Today we tour the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. I was up early today as we were to meet our taxis to the Vatican at 8:10 am. I got to experience the crazy Rome drivers! Once arriving at the Vatican Museum, we were divided into 2 groups. The guide for my group was Ludovica. She was excellent-very knowledgeable and enthusiastic! We first toured the gardens, then entered the Museum. What treasures! There was art, tapestries and statues from Egypt, Greece and Rome. The tapestries were huge! Next we entered the hall of maps. I love maps so I really enjoyed this room. The ceilings in all the rooms are beautifully painted. Next, we lined up to enter the Sistine Chapel-no pictures and silence. I noticed many people did not observe either. A gentleman kept "shushing" people. The Chapel was packed-standing room only. We were given 30 minutes to enjoy the Chapel. Upon leaving the Chapel, we toured the former Pope's rooms known as the Raphael Rooms. "The School Of Athens" was on display-beautiful! Then we entered St. Peter's Basilica. Ludovica talked with us briefly, then set us out on our own to explore as long as we wanted. Everyone scattered. I took my time enjoying the art and sculptures. The rest of the day was my own. I headed out to St. Peter's Square, walked along the Tiber River, made my way to Piazza Farnese to see the huge bath tubs from the Baths of Caracalla made into fountains, then to Campo de' Fiori (field of flowers)-famous for their markets and the statue of Giordano Brune, the heretic that was burned on the spot in 1600 AD. Then it was back to the hotel where I would meet the group at 6 PM for food and a history lesson. We met our new guide then as Cecilia had a family emergency. Our new guide is Stacy Gibboni, an American who married an Italian and now lives in Venice.

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