Rain in Rome

The day started bright, sunny and warm and us missing breakfast due to sleeping in. It wasn’t until after our first cathedral (straight out of the Da Vinci Code - with sun dials on the floor) that Ro noticed that the temperature was 29 and the time was actually an hour earlier than the watch indicated. Tomorrow we will not miss breakfast as the watch is now adjusted. We spent the entire day crossing the centre of Rome from east to west, churches, cathedrals, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountains, Panthenons, Shops, Museums, Markets and eventually the Vatican. It was a long intensive and yet somewhat fulfilling day. Very stimulating.
There were many highlights, a quick survey reveals:-
Isabel: Trevi Fountain
Louisa: Sitting excluded from St. Peters due to dress code (not!!).
Rosemary: The Sistine Chapel
Neil: Having a church all to ourselves.
In one of our museum exploits we were very happy in that we found statues with their heads attached. This gave a certain sense of realism to the exhibits. It was here that we had pretty much the whole place to ourselves (including an old church), we found out later why – everyone (aka hordes) were going to the Vatican.
Due to near nakedness Ro and Louisa were barred from St. Peters Basilica. This was just reward for standing in line the hot sun for an hour, so Izzy and Dad went in, took some photo’s, admired the architecture, furnishings and the amount of tourists walking around fully dressed (also taking photos) and got out as quickly as possible in order to keep the team as one.
We then traipsed around the block to get to the Sistine Chapel. The area has changed enormously over the years. The whole facility is now a fully blown Museum (which means modern architecturally designed buildings charging exorbitant prices to get in). All we wanted to see was the Sistine Chapel – the signs routed us up, down, along that passage, down that ramp, through that catacomb, around that bend, wind through that maze, via a couple of secret doors and eventually into the chapel (yay!). The art has not changed over the years (magnificent), the crowds certainly have (recalcitrant). It was really quite funny; seating for say (50) people with easily 2000 in there. No photos, no speaking, no sitting anywhere unless you’re one of the lucky 50. Therefore there are lots of security people running around telling people to put their cameras away, stop sitting on the steps and SHHHHHHH !
Upon exiting, the boom of thunder was rolling around Rome, the Gods (it seems) were angry, I suggest it was due to people sitting on the steps in the chapel – or the bare shoulders. Dodging the forthcoming wrath we ducked into the Met and travelled back across town with the locals. It’s amazing how many people in Rome seem to judge us first by our shoes (they are after all - matching).
Tomorrow we explore the ruins. We’re now considering what level of nakedness would get us barred from the Colosseum....