Please excuse the delay in getting this posted. As you can imagine we wanted to see the most that we could within the amount of time we were there which made our trip very busy. Regular posting resumes now.
Beauty / hair tip: Something no one writes about Rome is that there are cigarette smokers are everywhere. I’m attempting to grow our my hair with the strict orders from my stylist not to wash it daily to allow my scalps natural oils to nourish my scalp and hair. With smoke in the air it is difficult to keep a fresh scent for a few days. So I washed my hair more than I was supposed to. Sorry to my stylist if you’re reading this! I tried dry shampoo and it didn’t work as well. The longest I was able to go was every other day.
We started day 2 at the Vatican on a guided tour. We used a concierge service to book it which got us in faster since we didn’t have to wait in line to purchase tickets. The image below is only a small section of the line waiting to purchase tickets. If you have the means to purchase your tickets before you arrive I recommend it. Otherwise you will spend an hour or two waiting in line. Another guide told us that the breakfast tour is the best because the crowd is much smaller throughout the Vatican.
The guide was extremely knowledgable and got us in to see the best statues, paintings and of course, the Sistine Chapel. The most interesting fact that I learned from the guide was that many Pope’s in the past had children; before, after and during their time in the church.
Walking the halls, courtyard, and rooms of the Vatican gave me a wonderful reminder of how insignificant my life is in comparison to so many religious figures. I realize every life is important in the grand scheme of things but this reminder helped me to put my silly life drama into perspective. Stress over traffic, scheduling, life, work, et cetera, is all so simple in comparison to the lives and tribulations overcome by so many important people before my time.
When you go to the Vatican take a step back and breathe it all in … You’re walking on marble where Pope’s, political leaders, and various people have been before you. You’re viewing art so many people haven’t seen and sometimes may not know it even exists. So take it all in. Breathe in the history, beauty, love and sadness. Breathe out any stress and enjoy the miraculous moment for it may never come again.
Bucket list item: Visit the Vatican – Check!
For dinner that night we ate at Taverna Trilussa. It is a is tucked away on a side street just off the main road Lungotavere Raffaello Sanzio (between the bridges Sisto and Garibaldi). Trastevere is a great spot for authentic italian food and life. La dolce vita, the sweet life.
This is their award winning ravioli.
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