Vatican, Sistine Chapel and RAIN

This morning the weather report was, shall we say.....unfavourable. We started off in the breakfast room with a nice breakfast but horrid coffee...I guess we have to learn how to Order it.  It can't be the Italians !!!! Aren't they famous for their coffee?
We ordered two taxi's to meet us at the gate ( our hotel is completely gated) and learned that as soon as you order a cab the meter starts ticking. Anyway the cab from our hotel, which is in the Trastevere area, to the Vatican is 15 euros.
We had booked a tour and a guide from home, which was fortunate as the lineup to purchase a ticket wound around the block and was about 10 people wide! The temperature was frigid as well.
Our guide had not yet arrived and Sandy went to pick up the tickets, Oops,  once we were given the tickets we HAD to move along inside. We had now moved from Italy into the country that is the Vatican! Security is strict and no leniency is shown, rules are rules. Inside we went and waited for our guide, women's intuition kicked in and we found each other quickly.
She explained the rules to us, where we could talk, and where we could not! Where we could take photos etc.  Christine (guide) has a phd in art history and was so knowledgeable, there was not a question she could not answer.
She was pleased to be guiding seven women as she knew when the group was made up of both men and women, the men did not want to stay so long! We would be with her for over 3 hours.
The truth is the Vatican is so impressive you end up being in awe and have a case of information overload. Even though it is January there are still a good amount of people, not, of course what the crowds would be in the summer. The average number of visitors per day is 26,000! The Vatican city is divided into different principal areas, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peters Basilica, the Vatican  museum.
The many paintings that align the walls and ceilings are minus the artist signatures. It is forbidden to sign the frescos as well, because of the jealousy it would cause between artists. An artist would paint themselves into the painting and you could tell who he was in the painting as he would be looking directly out of the scene like a portrait.
When we entered the Sistine chapel our guide told us she would not be able to talk to us as talking was forbidden. The floor of the chapel was quite busy with tourists, as we entered several guards were at the entrance and every few minutes would yell out "silence! No photos, no videos, silence!" Respect for this reverent area. All the important christian scenes were depicted on the walls, ceiling and floors. The Sistine Chapel is used for some special ceremonies or whenever the Pope desires to close it for his use. Once a year, usually around the date of epiphany, Jan 6th, a christening of 40 persons (babies) is held, 20 females and 20 males. These children are from employees of the Vatican or anyone can make a written request to ask for a place.
The new Pope Francis is truly a pope for the common people. He does not live in the Vatican apartments as all popes before him have done, instead he has elected to live in a hotel within the Vatican, a two bedroom more simple apartment in the santa Maria hotel. It is believed he will make more changes to simplify the existence of the cardinals and bishops that serve the Vatican.
The Basilica of St Peter is the largest basilica in the world, in the main entrance hall on the floor depicted to scale is a design of every major cathedral in the world, with their  measurements noted, and they would all fit inside the area of St Peters Basilica!
We spent about 3 1/2 hours viewing all the masterpieces today and the information is quite impossible to retain it all, which is available in the many books and on line.
We left the Vatican and were met with the predicted rain, we found a little place for lunch and afterwards walked back to our hotel to dry out! Stopping at a little bakery on the way.
Relaxing and recharging for awhile, enjoying tea in our rooms. We met up in the hotel lounge for a few games of charades then braved the torrential rain and a three minute walk to a cosy local restaurant recommended by our hotel......for a mere 10 euros each we enjoyed a light meal and small glass of wine with complimentary Prosecco and limoncello ! Just a small shot of each!
Then it was  bed and blogging!
Ciao!!!!