The Vatican

So today we went to the Vatican.  It turns out that it was closed for a special mass.  We think they were ordaining new archbishops, but as none of us are catholic and can't tell what the clothes mean, we aren't 100% sure on that one.  Either way, the basilica was closed this morning.  We decided to tough it out and stand in line to wait.  For the first part it was pretty cool.  They were broadcasting what was going on inside.  Despite my lack of latin and Italian, it was still amazing to watch.

This is the square.  The pope's balcony is the top center one between the red columns.  He didn't come out.

This was what was playing on the pope TV.  There were four huge screens stationed around the square and giaint speakers broadcasting it all.  Pretty nifty for a little protestant girl.

At some point the service ended.  The congregation came out the main doors, but apparently the bishops and cardinals have a back door.  I had been eyeing these swiss guards for a while.  Once the service was over most of the cardinal type people seemed to be escaping through here.  The picture is fuzzy because I had to use the most zoomed setting.  We weren't anywhere close.  I still didn't see the Pope though.

Finally we got to go in.  It was stupendously amazing.  It was even more amazing than St. Paul's in London and I LOVE St. Paul's.  It is huge for starters and every thing is painted or gilded or frescoed.  Unbelieveably beautiful.

Michaelangelo's Pieta is in here.  I love this one.  Look at all that carved fabric.  I bet the Pope likes this one best.  It is much cooler than all the other statuary (although there is an interesting marble statue of a dead pope dressed up in pope clothes.  I bet that one gives him the willies though...)

 

The light coming through the windows was just breathtaking.  Beams of light everywhere.  It made my little lighting designer's heart happy.  Still no Pope though.

While we were there a mass processional came through with candles and silver Bible and lots of singing.  It sent shivers down your spine.  I didn't get any pictures of that.  The pope wasn't there, but some lesser bishopy looking guy was.
When we left the basilica we made a mad dash to the museum to see the Sistine Chapel.  They don't mean for you to get to that one directly.  He have to wander through 19 more rooms to get to that one and there are no short cuts.  We did find a lovely outdoor area where we saw this.  It is St. Peter's basilica dome.  Someone famous made it, but I am too tired to remember who right now. 

They won't let you make pictures in the Sistine Chapel.  There was a guard there barking at people, so few even tried.  We stared appreciatively and then left by way of a winding circular stair.  Cate and I made a mad dash back to the hotel for our luggage and then on to the train station.  We got to Naple around 9pm, check in and then wandered down the street to a a local pizza place.  The pizza was just allright, but the dessert dish was to die for.  Hot, melty chocolate wrapped in powdered pizza dough.  Oh my goodness.  It was yummy!

Tomorrow we are off to Pompeii and then hopefully back to eat seafood.  Surely in Naples we can find seafood.  Tomorrow night we pack it all up and head back to the airport Monday morning.  Our trip is almost over.