A Day in Vatican City & the Sistine Chapel

     We had been in Italy for 11 days and Rome was our last stop before flying back to the US.  We had planned our own trip and now after recollection we should have allowed more days to visit Rome.  A visit to Vatican City and The Sistine Chapel were number one on our list and we had made arrangements before we left on our trip to be assured there would be no complications for our visit.  We had searched the internet for tour guides, checking the reviews given by previous tourists and decided to signup with Jennifer (US citizen from Texas) now living in Rome (3 years).  We figured someone that spoke fluent English would make things easier for us, so we signed up on her tour.

     Rome was our last stop before flying back to the USA and we were anxious to see Vatican City but quite accidentally our tour just happened to be on the day of an Italian Holiday.  So why would that be a problem well apparently everyone in Rome goes to Vatican City on an Italian Holiday.  Come On! Is that really necessary?,  you live there, you can go anytime, go to the beach or anywhere else.  We have the Gateway Arch in my hometown but I don't go there on holidays, I leave it for the tourists.  Well that's certainly not the case in Italy.  As you might it expect it was jam-packed and by that I mean we were packed in the courtyard like sardines.  

     Our tour was schedule early in the morning so it would give the afternoon to explore other sites in Rome.  We met up with Jennifer our guide at the appointed time and place to go to the Sistine Chapel.  We had a small group of tourists mainly from the US including a professional hockey player (I don't know his name) and his wife.  Jennifer explained that she was an experienced tour guide and knew all the short cuts that would get us into the chapel without long delays.  Cool, as I said we had other plans for the afternoon.  She carried an umbrella, which she would hold high in the air so that her tour members could easily follow her as she traversed through and around the other tours.

     We reached the line to get into the Sistine Chapel, and I believe we all felt a little relief knowing that we would soon be inside gazing at the beautiful hand painted ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.  We patiently waited in the slow moving line becoming frustrated as other tour groups butted into line blocks ahead of us while Jennifer would tell us it’s just around the corner.  Her promise of the entrance being right around the corner went on for hours and was not only unbelievable but had become more of a joke.  At one point John (our friend) ask Jennifer if she was ever a used car salesman, she promised us everything and delivered nothing.  Each time a group would butt in front of us, we would get more frustrated and annoyed, but this really amped up the hockey player who was ready for a fight, Whew, this was getting dicey.  A fight in front of the Sistine Chapel would be bad press. Thankfully nothing happened, his wife calmed him down.  As we stood waiting in line a motorcycle spun out of control on the street right in front of us, which distracted us for a while.  The rider laid the cycle down on the side and hit the curb but he seemed to be fine.  It seems a little wrong that this was the most interesting part of the tour so far.

     Finally we were approaching the entrance to the chapel, which put us beyond the point where other tour groups could jump in front so that was a relief.  We were in the courtyard of the chapel and there were some interesting artifacts to look at so that was pleasant but it took us 6 hours to get here, Hope this is worth the time.  Well it took us another hour before we entered the chapel and we were repeatedly told no pictures allowed.  What we stood in line for 7 hours and we can’t take pictures. Really, it would seem like the sweat laden air from the hundreds of people in the chapel would be more damaging than a few light bulbs flashing. The Sistine Chapel was packed with people literally shoulder-to-shoulder staring at the ceiling and we seemed like we are being rushed through.  At one point we were standing by a large door that was partially open and Jennifer got all excited saying this was a rare moment that we could peek into the extended quarters of the pope pointing out a door which he uses frequently. Wow, a door that's something special (excuse the sarcasm). I would gladly show you pictures, Oh Yea! I forgot I have none.   

     Sadly the chapel was crowded, hot and poorly lit so it was a let down by all the hype of the amazing painting by Michelangelo.  We were told that the painting took years to complete (painted while lying on his back) which takes great dedication so I bet if it were up to Mich (I'm sure that's what he was called by friends) he would say take your time looking at my painting and take as many pictures as you like.

     I would never tell someone not to go but it’s probably better to wait and make tour arrangements until your there, plus never ever go on an Italian Holiday.