Day 23 - Rome

It was hard getting up today. The alarm went off at 6.20am and for the first time on this trip I just didn't want to get up. Then I remembered we were going to the Vatican and it was sound. We got ourselves together, got to the station and got ourselves some beautiful looking baguettes to take with us. On the journey there, Katie and I were sat on a table with two Italian men having a business meeting. They were very expressive, arms everywhere and try just didn't stop! I'd love to know what they were talking about. I was dozing off and one of them got so excited by what he was taking about that he did the loudest clap in the works and I nearly cried.

Rome was beautiful again today, the sun was gorgeous and everyone just seemed really happy. A tour bus was just eating for us outside so we jumped on and headed for the Vatican. The Pope was doing big mass in the square (I don't know the correct term for it) so we scooted straight around to the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel to beat the queues.every few steps we were stopped to ask if we wanted guided tours. We told them we already had a tour booked. I am ashamed to say we lied in the Vatican, and we did it more than once. We got to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel and wave our prebooked tickets at all the suckers in the queue (we didn't do that, gloating is a sin and we had already lied in the Vatican). We looked around the museums first and the further round we went, the more people we encountered so after we ate our giant baguettes we decided to head to the Sistine Chapel.

The maps lied. The further we walked, the more rooms they 'remembered' to add on to the route. I reckon we walked about 3 miles to get there. When we did get there it was jammed. There were 6 security guards trying to keep about 300 people quiet and stopping them from taking pictures. The chapel was amazing, really spectacular. The only thing that spoilt it was stupid people who got annoyed by the guards asking them to leave because they hadn't read the 3MILLION signs saying not to take pictures. To e honest, you kind of lose your right to be annoyed at getting told off when you are breaking the rules in the first place.

Out we went and we made a pit stop in the cafe to have a drink. I also rang my Grandad cos I miss him a bit. Only a bit tho, I don't want him getting a big head or anything. Next stop was St. Peters. As we walked to the queue, more 'tour pushers' tried to grab us. One of them attempted to use flattery to lure us in. Well, flattery is possibly not the right word. He said I looked like an elf from Lord of the Rings. I wasn't pleased. He tried to redeem himself by asking if Dee was real because she was so beautiful but I tried to burn into his soul with an evil look so he walked away. Whilst in the queue another one came over and recommended we wait an hour until the queue went down. Dee then asked him how he knew this. He looked at her like she had three heads. His reply was 'Umm, because I work here. I am here everyday.' Needless to say she felt rather foolish.

The queue went quite quickly and I stood my ground and let no one push past us. When we got into St. Peters it was genuinely breathtaking. 'The Pieta' was beautiful, it was right by the entrance and just caught your eye as soon as you walked in. We looked around for a bit and took a few pictures then went into the silent prayer chapel where I had my own few minutes silence for home after a sad few days. I looked at the intentions book and it was full of intentions for the victims of Hillsborough and when the Pope did his open air mass this morning he remembered them all in the prayers. I added my own intention to the list before we left.

Out and down the steps we went and we went and found a holy gift shop so I could buy all the medals and rosary beads I had on my request list from home. We were in there do long that we were cutting it fine to get back for the train so we were a bit panicked. Luckily for us, the train was delayed. I remember nothing about the journey as I slept right through it.

I really love Rome, I think its one of my top places we have been to. It is such a beautiful, interesting place with so much to do. I will definitely be making a return visit there. Off to Venice for the day tomorrow, the weather is meant to be scorching so it should be a good'un. I cannot wait to go, I've been looking forward to Venice for weeks. It's probably going to be a bit smelly tho...

Ps, mum, we were all sensible and covered up going in the Vatican. One; because it's a Holy Place, and Two; because you have to be and thy give you a disposable tabard if you aren't. No one wants to be seen in a disposable tabard.