Thursday 28 June - Vatican City

The Vatican is the world's smallest nation, covering just 50 hectares, and is a theocracy of just over 550 citizens, headed by the Pope, but its sightseeing complex is beyond compare.  Within its walls are the ornate St Peter's Basilica (bottom picture), the Sistine Chapel, lush gardens (top picture), apartments frescoed by Fra'Angelico, raphael and Pinturiccio and some 10 museums.  Michelangelo's ceiling is one of the most spectacular works of art in the world in the Sistine Chapel.

We spent all day touring Vatican City.  We were booked to begin at 10.30 on a self-guided tour so we had plenty of time to look around.  There were so many people that in some places we had standing room only and had to wait for the crowd to shift so that we could move.  Some brilliant art to see and admire.  After finishing at St Peter's Basilica (another awesome building) we walked to Ottaviano Metro station - I loved the streets of Ottaviano and in particular, one 'pasta' shop with the most delightful pastries I've ever tasted!

Finally, we stopped quickly at Spagna to try to catch Leanne and Lexie and apologise for missing another catch up.  Our feet are just so sore from walking in the 37 degree celsius heat today!!!

An 'early'? night to be had - not - as we are packing and I'm blogging because we leave early tomorrow morning on a transport to the airport, then a transport to Civitavecchia - to board our Princess ship and depart for the Meditteranean!

Ciao!