Greece Day 13-- Last Day in Rome!

This morning we headed for St. Peter's Basilica. Everyone else had the same idea as it is the Jubilee year for the Vatican and everyone is here. Apparently the Pope is speaking today because thousands of chairs were set up inside and on the square with big jumbo tron TV's. It was so crazy getting in as we waited and waited in wall to wall people pushing against each other to get inside! It was hot and I could feel the sweat just dripping down my front and back! We enjoyed the coolness inside the basilica! I remembered that just to the right as you enter is the Pieta by Michelangelo and this is my most favorite sculpture in all of Rome! Last time we were at the Vatican 20 years ago, Bill and I had done an extensive tour of the Vatican Museum and the basilica so today was just a repeat for us. I didn't take that many pictures... The main alter is a sculpture by Bernini, so I got a picture of that. The simplicity of the dove with an olive leaf spoke to me so I took a picture of it-- everything else is so overwhelming and not very much of it is about the Savior-- it's all alters with sarcophaguses of saints... We were supposed to have an hour in there and meet back up with the group, but because of the Jubilee we were ushered out by the Vatican security!! It was so crazy and loud and annoying! On the way out I took a picture of the Swiss Guard-- I think their outfits are so cute! Robin, Bill and I found a really nice, airconditioned restaurant where we had a nice meal! We got some yummy carbonated lemonade and Bill and I got different pizzas. I got to taste his and he tasted mine-- they were good! We walked around for a bit on the shady side of the street and got our last gelato in Italy! We met up with the group and walked over to the other side where our tour met up for the Vatican Museum. That was so crazy! There is sooooo much STUFF to look at and I felt tired and overwhelmed. It was interesting and our guide did a great job, but it's just so much! It would take years to see everything and really appreciate it! After the museum we went right into the Sistine Chapel which is right off of the museum. It was noisy and crowded. Our guide did a great job of explaining the art and the symbolism of Michelangelo's paintings. He was a sculptor not a painter, but for not being a painter he did quite the amazing job and it took him 4 years to complete! After we finished our tour, the bus took us back to the hotel and we walked from there to dinner. It was at the first restaurant we went to the first night in Rome, but they served an amazing 5 course meal and really made up for the not so great meal the first night. We ate outside this time but I would've preferred the air conditioning inside. We ate so much food! I couldn't believe how full I was! We said our goodbye's to everyone as we fly out first thing in the morning! We were the first group to leave and we had to be in the hotel lobby by 3am! When we got back to the hotel, we packed up our stuff and I got about 4 hours of sleep. Long day of travel tomorrow, but I will sleep in my own bed tomorrow night!!! We will have been gone for a total of 15 days if you count the 2 days it took to get to Athens and the day it will take to get home but it has truly been an amazing trip and I've learned so much about the world I live in... it has been so wonderful!!!