(Day 7: Rome-PM) Our Trip Of A Lifetime: Cruising the Mediterranean

Simply unbelievable!

It's only lunchtime and we have seen thousands of years of history already today!

The Italians have a unique way of advertising, as the billboard above displays... it is a clever spoof of the 1970's American "Coppertone" suntan lotion ads! It does get your attention all right... but who can tell "what" they are trying to sell!

Leaving the Colosseum area downtown, we head to our lunch stop... (a fancy lunch included with this excursion)... at the not-so-fancily-named "Jolly Roger" hotel in Rome.

Although the hotel name (the Jolly Roger) is funny, it was very high class inside with linen covered tables and champagne and sparkling water to start our meal off right!

We sat at a table with a young family from Miami... Jose who was originally from Mexico, his wife Elana who was from Colombia (S. America), and their 2 1/2 year old son Samuel... who was jointly from Miami.

Jose works in the fresh-cut flower business and travels extensively to study flower-growing technologies, while Elana stays home to raise little Samuel. Her family in Colombia owns a large carnation growing farm that sells direct to the U.S.

The lunch was magnifico... we were given a huge chunk of "real" Italian lasagna as an appetizer, a salad, and a succulent veal cutlet as the main course. Very, very good! Followed by a scrumptious chocolate cake for dessert.

After lunch, we all met outside and it's back on the bus.

I think Kathy is acting like she doesn't see the huge "don't pick the flowers" symbol and is snatching a piece for a souvenir before loading on the bus!

We are off to see the Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel... how exciting is that!?!

We head back in toward the center of Rome again... passing thousand year old bridges and buildings everywhere... amazing!

A majestic bronze warrior-angel statue adorns one end of a bridge over the famed Tiber River.

We are finally getting close to the Vatican City area of Rome... we should start seeing signs of it soon.
The everyday traffic is like crazy in downtown Roma... with pedestrians, scooters, small cars, trucks, and large buses all crammed in and trying to get somewhere fast!

And then, as we pass an avenue, there it is... Wow!

It's Saint Peter's Basilica... standing at the religious center of the Catholic world... The Vatican!

Our bus still needs to wind its way to a parking area... no doubt a mile away. There are religious impressions everywhere... such as this mosaic tile outdoor picture of Mother Mary and Jesus.

We pass many crowded, busy streets as we continue looking for a bus parking area.

A very small car, parked in front of a very small appliance store, selling very small washers and dryers along the Rome city sidewalks.

Wonders of architectural detail are everywhere... no building is left plain... there are statues of angels, gargoyles, or saints anywhere you look in Rome!

The bus does park about a half mile away from the Vatican entrance, so we are off and walking again. Andiamo! Andiamo!

We are headed for the smallest independent State in the world... The Vatican City!

After several blocks of walking in file, we finally approach the massive, protective outer walls of the Vatican City compound.

These walls were built around the 800's A.D. to keep out the invaders... but I don't think it completely worked.

Once inside the wall gate, we are greeted with our first panoramic view of the Basilica... and it is still a couple blocks away!

It is a very warm day and several of us stop to get a refreshing drink from one of the dozens of medieval-era, outdoor drinking fountains along the walkway.


There are elegant and unexpected sculptures and fountains in stone and bronzes on every building we pass.

Every nook in the buildings along the walk has a statue or religious artifact displayed.

We approach the Basilica entrance by passing between these huge columns... hey buddy, duck your head a little... you're blocking my shot!

As we approached that entrance to the Basilica, we saw this stark-contrasting, highly-polished, metal interpretation of a damaged sphere!

It just seems out of place and context to me... but I'm sure it was a gift from some esteemed world leader to a recent Pope... and deserves to be displayed, too! (It's just not my style)

Above the entrance door to the Basilica and Vatican Museum is a painting honoring the Christians who were martyred at the Flavian Amphitheater in Rome (aka: the Colosseum).

As we enter the first hallway, the amazement begins!

The ceilings, walls and floors are completely covered with statues, paintings, mosaics, frescoes, and elegance that is unbelievable!

I must warn you...
there will be DOZENS of photos of opulent statues, tapestries, mosaics, and gifts that the Popes have received and gathered through the centuries and now are displayed in the many rooms and halls of the Vatican.

Although I went crazy taking and displaying these pictures for you to see... you must know there are dozens of photos I left behind... AND... there were thousands of items I didn't have time (or camera disc space) to even take a picture of!

The collections at the Vatican are simply must-see, awe-inspiring, and truly... Awesome!!!

Since it is a religious center, you will see many statues with these "magic fig leaves".

That's all I can think to call them, since they are strategically located on many male and female statues... and somehow "magically" stayed right in place while the sculptor did his work.

But, don't be too shocked if you see some statues that have "lost" their "magic fig leaves"... and are actually "exposed"!

Many sculptures are life-size or larger... and highly detailed.

There are several statues of pets and guard dogs that were donated to, or commissioned by, the Popes of the Vatican.

Detailed statues, wall reliefs, and columns are everywhere... but, one peculiar item is a bathing tub made of a solid piece of stone (granite, I think).

This is Hercules (I think) fighting a great serpent to rescue two young boys from its grasp.

Kathy and our little Italian guide, Francesca, check out a solid piece of stone (maybe of rose granite) carved into another bathtub... amazing craftsmanship!

One of many bisecting hallways off the main corridor that is full of gifted sculptures.

There are dozens of "rooms" or large alcoves that display more unbelievable works of ancient, medieval, and renaissance art.

This is probably Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and intoxication... wearing a "magic" fig leaf.

Another amazing domed ceiling with paintings and gold leaf trim.

Many great artists of the time and region... like Raphael, Michelangelo, and Botticelli... added paintings and frescoes to adorn the inner walls and ceilings of the Vatican buildings.

More larger-than-life statues... probably of various Roman or Greek gods and goddesses.

One of the many domes of the Basilica... this one has no paintings or statuary... but is geometrically spectacular!

I think this is another version of a skinnier Hercules... with his huge club and draped lion skin.

Another unidentified goddess immortalized in stone.

This is a large floor decoration made of mosaic tiles and depicting the heroic adventures and deeds of some unnamed hero... sure, I'll guess Hercules again!

A huge rosy-marble basin or tub sits as a room centerpiece, carved from a single piece of stone and highly polished.

Another goddess... probably Athena... the Greek goddess of war and wisdom.

An Egyptian pillar sculpture no doubt obtained as a gift (or taken by an early Roman emperor).

A "magic" fig leaf adorns this highly detailed statue of a Roman young man.

This is a magnificently carved sarcophagus (from Egypt, I think)... made from a single piece of stone. Not being a rock expert in any way, I would guess maybe a red onyx or rosy granite.

This carved stone canine came with it... to serve as a protector of the dead remains held inside.

Another great, highly detailed and colorful, mosaic tile floor... they are nearly everywhere you walk.

A ceiling painting to honor Pope Leo the XIII.

A unique reclining statue of a young man... or maybe he's a fallen angel... since there are 2 tiny horns protruding from his upper forehead.

More beautiful wall and ceiling paintings honoring an unnamed Pope.

This is a statue of Artemis, the Greek goddess of fertility... pretty schnazzy outfit she's wearing.

Smaller statues and maybe a sarcophagus at the feet of Artemis.

A father, a son, and a "magic" fig leaf.

Another cool goddess statue... one of hundreds.

An urn carved from a solid piece of brown onyx (or maybe agate).

Giant, colorful tapestries lined one whole hallway, (but they didn't photograph very well).

This is an example of a trompe-l'oeil (trump loy) ceiling painting... it is so realistic it makes it look like actual statues and wall reliefs!

Then... wow... we enter a long hallway where the arched ceilings are covered totally with paintings surrounded profusely with real applied gold leaf!

As you can see, the hall virtually glows with a spectacular, reflected golden light!

Every inch of it seems to be either painting or gold leaf!

Large painted maps of Italy and other Mediterranean countries also line the side walls.

Simply breathtaking... the detail and the gold leaf embellishments!

A dazzling emblem with statues sits high above the exit from this hallway of golden treasures!

Even the marble walls and colorful dome paintings seem "dull" after leaving that golden hallway!

Then there comes a small, but high, dome with an amazing set of paintings in it.

While leaving a museum area, our other guide, Annarita, (in white blouse, sunglasses, and carrying a Mickey sign) led us downstairs and out toward the Sistine Chapel.

We go out in the courtyard of St. Peter's square and walk to the Chapel entrance.

A glorified mother (maybe Mary with Jesus) statue... as a cherub tugs her dress.

We then head into the great Sistine Chapel! A dream come true!

We are about to see some of the greatest fresco paintings ever done by masters like Michelangelo, Bernini, Botticelli, and Raphael!

Sorry, but there was a "No Photos" policy within the Sistine Chapel... so I don't have any pics to show you.

But, to say it was amazing, jaw-dropping, and awe-inspiring... is doing it an injustice.

Words can't describe the feelings as you are shepherded into the Chapel and stop to look straight up at Michelangelo's masterpieces!

There were probably 300+ people crowded into the Sistine Chapel, standing room only.
The Chapel is much larger than I imagined... it seems nearly 50 yards long inside!

Just to stand there and imagine how Michelangelo spent over 4 years on a 40 foot high scaffold, lying on his back, while he painted this magnificent series of paintings... it just takes your breath away.

In the center of the ceiling is my favorite fresco showing God reaching his hand out to give life to Adam... in "The Creation of Adam".

It took Michelangelo an additional 2 years to paint the immense "Last Judgement" scenes on one whole end wall... amazingly beautiful works of art!

There was also a "No Talking" policy inside the Chapel, and the guards yelled "silencio" several times when the whispers grew too loud.

Several French tourists apparently thought the "No Talking" and "No Photos" policies were just for everyone else!

They learned differently in a flash when one of the guards came up behind them, blocked their cameras, and then escorted them quickly out of the Chapel!

The Sistine Chapel is where all the Cardinals in the world meet to elect a new Pope upon the death of the current one.

We also saw the small fireplace in the Chapel where the smoke is released daily while deciding a new Pope... black smoke if no decision yet, and white smoke when the Pope is chosen!

Seeing the inside of the Sistine Chapel was definitely one of the top events of this whole trip and something I can now mark off my personal "bucket list"!

We then shuffled out of the Chapel and into St. Peter's Basilica Square (which is actually circular) where the Pope makes his weekly presentations to the masses every Wednesday.

This is the balcony the Pope speaks from... to the thousands of followers and tourists who gather each week in the Square.

We are then led back inside to the various church areas of the Basilica (we were previously in the Vatican Museum wings).

Here we see the original, most famous and glorious "Pieta" by Michelangelo (it is also the only sculpture ever signed by Michelangelo)... a true master-work of art!

This dome inside the Basilica is hundreds of feet high... and spectacularly decorated.

Latin inscriptions and ornate carvings surround us on every wall.

An unnamed Pope immortalized in carved stone.

A huge painting (or maybe mosaic) stands above a small alter along one of the Basilica hallways.

Rose marble columns and ornately carved alters with statuary line this hallway.

An unnamed guardian looks out over the crowd below in the Basilica main rooms.

Another bisecting hallway with oversize paintings, columns, statues, and a small alter.

One of the first Popes (I believe) is masterfully carved in stone.

A large mural painting behind a small alter... it may show St. Peter giving a first communion.

The body of Pope John XXIII, who died in 1963, lies sealed in glass under the Altar of St. Gerome.

Sunlight enters the many windows of the main dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Bernini's dark-bronze baldacchino, the canopy with spiral columns, now sits atride the high alter.

Fashioned by Bernini in the early 1600's, it sits directly beneath the main Basilica dome designed by Michelangelo.

Magnificent stone inlaid floor designs are constantly beneath our feet.

A colorful wall design made of thousands of very small mosaic tiles with gold embellishments.

Heading down another corridor of the Basilica... note the pink bandana on Francesca's antenna.

Another marvelous, but unnamed, subject immortalized in the Vatican.

A large, magnificent painting or mosaic stands behind this flower-adorned altar.

A view above the same altar that shows the statues and windows high above it.

More dark statues mounted high up on the walls... one looks to be in a death pose.

The statue of Pope/Saint Pius X gloriously welcoming us to the Basilica.

A well-decorated smaller dome of the Basilica.

The body of Pope Pius X, later made a Saint, lies enclosed beneath the Altar of the Chapel of the Presentation.

Kathy stands dwarfed by a massive and huge black stone pillar carving.

Cherubs, gold leaf and marble adorn a doorway top.

Stone inlay forms this floor design of an unnamed Pope's emblem.

The Egyptian obelisk stands in the center of St. Peter's Square... with the twin "arms" of the colonnade, designed by Bernini, wrapping around the Square in a semi-circle.

These are some of the Vatican's Swiss guards in their traditional uniforms.
The Swiss have continuously been bodyguards to the Popes since Pope Julius II... in 1506!

The Apostle Saints' statues top the Basilica skyline... with the Pope's balcony for speeches seen in the center above the main entrance.

Chairs and large screen monitors are set up in preparation for the Pope to make his weekly presentation soon... thousands of people will fill the Square when he speaks.

Walking along an arm of Bernini's colonnade as we begin to leave the Vatican grounds.

We were allowed about 30 minutes of shopping in the Vatican City gift shop... this is where Kathy bought a blessed rosary, a couple of silver crosses, and some postcards.

I bought a Rome/Vatican book w/DVD combo and some postcards, too.

This local artisan worked in the gift shop and is gluing hundreds of small glass tiles to make the picture she is holding for some lucky tourist to take home and cherish.

Romulus and Remus nursing at the teats of a mother she-wolf... they are the mythical founders of Rome.

A parting glance at the amazing curved colonnade encircling St. Peter's Square.

The great obelisk that stands in the center of St. Peter's Square was originally taken from Egypt by the ruthless Roman Emperor Caligula... it is believed that St. Peter himself was crucified hanging upside down near this obelisk.

St. Peter's body was supposedly buried right where the Basilica high alter would be built centuries later.

One last look at St. Peter's Square before heading to our bus for the long trip back to the ship.

As we walk to the bus, we pass another high-end mosaic art shop offering Rome souvenirs.

Back on the bus and heading out of Rome, we see a typical Roman gas station and attendant.

What, you don't see it?
It's a gas pump along the curbside!

You pull up to the curb, the attendant (in blue) helps fill your car, you pay, and away you drive!

I told you earlier how crazy, and dangerous the driving was in Rome.

On the way out of Rome we saw an injured woman laying near her mangled motor scooter, with a dented car parked beside.

This ambulance was just arriving on the scene.
I imagine this happens many times each day in Rome.

Crazy Roman drivers!

Back out in the Roman countryside... rolling hills and fields of grain... as we make our 1 1/2 hour bus ride back to the ship.

I can't tell what kind of an orchard this might be, but it was well maintained by some farmer.

A view of the small boat docks before we turned the corner to see our Mickey ship, The Magic!

This has been a wonderful, but extremely long, day of seeing the Roman sites.

We saw monumental structures of ancient history and masterpiece works of art from many of history's greatest artists... what a day to remember... simply amazing!!!

We were dead tired when we got back to our cabin, but we did manage to change clothes and go see the 6:45 showing of "Once Upon A Song" at the Walt Disney Theater.

It was pretty good music and the light show was great... but they only did a few of the famous Disney show tunes... most were the "also-in-the-show" tunes.

Dinner at Parrot Cay was served later, since most shore excursions went longer during the day.

Most all at our table went on a Rome/Vatican tour of some sort or other.

This was probably the best day of the cruise so far!

We went straight back to our cabin, since it was after midnight... we were too tired to go see the comedy act in the "Rockin' Bar D".

Komang, our room steward, left us a majestic "towel-igami" swan on our bed with our chocolates... and he put Kathy's hat on it to dress it up even more! Pretty cute, eh!

What a great day this has been!