* We met for breakfast in the convent's restaurant area at 7:15 am - an early start to our Vatican day because we wanted to beat the crowds to St. Peter's Basillica. One of the highlights of breakfast was the fresh from the oven croissants - we had a choice of either jam or chocolate inside. YUMMY!
* After breakfast our walk to the Vatican was about 45 minutes. When we got there it was quite a process to even get to the church - you have to go through security first, then it's at least a 5 minute walk from the security line to get to the church. It's not quite the same process of just walking right into church at home. Luckily we got there early enough that there was no line yet to go through security or get into the church. We enjoyed being among the first for the day in the massive Basillica to enjoy walking around the structure without any large crowds of people. While in St. Peter's, Cole gave his presentation on the history of the impressive church.
* Other interesting things we saw in the Basillica include Michelangelo's Pieta, Bernini's Baldeccino and Papal Alter, and some Papal tombs.
* The whole group climbed Michelangelo's dome at the Basillica to the cupola. The views of Rome were gorgeous - check out pictures below. After we came back down into the church from climbing the dome, we had some journaling time in the church.
* One of the highlights today was getting to go on the Scavi tour at the Vatican. The tour explores the preserved ancient roman city that is under the Basillica, and you get to see St. Peter's burial place. Not very many people get to go on this tour - you have to put your name in months ahead of time if you're interested, and even then chances are slim that you will actually get to go on the tour. Mr. Stromberg has tried to go on the Scavi tour with past groups he's led to Italy, but it's never worked out. But this time around he got an official letter a few months ago from the Vatican saying that our group is welcome on the tour! So this was a very special and neat thing to be able to do. No cameras were allowed down there, so I don't have any pictures, but if you want, look some up online. Parents, make sure to ask your child about this tour and what they thought about it.
* After the Scavi tour, we had sandwiches and other snack items for lunch from a street truck vendor right outside the Vatican to fuel up for our visit to the Vatican Museum. We stood in line for about 45 minutes to get into the massive museum - there were so many people at the Vatican on Monday, it was a bit chaotic, especially inside the museum. While we were standing in line outside, I was impressed and happy to see how our group of students were interacting with each other - everyone gets along, and there were several times where I saw the whole group laughing and having fun together. As a teacher, I always enjoy seeing that with my student groups, whether in class or in a CFE setting. All three leaders have been very impressed with our group of students as a whole!
* Among other impressive works of art, the main attraction at the Vatican Museum is of course the Sistine Chapel, and it did not disappoint. The only unfortunate thing from my perspective is that there were so many hundreds of people in there at any one time that it was difficult to just take it all in and marvel at the beauty when it seemed like we were kind of just herded through. But I think everyone was able to see the beauty all around in the Sistine Chapel and appreciate what we were seeing.
* After we finished at the Sistine Chapel, we walked back to Fraternus Domus where we're staying and had a bit of free time before dinner in the convent restaurant downstairs. Our big meal of pasta, pork chops, green beans, eggplant, salad, and fresh fruit tasted so good after being on our feet all day and doing so much walking. After dinner some chose to go to bed after a tiring but good day, while others decided to go out for a short walk in the neighborhood to get, you guessed it, gelato! We really are eating well on this trip. :)
It is Tuesday night right now, and we leave the convent by coach bus transport to the airport tomorrow morning at 4:00 am. So I'm not sure when I'll get around to posting about our Tuesday in Ancient Rome, but I'll make sure to get it done sometime in the next few days to complete this trip journal of sorts. I hope to print this off when we get back to school so everyone can have a copy to keep with their other trip memories.
Update: I am sending this now on Wednesday night - we are home! I tried sending this on Tuesday night in Rome and Wednesday morning from the Amsterdam airport, but time/internet access/my almost dead iPad battery didn't allow the post to be published. I will definitely also do another post from our Tuesday in Ancient Rome to complete this blog journal.
Here are some photos from our excellent Monday in Vatican City - enjoy!
Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica
Looking out from the Basillica's steps onto St. Peter's square.
Bernini's Baldeccino and Papal Alter
Short service at Pope John Paul II's tomb.
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