Today was Vatican day.

Today was our Vatican Day.  We had prepaid for a 3 hour tour (no, Gilligan was not there).  I made the ignorant assumption, even after examining all the materials carefully (but not carefully enough), that we were to just go the the Vatican and get our tour tickets.  When we arrived (15 minutes early after huffing it over there in "just short of jogging speed") we discovered, first, that the entrance was on the far side of the Vatican from where we arrived (the reason to arrive early). AND that the tour was not arranged through an official Vatican office, but it was a touring company and I had no idea of the name.  Leaving Laurie and the kids at the entrance I started scouting the area trying to figure out where our tour was.  After 14 minutes and 30 seconds I found the place (2 blocks away) and they were just walking out with our group.  Our group then went to the entrance where I reconnected with my very concerned family.

The tour was fantastic.  Our guide was very good at engaging our group and we really had fun.  Once we got to the Sistine Chapel we left our group to wander through all the areas that the tour had not visited.  I have to say the Sistine Chapel was my favorite.  I was emotionally moved as I just stood there dumbfounded and a little overwhelmed with how insignificant I was in relationship to how long that art had been there, how long it took to create it, the talent involved in creating it and then the immense message presented by each panel.

By the time we got done we were all in "art overload" mode.  We found a nice little #ristoranteanni60 on the way back to our apartment and had a late lunch/early dinner.  We enjoyed it a lot.

After dinner and a rest stop back at the apartment we went shopping.  We got some tasty desserts at a local bakery and then some groceries at the local "Coop" super market.  The below package was purchased because it said "your family wants me to come for breakfast".

Our apartment is about 4 blocks from the Piazza Navona.  We have a small kitchen (if you aren't there to cook then get out - there's no room for you), dinning room/living room, an open sleeping area for some of the kids and 1 bedroom.  It's quite comfortable.  Only thing... lot's of quaint street noise.  Multo Bene!