Precious Memories: A Full Day in Rome

11/09/2012 (Friday) -- Civitavecchia and Rome

It was time for us to say "Good-bye" to the ship Splendida, our home for the week. We got up early and planned on getting off with our luggage because we had to make good time to Rome. Our private transfer was scheduled to pick us up at 8:30 and we wanted to be able to get out as soon as possible. Seeing the sun rise at breakfast was great while enjoying the last croissant. MSC makes the best croissants right there at the buffet. We waited at the gangway and got off the ship but we faced the most ridiculous wait after we reached the port terminal. They wouldn't open the door and we were told that it's not going to open until 9 o'clock because the custom people were not there to clear us. We waited and waited while other passengers exited to the other side of the port for their excursions. The line was getting longer and it was difficult to keep your space with many people who are not used to lining up. I had to put on my 'teacher's hat' and kept repeating "There is a line here." so people wouldn't cut in. They finally decided to open the door to the custom and luggage area. We were able to just pick up our bags and leave, no custom check and no passport check! So...what was that all about?

RomeCabs was waiting for us by the ship with a big van that could sit 8 comfortably. Then we were on our way to Rome. We had to make good time because we have booked the only available slot for a tour of the Vatican at 11:00. We had to drop off our bags at Tomas Bed and Breakfast first and meet up with DC, MC, and DD who arrived the night before. The drive was nice but we hit traffic as we came closer to Rome. Then the driver kind of got lost and had to make his way back. So we were a little later than planned when we arrived Tomas. After checking in we just left the bags in the hallway and walked over to the Vatican Museum. Fortunately, Tomas B&B is just a couple of blocks away and we made it on time to join the tour.

walking up to the wall of the Vatican

Vatican

The tour we were on was lead by a female guide. She was very knowledgeable and an art expert herself. The whole tour took close to three hours, longer than we expected. Apparently I can only post a very small portion of the pictures that I took inside the museum. We toured through parts of the museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. The information was overwhelming with so much to see. This was our second time through the museum and we did not see the same things.

gathered at the museum for the start of the tour

our guide

She talked for more than 20 minutes here to prepared our visits to the Sistine Chapel because no one should be talking inside the Sistine Chapel and pictures were not allowed either.

taking the long escalator to the museum

One part of "the zoo" where many animal statues stand

the very quiet staircase that lead us out of the building

a lonely Swiss Guard

in front of St. Peter's Basilica

We were told that smoke would come out from the second window on the right when decision of a new pope is made.

Finally got to visit St. Peters. When we were here in 2010, I did not get to go inside because I had to find MOR who was lost for a few hours after Sistine Chapel.

inside St. Peter's

the end of our tour

taking a little break

refill

After leaving the Vatican we walked a few blocks across from this church and found the famous gelato shop.

great gelato, not a pretty store front

Then we looked for the pizza place that sells the very delicious pizzas. This is a very busy place and there is no place to sit in the store, just a bench outside. Bounci or Bunci is the name of this place.