Day 3

 Tue, 18 Oct 2022

Day 2

Vatican City and Rome with a Local

Our main visits today will be the Vatican and the Colossium

But first, we start off with breakfast

Duration: 00:00.01 sec.

Coffee bar...

Breakfast stations.

A look outside at the city waking up

Duration: 00:00.18 sec.

On our way to the Vatican.

We meet up with our local guide, Christina to cover
some housekeeping before we enter the museums.

This used to be the entrance,  now it's an exit.

Once inside, we see the Pope's gardens.

Since we couldn't take pictures inside the Sistine chapel,
I thought I better capture this display.

Special Access to unique staircase in the Vatican

called the Bramante Staircase, a marvel of Renaissance architecture.

Duration: 00:00.09 sec.

Another staircase video

Duration: 00:00.06

Yikes, that's a long way down.

A view from the top

Duration: 00:00.20 sec.

Overlooking the city of Rome.

The basilica of St. Peter is the dome in the middle of this picture. 

We will walk down three galleries on our way to the 
basilica of St. Peter.
Gallery 1 is of statues
Gallery 2 is of tapestries
Gallery 3 is of geographic maps on the walls

This tapestry is of the resurrection of Jesus.
I moved before I finished taking the picture.
I'm so sorry!

This is the final gallery of
geographic maps shown on the walls.

I couldn't take any pictures of the Sistine chapel, so
this is the first picture I could take after we left the chapel.

The arch in the middle 2nd floor is where the Pope stands to greet the crowds on Easter and Christmas.

Here's a view the Pope would see if he were standing
on the ground under the 2nd floor arch.

Now we're inside the basilica of St. Peter.

Michelangelo's Pieta

This is what the dome looks like from the inside looking up.

A closer view of the altar area.
Not that clear...

Interesting piece of artwork.
Several meanings to this work of art.
1. the pope is kneeling without a crown represents all mankind before GOD at judgment day.
2. A skeleton with his skull covered holding an hour glass. Don't waste your time because time is short.
3. Artist - not sure who it was - created this work of art at age 78.

This is the Pope's mansion, but the current Pope doesn't
live there because he says, "I'm not a king, so I don't need to live in a King's mansion."
He lives in a nearby apartment.

The 2nd window in from the top right is where the Pope greets the crowd on Sunday mornings. 

Having a lunch treat before heading to the Coliseum.

Oldest bridge in Rome - dating 2000 yrs. ago.

Remains of Caesar's palace.
We've crossed the Tiber river.
In the foreground beyond the parked cars is the
\Circus Maximus where chariot races was the entertainment of choice.

More of Caesar's palace.

Looking back at St. Peter's Basilica...
Caesar's palace remains on the right.

We have arrived at the Colosseum.

They say there was a canopy to shade the people
draped over the top.

Jan and I pose in front of the Colosseum.

This time in elongated mode.

This gate was used as a replica for the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
This is called the Arch of Constantine similar to the Arch of Titus...

Chalgrin’s design is Neoclassical, inspired in part by the Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum. 

And this arch was built in celebration of the Jerusalem conquest.

We walked around the Colosseum and now just about 
finished with our lap.

I took this photo because it reminded me of when
we were in Prague, Europe a few years ago.

Break time. Back to hotel for a couple of hours of chill time...

On our way to see some "treasures of Rome"...

First stop...Trevi Fountain

a favorite spot for tourists but not for locals.

Duration: 00:00.20 sec.

This is the Fountain Trevi -
all with spring fed water from the aqueducts.

I tried a selfie at the Trevi Fountain.
I need to work on my arm extension.

This is why the locals don't come here.
Too many tourists.

This was an amazing obelisk.
The story history is wrapped around from
bottom to top with the final Roman occupation at the top.

Before I give you the details about the Pantheon, I need to share with you something Katie Wiff shared with me about her son, Zachary.

Check this out...

Zachary: "Is Mr. Berg going to see the Pantheon?"
Me: "I don't know. Why?"
Zachary: "'cause I would. It's super old and super cool."

Then he made you in the Panthenon. Have a wonderful time in all the super old and super cool places you visit!!

This is for you, Zachary: The Famous Pantheon.
This structure is over 2000 years old.
It dates back to the year 37 BC. Whoa!

Some very cool historical facts.
The domed top is original and still in tact after 2000 + years.

Video inside the Pantheon

Duration: 00:00.21 sec.

Another picture from inside the Pantheon.

Pointing out more interesting facts.

Our guide's favorite artist was Raphael.
This is his burial place.

I had to take a picture of the width
of the doors to the Pantheon. These
are the original doors that open and shut 
every day. Over 2000 years old.

Final plaza.
This used to be the site of the original 
chariot races.

More education...

Final overview of the plaza.

Duration: 00:00.16 sec.

Jan and I didn't stay for the dinner extra so we took the bus back to the hotel

This is part of the old Roman wall which surrounded the "heart" of the city.
Date is 37AD.

I took this picture from inside the bus of the trees that
look like the trees on my train layout.

This is the restaurant where we ate tonight.

The menu...

Jan ordered ravioli and I ordered pasta with egg & bacon.

All very tasty.

Today was a loaded day.

We're exhausted. 

Thanks for reading this far!

More to come tomorrow...