Our train was delayed 25 minutes this morning, which was not
an issue for me. But even as I type Joel is frantically trying to figure out if
and how he can connect to Zurich if he misses his scheduled train because of
the delay. Never a dull moment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yesterday, our only full day in Roma, was spent getting as
much in as we could. The evening before we had walked all the way to the
Coliseum from our B&B only to walk up to the gates closing right on us.
They let in the people in front of us, but not us. We were disappointed, but
decided we would make that our first stop Friday morning. We took advantage of
being that far south in the city and crossed the river to the east side where
our host recommended finding traditional Italian (non-tourist) cuisine. We
ordered cold Antipasta, mussels and clams, and Veal tenderloin. The Veal in
particular was spectacular.
Friday morning we were able to use our Roma Pass (which gave
us unlimited city transportation and 2 included museum entrances) for the Coliseum
and we were as a result able to bypass well over half the people who were
waiting in line for tickets. I got to see a Roman Coliseum in Pula 2 years ago,
but this blew that one out of the water.
------------------------------------------------------------
Next we took the metro back towards the Vatican to eat lunch
before our tour. Multiple people had told us before coming to spend the extra
money and get a guided tour through the Vatican. It was certainly expensive,
but both of us appreciated the historical and artistic explanation for
everything we saw. It definitely helped us fully understand all that we were
seeing. I would have been overwhelmed by everything if I hadn’t had all the
explanation.
What I couldn’t even begin to process was the magnitude of the history that I was experiencing. It hit me the most when I entered the Sistine Chapel (pictures forbidden). Years of looking in art history and church history books and I never imagined I would be able to actually experience in person what I was now viewing. I’ve had travel wish lists for years, but along the way you dismiss some things as being an impossibility.
I’m so grateful
that the Vatican, while not on my “childhood wishlist” was something I got to
experience.
My favorite part was recognizing the story and symbolism of
the paintings. There were names of Old Testament books written above all of the
paintings that alternated between names I did not know. I recognized that all
the OT books listed (Daniel, Joel, Isaiah, etc) were prophetic to the coming of
Jesus the Messiah and the Final Judgment. On the sides were paintings leading
up to and including the coming of Jesus. On the back wall was a painting of the
Final Judgement. I asked the tour guide about the names, and she confirmed my
observation, adding that the other names I did not recognize were Cybil
(non-jewish?) prophetic writings. They apparently also foretold (and further
confirmed) the coming of the Jesus. That was something I had never heard before
and thought was especially cool. I will have to look more into that when I have
a chance.
We have the esteemed honor of being the last tourists inside
the Vatican, escorted to the north gate by the Vatican police. There may have
been a misplaced wallet in the whole situation, and the Vatican Police may have
someone’s name now on file. But, that story can neither be confirmed or denied.
Afterwards, we went to St. Peter’s square to see Pope
Francisco give a special occasion blessing and give a call to Catholics to pray
for the persecuted Christians in the Middle East. This was of course all in
Italian, but that’s what we were told by someone else. We were not a hundred
yards from the Pope- now that’s pretty cool.
It soon started to rain and since we couldn’t understand
what the Pope was saying we decided to leave. As we were trying to leave the square we realized we were
boxed in on all sides by rails. There were entrances that passed through
security, but no exits we could get to. After walking around in circles for a
while, we eventually hopped the rails (far away and out of reach from the Swiss
Guards mind you) so we could get out. Apparently, if you come in to hear and
see the Pope, you’re supposed to stay for the whole thing whether you want to
or not.
Well, tomorrow begins the first day of the Zodiac Festival.
More to come in the next few days!
No comments:
Post a Comment