Sep 14 2004
Roma (Rome) Day-2
We finally found a internet cafe in Rome (1.5 EUR / per hour). Writing today’s log first. Will make up the missing days later on.
The APT we rented is very home like, we enjoyed it a lot.
Today was wonderful. We rested well and set out from home around 10am.
We got to Vatican Museum via subway. It is just 1 stop away from where we live.
The Vatican Museum is a vast complex. Its collection it truly amazing, with depth and diversity, well balanced and nicely presented. Both of us like it a lot.
We spent about 5 hours there. By far it is the best Musuem exhibit we’ve visited.
It also is the first Museum allows photo and video (except Sistine Chapel).
So, we got to take lots of pictures. Bing likes the Egyptian collection a lots. Rapheal’s paintings are my favorite. Sistine Chapel is certainly the most impressive. We would like to return and visit the museum again in the future. Audio guide was very helpful, they don’t use the dual system Florence museums use.
Had lunch inside the museum, very pleasant. Also, sent post cards via Vatican postal office.
We spent the late afternoon visiting St Peters square and cathedral. Its colossal scale is simply striking. We visited Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal,Canada which was modelled after St. Peters, with 1/3 the size of St. Peters. With that experience, it is still hard to imagine the sheer size of St. Peters. We got audio guide and walked around the cathdral, admiring the master pieces. Also, climbed up the dome with 330 steps of snail staircase. The view from the top is wonderful, we can see the Pope’s residence and his garden.
We had a quick dinner, cured ham, calzone, salad. Very delicious. It is a wonderful day.
Signing off now. We will be checking into the internet cafe more often, so see you soon.
I don’t like Rome. Crowded and noisy. At the Trevi Fontain I made a point not to throw in the second coin. The mueseums are nice, but so are most anywhere in Europe… pretty much… even the smallish ones.