Wow.
I have not stopped since 7am and it’s 18.02 and I’m waiting on the train to my hotel.
I have had the most breathtaking day where I visited the Vatican Museums, The Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica. I made two friends on the tour and we went to meet another girl I’d arranged to meet for lunch. We had lunch, then went to the Castel Sant’Angelo.
I am absolutely knackered but it’s been an amazing and really wonderful day.
First stop at Peter’s Square before my tour began. it’s 8.30am. The queues are very long already.
I don’t think anything can prepare you for the grandeur of the Vatican. I feel liked it’s way beyond anything I have ever seen before.
I was super early for my tour so I stopped for an iced coffee…… not decaf 🤦🏻♀️😂
I toured with Brastours and there was no real logic to my choice, it was just a guided tour which I randomly selected. You get an earphone and you can hear the tour guide as she talks into a microphone. It so clear. it also skips the lines as they call them so you’re guaranteed immediate entry.
This is just inside the Vatican and the first view of St Peter’s Dome.
Right about here the coffee started palpitations 😂😂😂 I felt really dizzy and lightheaded and thought I was going to faint… thankfully it passed.
I got speaking to another lady who felt exactly the same as me and she thought it was the one headphone in one ear making her feel a bit off balance.
Tilt your head for extra dizziness… these are the Vatican Gardens. Beautiful.
I have never been anywhere as busy as this. The Vatican gets 45,000 visitors A DAY!!! Imagine how much money they must make but there must be some amount to upkeep it too.
The next shots are all photos from the Vatican Museums.
I saw so much today and listened to 3 hours of commentary… it’s impossible to remember most of it.
I do remember this was one of the first statues of Venus, depicting the female body.
There are literally thousands of people walking around. At any point in time the museums are full of people, you have to do some sneaky moves to get photos which the hundreds of people between you and the statue.
Look how many people are in here!
As we head down into the Sistine Chapel we are not allowed any photography but our guide had talked us through everything we were about to see.
Once again, nothing can prepare you for the beauty and the opulence of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo lay on his back for 4 years on high scaffolding and painted it all. So obviously no photos but it’s a sight to behold.
Did I mention we had to wear long trousers and a long sleeved top for this visit? It’s hot but respectful.
We then head into St Peter’s Basilica behind me…. It is the biggest church in the world.
This is the tomb of Pope John Paul II.
I think this mosaic is Raphael’s but I’m second guessing that now.
The two ladies I spent the tour with, Sandra and Helen, asked me what I was doing this afternoon and I told them I was meeting a girl from a solo female travellers group, for lunch. They asked to tag along as it would be a good recommendation for lunch if an Italian had booked it.
So we spent the rest of the afternoon together.
Back to the Vatican.
Then to the Castel Sant’Angelo. There’s a tunnel linking the Vatican to the Castel so the Pope could escape in times of trouble!
I have so many more photos of the day but the blog is not loading properly so I will stop it there.
You are never alone when you are alone. There are always special people that you meet along the way. Solo women travelers are a support network like no other. I felt very privileged to be a part of that lovely group today. Thanks to a Sandra and Helen for looking after me on the tour and thanks to a Melanie for being our American Italian guide for the afternoon!!
I will sleep like a very happy girl tonight and get up tomorrow and do it all again. Colosseum style.
Stay safe everyone 🇮🇹🏛️♥️
The Rambling Sloth 🦥 