. Two grande cappuccinos, a water and table service cost us 22 euro (That’s about $32 australian). Our own fault but the coffee was delicious I must say!
One more day in Rome and then back to Introdaqua for Christmas on Monday. We’re gonna be in big trouble cos we short sheeted Brad and Trish’s bed before we left. I’ve been suffering Short sheeters remorse ever since and there’s nothing I can do!!!! Okay just have to prepare for the revenge!
Till next time Ciao, Linda X
PS Alex I’ve included some pics of the Organs we saw in The San Pietro Basilica and the Pantheon and some shots through the window of a music shop here that looked pretty great! Sorry theyre a bit fuzzy…We’ve taken heaps of photos of shop windows just because they are so beautiful…they really merchandise well…it makes their products irresistible.!!!


What a crack up...Russell the Pidgeon whisperer...check out his beanie he looks like Papa Smurf without the beard. LOL