Our second day in Rome

If the success of our day could be judged by the tiredness of my feet, we had a great day. After breakfast at Casa Lasalle, we left about 9:00 via the subway to the Vatican. Note to all: if you ever want to go to the Vatican Museums, buy your tickets on-line. It is the equivalent of the Fast Pass at Disney World. We just walked past all of the people waiting. Awesome.

We had scheduled three hours in the museum...after all, there are over three miles of hallways filled with art, plus the Sistine Chapel. Our group finished in about an our...record time I am sure. They were more interested in the food than the frescoes! Alas, pearls before swine! Anyway, they did see something. In an effort to engage them a little more, I suggested that they go to cupola of the Vatican. It was a hard sell, but eventually they decided that would be good. It is not a climb for the faint of heart, the claustrophobic, or anyone who fears heights. But at the end, as you pull yourself up the last spiral staircase with a rope, you are rewarded with the best view in Rome.

After that we did the inside of St. Peters. Again, hard to gage teenage excitement. I think some of them appreciated it under the feigned indifference, which I am sure you all are used to! The were obviously getting ready for an event at St. Peter...ah! Pentecost...it just took me until we were outside to figure that one out...Anyway I was asking if the Pope would be giving his noon blessing on Sunday because of Mass. The lady in information said he would, one a whim, I asked if there were still tickets available. She thought there were and directed us to the Swiss Guard.

We were pretty hungry by this point, the kids were hitting the gift shops (and no, Lindsay, you are not getting the leather satchel you asked for, even though I pointed some out to your sister...get even by giving her bedroom to a foreign exchange student!) But while we were eating, the adults kind of figured the kids would be up for a Papal Mass. So we decided to ask them when we met up after shopping.

It was at this point that something must have gotten into you kids...perhaps, the Holy Spirit? or maybe proximity to the Vatican. We weren't too sure they would want to go to a Papal Mass, but when I asked only two said they weren't interested. ..they are going anyway, they just don't know it yet. So Mr. Julich braved his way past security once again, and found the Swiss Guardsman with the sword and secured us tickets. Amen.

While he was on his sacred quest, the rest of us headed for the Trevi Fountain. Both the Trevi and the Sistine Chapel were less crowded than usual. The day was beautiful and clear. It probably was in the low 70s. A great day to be a tourist in Rome. From the Trevi Fountain we walked to the Pantheon, past many leather satchels. The big question at the Pantheon was, "what happens when it rains?" ...not how did they do the roof without any mechanical devices. Oh, well.

We then headed to Trastevere for dinner. It was 10:30 by the time we stumbled back to Casa Lasalle. We took a tram then a bus to get here....so we have had all the transportation options in Rome.

Tomorrow we are sleeping in an extra hour before we head to "classical Rome"...the forum and colosseum. In the afternoon I am taking them on a pilgrimage (once I explained what that was) to the basilicas of John Latern, Mary Maggiore, and Paul outside the walls.