Vatican City, Italy – 2/14/2015

FEBRUARY 14, 2015 (Saturday)

Happy Valentine Day!

We got up early, went up to the breakfast buffet, and then left directly from there. We got on the shuttle bus to the port entrance, then paid 80 cents each to ride the Civitavecchia city bus to the train station. Once at the train station we got a 12 Euro ticket (per person) for all day train ride, all lines. (We figured it would even out as a one way fare from Rome to Civitavecchia is 5 Euro.) We got on the train with Shelly (our Cruise Critic friend from Florida), and Kim and Hien, our Cruise Critic friends from Washington state. We all talked and laughed and the little over an hour ride went fast. Once at the Rome Termini, we all went our separate ways.

Shuttle bus off the ship.
Shuttle bus off the ship.
Nicest guy.  Shipmate, ran into him several times.
Nicest guy. shipmate, ran into him several times.
City bus to train station.
City bus to train station.
Had to get to other side to catch train to Rome.
Had to get to other side to catch train to Rome.
Hein and Kim enroute to the Pantheon.
Hein and Kim enroute to the Pantheon.
Shelly leaving the ship by herself for a few days in Rome.
Shelly leaving the ship by herself for a few days in Rome.
Lots of air drying.
Lots of air drying.
Interesting views from the train.
Interesting views from the train.

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Rome Termini.
Rome Termini.

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The train termini was very crowded and we had to watch for thieves and pick pockets. We did ask a couple of nice people (who spoke English) how to get to the Vatican. Everyone we spoke with was very nice and explained things. One nice gentleman even took us to the place we needed to be and pointed out the train. Michael and I were very pleased with ourselves (but still don’t want to do “The Amazing Race” anymore.)

Huge.
Huge.
crowded.
crowded.
SRO on the train to the Vatican.
SRO on the train to the Vatican.

We got off the train when we were supposed to and walked and walked. We were surprised at how many people were out, and at how much litter there was. We stopped at a little corner magazine and candy type stand and bought “skip the line” tickets for 27.50 Euro each. We figured our time was very limited and we did want to see the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum. We had to be back on the ship by 4:30 PM. By this time it was almost 11:00 AM. The person in the little corner stand told us where to catch the tour, but it really wasn’t clear and we missed the 11:00 AM tour and had to wait for the 12:00 tour. While we were waiting I looked into little souvenir shops and then we sat on a big marble slab and viewed St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican. Very beautiful. We were, however, trying to figure out why it was so very crowded, almost like sardines, in the square. Must have been something going on because they had huge TV screens up, singing, and prayers going on.

Up from the underground and walking towards the Vatican.
Up from the underground and walking towards the Vatican.
So practical.
So practical.
On our way.
On our way.
Pretty woman talking with some locals.
Pretty woman talking with some locals.
Interesting.
Interesting.
Mounted police.
Mounted police.
Nice gate.
Nice gate.

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Into St. Peter's Square.
Into St. Peter’s Square.
It was very crowded.
It was very crowded.
So many statues line the building tops.
So many statues line the building tops.
Big TV screens were set up to broadcast a service.
Big TV screens were set up to broadcast a service.
Former Popes? Saints?
Former Popes? Saints?

 

 

The crowds seemed to be lines moving slowly.
The crowds seemed to be lines moving slowly.
Looked so crowded.
Looked so crowded.

Our tour finally started and we walked (and walked) to get to the Vatican Museum. We skipped in front of at least a thousand people. Once inside we were given our tickets and told where to go. We were then on our own. We knew time was not on our side so we headed to the Sistine Chapel, but had to follow the throng of people. Made it very unpleasant because it was so crowded and hard to move or take pictures. Once we reached the Sistine Chapel, we could not take pictures and had to be quiet. We felt like we were back in the mosque with all the rules and regulations. Getting to the Sistine Chapel, there were some beautiful things to see – huge old hand made carpets, sculptures, art work, ceilings – just gorgeous. We didn’t like all the people but we were glad we got to see the Sistine Chapel and the museum (even if rather quickly). If we had just waited in line, we would still be waiting.

At last, our tour.
At last, our tour.
Off we go, some of these folks are our tour group.
Off we go, some of these folks are our tour group.
We left the square.
We left the square.
Interesting car.
Interesting car.
Seemed we walked about a mile away from the Vatican, or at least around the outside of it.
Seemed we walked about a mile away from the Vatican, or at least around the outside of it.

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That is the line over there to get into the Sistine Chapel.
That is the line over there to get into the Sistine Chapel.

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We made our way along the opposite side because they would want to kill us if they knew we were headed to the front of the line.
We made our way along the opposite side because they would want to kill us if they knew we were headed to the front of the line.

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Past them all and inside.
Past them all and inside.

 

Then on our own with the masses.
Then on our own with the masses.
Lots of pretty things.
Lots of pretty things.

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Egyptian artifacts in the museum.
Egyptian artifacts in the museum.

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Up many stairs, then down too.
Up many stairs, then down too.
These fellows have had much money for a long time.
These fellows have had much money for a long time.

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Ceilings....so much art.  I am such a rube, Several times I thought I was in the Sistine Chapel...and I wasn't even close.
Ceilings….so much art. I am such a rube, Several times I thought I was in the Sistine Chapel…and I wasn’t even close.

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Pretty woman on tour.
Pretty woman on tour.
So many beautiful things.
So many beautiful things.
Up stairs, down stars, long long hallways.
Up stairs, down stars, long long hallways.

 

Looking out a window.
Looking out a window.
Huge Rugs.
Huge rugs.
Huge rugs that tell stories.
Huge rugs that tell stories.

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Every ceiling was decorated.
Every ceiling was decorated.
I thought, "This is it."
I thought, “This is it.”

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I'm only posting 1 in 12 photos of the ceilings.
I’m only posting 1 in 12 photos of the ceilings.

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Actually getting close after about an hour of shuffling along.
Actually getting close after about an hour of shuffling along.
All cameras off for the actual chapel.  It was lovely.  There is sure a lot of opulence here.
All cameras off for the actual chapel. It was lovely. There is sure a lot of opulence here.
After having our cameras  off for the Sistine, now into a gift shop.
After having our cameras off for the Sistine, now into a gift shop.
Headed for the exit.
Headed for the exit.

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That is some mosaic tile artistry.
That is some mosaic tile artistry.
Lost in the Vatican.
Lost in the Vatican.
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Long way back to the exit.

 

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Giant spiral staircase leading almost to the exit..
Giant spiral staircase leading almost to the exit..

We left the Vatican and found our way back to the termini. Michael was the navigator and he found where we were supposed to catch the next train to Civitavecchia, but it didn’t leave until 2:45 PM. We were getting quite worried we would miss the ship. When the train did move, it seemed to stop every five minutes or so and we didn’t get into Civitavecchia until 4:00 PM. We hurriedly got our bus tickets and took the bus to the shuttle, where we caught the last one back to the ship. When we got to the ship, one of the gang planks was already up, and all the other things were already moved inside the ship. I believe we were in a group of about eight that were the very last to arrive on the ship. So glad we made it and didn’t have to overnight and then make our way to Liverno.

A little bit crowded.
A little bit crowded.
"Eataly" saw that on our Italian ship in the Caribbean, the Divina.
“Eataly” saw that on our Italian ship in the Caribbean, the Divina.
From the train.
From the train.
Pretty woman on the way back to the ship.
Pretty woman on the way back to the ship.
From the bus to the port shuttle.
From the bus to the port shuttle.
On the shuttle weaving our way back to the ship.
On the shuttle weaving our way back to the ship.
Good to see.
Good to see.
Pretty woman hustling to make the last gangway before they roll it up.
Pretty woman hustling to make the last gangway before they roll it up.
Putting everything away, getting ready to sail.
Putting everything away, getting ready to sail.

We were so tired after all the walking that we went up to the Garden Buffet, had dinner, then went back to our room and crashed for the night. That was our day. Hope yours was great!