Lunch and Vatican City

Just as I have always imagined, we walked to an alley way and there were tables set up for lunch. We were eating our first lunch in Italy and it was wonderful. Wine, beer, or water along with your Italian dish of choice. Mackenzie and I shared a 4 cheese pizza and it was wonderful. The owner had once lived in Alaska so he was familiar with the location of Oklahoma. It was my second encounter with a bathroom that was well hidden in a basement two stories below the ground. The staircase was built for a very small person to go one way. Claustrophobia is clearly not an issue with Italians.

This is a good time to discuss bathrooms in Italy. I was aware they were different, but it was always a challenge to know where the flushing button would be located, do you push the button or wave your hand in front of the button? Sinks: Again, wave or not to wave your hand in front of the button? I sadly found out once after lathering with soap and not figuring out a way to get the water to come out of the spout, that sometimes there is a pedal on the floor that you step on to get the water to work. Luckily, that time I had my American friends with germ wipes there to help me wash the soap off my hands.

Okay...back to our "appointment" with the Vatican. We crossed the Tiber River and again were told to RUN, RUN, RUN off the bus. We departed, breathed, counted, and began our walk around Vatican City to the entrance. Since we were entering a new country (Vatican City is the smallest country in the world.), we had to present our passports and go through security.

We could never imagine the amount of walking and wasted time we would spend with a guide that we nicknamed Ugly Betty. We were each issued a "whisper" with earphones to be able to listen to her as she walked us through the Vatican. She did not speak loudly and we never could hear her. She took us through every detail when we were were anxiously dying to see the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. I do believe we spent two of our three hours telling her we just wanted to go and her asking us, "I do what you want. Am I a good guide?"

We finally entered the Sistine Chapel and it was a deflating feeling as we had anticipated something so much more grandiose after listening to her for two hours. It was packed, no one was respecting the Silencio signs or no flash camera signs. The guards were barking at everyone and we were herded out.

However, we had a wonderful surprise waiting for us. St. Peter's Basilica! Here come more tears.