Vatican City

When I was visiting Rome, I got up early one morning to go to the Vatican museum. I had been told the lines were always long, so when I saw a line upon arriving to St. Peter’s Square, I got in the line. This line took a very long time and had very little movement. I’ll guess that I waited at least an hour or more. I never thought to ask any questions. I just waited enjoying the people watching.

The line eventually started moving and took me through not one, but two security screenings. I was a bit surprised by this, but was not yet particularly alarmed. I was alarmed, however, when I saw that everyone ahead of me had pulled out a ticket (red or yellow, I think)...a ticket that I did not have. The Swiss Guard were waiting ahead and I approached nervously. I explained in my broken Italian that I did not have a ticket and, to my great surprise, they waved me on.

I entered a large auditorium abuzz with human excitement and found a seat. (Still going along with it all, though I was catching on that I had NOT waited to get into a museum.) Turns out that I had waited for the weekly papal audience. I got to see Pope John Paul II address pilgrims from all over the world…and me. It was one of the most powerful and moving experiences of all my travels. I guess being clueless can occasionally pay off!

Hopefully for fun and enjoyment and spiritual growth, and not to get an annulment from my b&#$@ c@&$ future second ex-wife!!! LOL

And its not because of that Stone Temple Pilots album, lol, but simply because I want to see the Pope ;-)

Much to my mother’s chagrin, my visit to the Vatican did not result in any sort of religious conversion on my part. The art was definitely worth seeing, however – lots of violence and nudity, of course. ;)

I held my grandfather’s hand as he teared up watching Pope John Paul speak. We went for his 75th birthday.

I must admit I had reservations about visiting the Vatican, but after I had visited, I have no regrets at all. Religious or not, it’s definitely worth visiting.

I’m no history or art geek, but I was awed and overwhelmed nonetheless. The museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica are incredible, and really puts in perspective just how much power the Church wields and had wielded in history. I was kind of appalled at how much talking was going on despite repeated orders not to talk in the Sistine Chapel…you’d think people would have more respect even if they weren’t Catholic or even religious at all.

I’m not sure if I’ll visit again, but I’d recommend it to others.

The first day I went, I showed up after 1pm, and the crowds weren’t too bad. The second day, I tried to get there early (wanted to get a guided tour because it was so incredibly cool), and the line was around the block and down the street. I gave up!
Anyway, there is so much to see at the Musei Vatican that it’s best to pick and choose what you really want to see the most. What I most enjoyed was the Sistine Chapel and they modern art collection. I’m a bit of an art geek, and there were plenty of artists that I had never even heard of that really knocked my socks off.
And the Sistine Chapel? What can I say? It’s even more incredible than I imagined it would be.

i first visited rome and vatican city at age 16. seeing the ceiling of the sistine chapel brought me to tears. they had just finished an extensive cleaning and renovation immediately prior to my arrival. having only seen photos of the paintings taken before the maintenance, covered in centuries of soot and dust, i was in awe of what i now witnessed. when i walked in and craned my head back to take in its magnificence i had to stop and collect myself. the colors were so vibrant and the scenes so familiar yet so striking. i never imagined anything to be so beautiful. i’m lucky to have been able to travel to vatican city were, despite my young age, i was able to just be still and at peace in such a wonderful place.

I don’t believe in organized religion, and do not consider myself a Catholic (or part of any other Christian religion for that matter), but I definitely want to visit the Vatican City.

From a purely artistic/cultural point of view I’m sure it would be astounding, and I can’t even begin to imagine the people-watching. Hope to get there someday soon.

It’s been 15 years since i’ve been & i plan to the next year or two … all i have are the vague memories from a jam-packed family holiday …