2000 October 06 : Friday

Today's task: take on the Vatican.

01) ROME: ST. PETER'S | Church by Michaelangelo, obelisk "donated" by the Egyptians.

02) ROME: ST. PETER'S | One of the LARGE fountains in the piazza.

03) ROME: ST. PETER'S | The Swiss guards. Don't make fun of their pants!

04) ROME: ST. PETER'S | Setting up for an appearance by his Popeness.

05) ROME: ST. PETER'S | First goal of the day: summit the dome. I started out about 10th in line. I was able to pass several couples and a family of four. Finally it was just me and the dome keeper. At the base of the final stair, he breathlessly handed me the keys to the gate and, wiping the sweat from his brow, motioned me to go ahead. I did so and was the first person to summit St. Peter's this day. It's possibly the best view of Rome. Though my photo isn't sharp enough to show them, you can see the Pantheon and Mussolini's Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele from here. On my descent, I noticed that there was a Vatican souvenir shop on the roof below. Up until this point I had felt a little embarrassed about wearing sandals without socks at the Vatican. This crass bit of merchandising erased that feeling instantly!

06) ROME: ST. PETER'S | The structure below is the Vatican museum. The Sistine Chapel is the gabel-roofed building closest to me. Getting to it required me to climb back down to ground level, leave St. Peter's, walk out of the Piazza, and follow the exterior walls of the museum around for about half a mile until I came to the end of the admission line. 45 minutes and at least a half a mile more, I arrived at the entrance. I bought my ticket and got in another line to enter the actual museum. Once in, I had to walk continuously, following the signs for the Sistine Chapel until I actually arrived nearly hour after I had bought my ticket. Photos aren't allowed in the chapel so I didn't take any. Talking is frowned upon as well, but many a tourist (and believe me, there were many) talked openly and quite loudly. Not all were ugly Americans either.

07) ROME: ST. PETER'S | Michelangelo's beautiful Pietà. Completed when he was 25 years old. What did you do by that age? In 1972, a man walked into the church, pulled out a hammer, and attempted to destroy the statue. It is now behind glass.

08) ROME: ST. PETER'S | Inside St. Peter's. I located the statue of St. Peter and attempted to photograph his foot - which has been worn to a mishapen nub by all the pilgrims who have come to touch it over the years. Wanting to be respectful, I attempted to shoot it without a flash, but the light was too dim. As I started to walk away, about 20 pilgrims quickly rushed in to touch it. I felt very embarrassed. Then I remembered the story about the golden calf and suddenly I didn't feel so bad any more!

09) ROME: VATICAN MUSEUM| I want my mummy!

10) ROME: VATICAN MUSEUM| After seeing the Sistine Chapel, I went back and walked through the Egyptian exhibit and marveled at some of the items the church has stolen throughout the years.

11) ROME: VATICAN MUSEUM | I think this may be a bust of the goddess Hathor. But it might be Isis. I really can't remember.

12) ROME: VATICAN MUSEUM | Laocoön and his sons.

The Vatican Museum is enormous. I overheard a statistic from one of the many guides that said if you were to view each object for 10 seconds, it would take you over 12 years to get through the museum.

13) PALESTRINA | Palestrina is small town about 2 hours outside of Rome by bus (about 30min if you have a car). I went to see the Santuario della Fortuna Primigenia - Roman ruins I read about on my own in college.

14) PALESTRINA | Another brilliant shot of the photographer's feet. Note the webbed toes (and the lack of socks!).

15) PALESTRINA | There was originally a temple at the top of this hill. The Palazzo Colonna Barberini is in its place today. Inside is a museum.

16) PALESTRINA | Thunderstorms all around. To the left, the volcanic Colli Albani (Alban hills - summer home of the Pope) are being pounded. Rome (regular home of the Pope - off picture to the right) was next. I watched as the clouds moved in and thumped the city. Perhaps God was angry!

17) PALESTRINA | Quiet steps .

18) ROME: THE SPANISH STEPS | A popular spot.

19) ROME: THE SPANISH STEPS | At the top, another obelisk "donated" by the Egyptians.

20) ROME: THE SPANISH STEPS | Looking down.