Visit to the Pope

St. Peter's
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After last nights ordeal we weren't up as early as we had wanted. When we had got our butts out of bed and had breakfast we went to the bus stop where there was a guy in the bushes with no pants on. He freaked us out so we walked up to the next stop. He followed us along the sidewalk with his pants on, but as soon as we stopped he was back in the bushes with no pants. Thankfully our bus came! It turned out that the bus was in the wrong direction from the Vatican. When we got to the right stop and to the Vatican and found the end on the line, which must have gone on for a bout 1.5km around the wall. We didn't actually know what we were lining up for. Turns out it was to see the Sistine Chapel. At least the line moved quckly. The rooms leading up to the chapel are impressive, but after about teh 5th painted room it is a little much. Inside the rooms is a sardine can! After an hour or more (super speed walking) we finally! got to the chapel. The work is amazing but we were glad to be out. What I didn't like was that at the entrance to every 2nd or 3rd room was a sign with an arrow saying Sistine Chapel this way. Everytime I saw this sign I thought 'Oh good we're finally here!' Nope, wrong again.

Rachel, Cheryl and I at the Vatican
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We walked down to St. Peter's and sat on a pillar do dicuss what to do next. We were talking about where to eat when this girl came up to us and was like, 'I heard you were speaking English and were talking about food, I was just thinking the same.' Her name is Rachel and she is from Vancouver!!! We all got along so well it was saphire (not golden). We got in line for the bascilica and ended up going to the tombs of past pope's, including the tomb of Pope John Paul II, who passed away last year and the tomb of St. Peter. We then had to get back in line to get into the bascilica. It is breath taking! The sheer size of it makes you feel so small. Rachel and I had our picture taken with some Swiss guards. We found a pizza joint just outside the walls and had lunch and gelato. After lunch we took the subway to the Spanish Steps. At the bottom of the steps were two motorcycle cops. I went up to one and told him that my dad was a polezia in Canada and asked to take his picsture. he was so happy to be in it. I just wish I could have given him a badge or something. (unfortunatly the picture of the cop was deleted along with many others). Had our photo taken on the steps and then walked along a ritzy street lined with Prada, Armani, Louis Vuitton, among other big designer names. We walked over to the Pantenon then to Piazza Navona where I made Cheryl take a 'dirty' picture. From there we walked to the Trevi Fountain for Rachel to see. Cheryl noticed that there was a guy wearing a Melbourn Fire Dept. shirt so Cheryl traded badges with the guy. We walked to the Barberini Metro Station where we said bye to Rachel.

but as soon as we stopped he was back in the bushes with no pants