Today our goal for the day was the Vatican (basilica and museum), specifically Raphael's School of Athens. After a quick breakfast, all three of us headed out in our cute little dresses, ready to take on the Vatican. Robyn was very excited to leave Italy and add another country to her list.

We figured that we wouldn't understand any of the pieces in the museum without a guide (and we'd have to wait in the 2 hour line up), so we found a tour group as soon as we got there. Although we asked for an English tour, we failed to realize the tour was Spanish/English. Robyn and Teree took this opportunity to learn Spanish (they now think they're now fluent....).

Our tour ended at the Sistine chapel, however we hadn't seen the School of Athens, so we headed back into the museum to see Raphael's work. It took us a little while and a few detours, but we finally made it, and let me tell you, it was worth it (it was the highlight of my day). . The School of Athens is my favourite work of art of all time. Had I been there by myself I may have sat there all afternoon. As it was, Robyn and Teree were there and I think they were starting to get bored (and maybe a little annoyed with me), so I only sat there for about 20 minutes.

Having finally see everything I wanted to we headed back into the Sistine Chapel and admired Michelangelo's roof and the Last Judgement. We all walked out of there with kinks in our neck from staring up so much.

From the museum we headed to the basilica and proceeded to hike the 551 stairs to the top of the dome, in our dresses and flip flops. What a breathtaking view we had. We didn't stay up there long as it was pretty crowded, so we headed down into the basilica. Teree and I had both been there before, but we quite enjoyed watching Robyn's expressions as she took in all of the art and magnificence of Saint Peter's.

After a tour of the basilica, all of the important works of art, specifically Michelangelo's Pieta, and the papal tombs, we headed out of the basilica in search of the Swiss Guard (which took us two minutes flat to find). We grabbed a few photos of the Guard in their jester type outfits (the guys ballooned in wind) and then headed to the Vatican state post office to send our last postcards of the trip before finding the shopping street. However, we'd spent so much energy in the morning and we were too tired to shop (unbelievable I know, but trust me it happened).

We decided we needed to rest our feet, so we grabbed dinner at Piazza de Novana and people watched. After dinner we took a tour of the Piazza and bought a couple art pieces and from there we found a wine bar. Robyn finally got her sweet dessert wine (I think it made her day).

Quote of the day from a lady at the museum to her husband "it's like Ikea in here, you can't find your way out".

Only one day left in Rome....