Post# 24 Vatican City: 3rd Time's a Charm

Checking into our B&B in Roma lead to an amazing discovery- we are less than 200 meters from the holy Vatican  City. We have a view of the walls and the museum entrance from our balcony. After settling in, we decide our first Roman escapade would be to this famed "city" within the city. So we trek out...

We are greeted by the warm embrace of Piazza Di San Pietro. No really... the architect Bernini designed this huge square to evoke the feeling of being hugged in the arms of Christ. We agree that he achieved his goal, as we are both stunned, feeling simultaneously small YET welcomed.

We see a (relatively short) line formed, and investigate. Those individuals were seeking entrance to Basilica S. Pietro. We fall in. What better way to start one's Roman holiday than to take in one of the wolrd's most grand and beautiful cathedrals?

We make it through security easy, and within minutes of being in line. This allows us to start our ascent up to the large, column supported arch ways. We are smiling, taking pictures, getting closer and closer...

"Senora... Senora... no entry. Preggo! No Entry!" Confused and slightly annoyed, I turned to the security guard. Yep. He is talking to me. He is playing charades... 2 words. First word, NO! Got that one. Second word... No...something... He's chopping off his waist. Hhhhhmmmm.... no legs??? That doesn't make sense; lots of people with legs are going in. WAIT! No shorts! Ah, no shorts. That makes more sense. WAIT! No shorts;  but I am wearing shorts.

Disappointment. We are turned away from the church. I knew it was too easy. Attempt #1 = fail.

Next morning we wake... arrive at Vatican City properly dressed and early. Again, we have great timing at Saint Peter's. It takes us 10 minutes to get through everything, including the dress-code policia. We are IN! We strut to the tour guide office to get our free audio guide...

"10 Euros, per favora, Senora." 10 Euros??? Clearly, we have been in germantic cities for too long; the audio guides have been free in our last 5 cities. Plus, the church is free. So I repeat, 10 Euros????

We hand him our credit card. "Sadly, Senora, only cash." You've got to be kidding me. We walk away from the guide desk empty handed. It's okay, we think. We can read. And we did... pretty much ever plaque in Saint Peter's. It was good, but we both know we missed A LOT. In addition, we find out that the Vatican City is entirely cash only. We have 3 Euros... Attempt #2 = fail.

On morning #3, we make our now ritualistic pilgrimage to Vatican City. We are properly dresses. We have 50 Euros. We are ready.

Again, almost no wait. Again we pass all security and dress code requirements. We are able to rent a guide. Victory is ours! We spend 2.5 gloriously guided hours in the Basilica learning everything we can about every relic, decoratiob, and monument in there. Story after story, chaple after chaple we move our way through. Twice we have to be told not to sit on the floor... But we had a lot of staring to do; too much really for standing. We admired Michaelangelo's dome above Saint Peter's tomb for ages... Everythingin there was created or constructed with purpose.

And then we venture into the crypt.... and stood next to pillars of the original Saint Peter's Basilica commissioned by Constantine himself in the 400th century. Yes, 400th. No joke, real life has become quite surreal these past few weeks...

Antagonist, we'll save the rest of Roma for another post. I'm just thankful that the 3rd times a charm.