The Vatican!

I actually had no interest in seeing the Vatican on this trip, but mom and others said it was a “must see” – so we saw. And it was AWESOME! A definite “must see” if you are planning a trip to Rome. We had a private guide pick us up at the hotel and personally toured us through the Museum, the grounds, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Square and Basilica. Again the immenseness of the buildings and the structures were just awe-inspiring, and having a private guide made it very educational. Our guide, Paulo, was a local guide used by the hotel and he wisked us through the lines, got our tickets and knew what to show us and what to skip based upon our time restraints. He spoke to us about the history of Vatican City, its status as a separate country, how it was formed, etc. all the way back to the time of Christ.

On a separate note, I would HIGHLY recommend getting a private driver and guide in foreign cities if your desire is to learn and see the sites rather than just “view” the sites. We gained so much more and saved so much time it was well worth the cost. It is not cheap, but it is worth it.

We were back at the hotel by 2:00 PM for our trip to the Port. More tomorrow – we are off to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast!