Rome Day 2

<TITLE> Rome Day 2 – Going to see the Pope </TITLE>
<THEME> Family
<THEME> Sabbatical
<THEME> TravelItaly
<TEXT>
This was our day to go to the Vatican and try to see the Pope.  Despite his morning 
audience, we decided to go in the afternoon in the hopes of avoiding the crowd.  
Unfortunately, when we started with the Vatican Museum, the crowds were evident even 
as we started up the escalator
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When we got to the top, we saw this amazing reflecting ball
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and there were lots of statues and waiting people
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The statues were quite impressive
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including Perseus
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and the trio
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who would have saved Troy for Rome had it not been for Athena.
We also saw this guy who really had developed the muscles
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in what was left of his body.
This remarkable table
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maybe belonged to Nero.
This Hercules
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was quite impressive with his lion and weapon.
I liked this guy's beard
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not to mention one of the remarkable mosaics
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but the crowds continued to be so overwhelming 
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that Sarah almost fainted.
<p>
Next, it was time for the main event
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after looking at the Pope's viewing window
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but he wasn't there.
Because it is a special Jubilee year, we could enter via the holy door
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except 
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when the sign was being blocked.
Saint Peter was all dressed up 
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because tomorrow is his special day.
The platform that Benini designed is quite impressive
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Our next stop was at the Vatican post office which is run by
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this guy.  There we saw what might be the only
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phone booths in the Vatican.  After we filled out our cards, Jane mailed them
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and we were ready to continue our excursion.
<p>
Along the way to the Piazza Navona, we stopped for a few family group pictures
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before taking the walking bridge
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across the Tiber.
We settled into a pleasant place for dinner
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As we were done with the main courses, along came the cappuccino
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which we finished
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and the fruit
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which we didn't.
Jane then took a series of pictures of Benjamin
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Sarah
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and scenes 
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of the restaurant.
We took a final picture of our waiter and his pal Luca
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and went back to take a few more pictures of the fountains in the piazza
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<p>
On the walk home we passed the piazza of Vittorio Emanuelle II
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quite an impressive sight.