Pictures of 06.28.00 -- Rome Day 2 – Going to see the Pope

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 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280001 When we got to the top, we saw this amazing reflecting ball ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280002 and there were lots of statues and waiting people ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280003 The statues were quite impressive ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280004 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280005 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280006 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280008 including Perseus ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280007 and the trio ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280009 who would have saved Troy for Rome had it not been for Athena. We also saw this guy who really had developed the muscles ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280010 in what was left of his body. This remarkable table ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280011 maybe belonged to Nero. This Hercules ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280012 was quite impressive with his lion and weapon. I liked this guy's beard ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280013 not to mention one of the remarkable mosaics ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280014 but the crowds continued to be so overwhelming ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280015 that Sarah almost fainted.
Next, it was time for the main event ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280017 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280018 after looking at the Pope's viewing window ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280016 but he wasn't there. Because it is a special Jubilee year, we could enter via the holy door ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280023 except ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280022 when the sign was being blocked. Saint Peter was all dressed up ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280019 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280020 because tomorrow is his special day. The platform that Benini designed is quite impressive ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280021 Our next stop was at the Vatican post office which is run by ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280025 this guy. There we saw what might be the only ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280024 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280026 phone booths in the Vatican. After we filled out our cards, Jane mailed them ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280027 and we were ready to continue our excursion.
Along the way to the Piazza Navona, we stopped for a few family group pictures ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280028 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280029 before taking the walking bridge ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280030 across the Tiber. We settled into a pleasant place for dinner ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280031 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280032 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280033 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280034 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280036 As we were done with the main courses, along came the cappuccino ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280037 which we finished ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280038 and the fruit ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280039 which we didn't. Jane then took a series of pictures of Benjamin ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280040 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280041 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280043 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280045 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280046 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280047 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280051 Sarah ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280044 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280050 and scenes ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280035 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280042 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280048 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280049 of the restaurant. We took a final picture of our waiter and his pal Luca ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280052 and went back to take a few more pictures of the fountains in the piazza ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280053 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280054
On the walk home we passed the piazza of Vittorio Emanuelle II ../../../Sabbat/Pics/06.28.00RomeDay2--TheVatican//P6280055 quite an impressive sight.