The Pope is rich!

I had quite the day today.  I jumped on the metro to make my way to the Vatican City to check out their museums, and along the way I was serenaded by a gypsy armed with a karaoke machine.  When I finally hit the wall surrounding the Vatican, I saw a line a mile long.  I told myself, if I get in by noon, it'll be worth it given the closing time.  After about an hour and a half wait, I finally got in there!  I almost jumped ship but the line moved pretty quickly.  It's probably a good idea to get out of bed earlier than I did if you want to avoid the lines.

I basically was most interested in the Sistine Chapel of course.  I snaked through the museums, past a lot of sculptures, tapestries, old maps, and paintings I probably should've spent more time looking at, until I reached it.

  I immediately got yelled at for taking pictures inside.  You can take pictures everywhere else!  Anyway, I was so in awe I didn't hear the man shouting, no photos!  Oh well, I scored one of the Creation of Man, although quite blurry.  I overheard a guide say the only reason you can't take pictures, without flash even, is they want to make money off you through postcards and such.  I didn't realize that Michelangelo depicted himself in the Last Judgment as a flayed human skin dangling between heaven and hell.  Lovely.

After I sat in there for about 45 minutes overwhelmed, I moved to the paintings.  I saw Raphael's Transfiguration, an unfinished painting by Leonardo Da Vinci and lots of Madonna and Child paintings.

  Oh, can't forget, before the Sistine, I hit Raphael's room which houses School of Athens!  Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Ptolemy and Raphael himself are featured. 

After viewing the wealth of the church, I decided to head toward the Basilica.  The plaza was grand enough, and at first I thought I would skip going inside.  I mean, I've already been to the Basilica block party (in Mpls) :)  However, I decided since I met dress code I might as well go inside.  It was just about time for the last mass of the day as well.  I forgot about the wax Popes in there!  Got some photos of those, including nuns praying in front of one, and witnessed a mass in Latin.  I went downstairs to the Popes' tombs and got as close as I ever will to the last Pope. His tomb was plain white marble, but well attended.

The day was winding down and my feet were hurting, so I made it to some piazzas to chill (lots of those here) and then back to my hostel.  Very fulfilling day in Rome!