Breakfast in Roma (cappucino and pastry) is eaten standing at a counter. On our first morning, the busy waiter behind the counter confuses us at first because he is holding our receipt (one orders and pays on the opposite side of the shop) but keeps demanding a “ticket!” As Sarah questions him (“THAT is OUR ticket!) he realizes we are not stupid turista and quickly has Marcello, the barista, make our orders. The waiter speaks no english and begins rapidly firing italian at us, all smiles and apologies. No hard feelings, we guess!
(Joe re-fills our water bottle in the street – like a local!)
Canada Day finds us at the centre of Catholicism. Sarah is annoyed at the permanent TV installations and the omni-present wooden barriers that funnel and 
control the crowds during peak hours. The original artists and architects would be saddened to see their carefully conceived designs so modified.
Inside, there is an obvious opulence that makes it difficult to see past the tour groups and crowd of camera-wielding daytrippers. Where is the sacred in all of this? Sarah observes the cherubs, the roses, the height of the candles. “I wonder where that gold came from.” Searching out the many sculptures of doves, Sarah chooses one to focus on and looks for beauty and grace while sketching. It is an effort to approximate on paper the sculpture’s dimensional proportions. This mathematical approach to the drawing starts to ease the ache in Sarah’s heart. But a guard sternly admonishes her to move along.
After moving counter-clockwise around the basilica with the bustling throngs, Sarah becomes overwhelmed with sadness. All of the waste, war, and abuse in the name of God. Where in the world is the love that Jesus preached and upon which this church was founded? Walking clock-wise against the flow, she is rescued by Joe. He guides her to a quiet prayer chapel tucked in a side corner. Incense envelops Sarah and she allows her tears to dissolve her sadness. Watching the nuns is marvelous; their connection and commitment to pray for us – all of us – every day – all day. In this chapel, real peace is felt. Love…forgiveness…God’s spirit is here.
We leave to find lunch in the nearby market halls but finding nowhere to sit, we wander through the neighbourhood searching for the restaurant with the coldest beer. Sarah finishes her lunch with an espresso to give her some much-needed stamina for the afternoon’s planned museum tour! With our pre-paid tickets, we avoid the long lines and head inside. SO MUCH TO SEE! It is impossible to see it all…
Sarah drags Joe through the Etruscan exhibits and she is startled to come face to face with many statues and curios that she has studied in books! It is remarkable to finally be able to see something with one’s own eyes! Something studied and written about and now right here in front of us!
We conclude our tour with the obligatory tunnel chute through what is probably the best-known chapel in the Western world. While our Italian may not be scholarly, we are pretty sure that “Silencio” means “No talking/No whispering/No noise.” Many people seem to think that this rule does not apply to them. Which means the guards are constantly droning “silencio” over and over. Which of course, breaks the silence.
We buy some photography books to console ourselves in the Gift Shop.
GEO QUIZ: Name the basilica and the museum that we visited today.
Where in the world are the Gills? 
Ah – St Peter’s Basilica is an amazing thing to see! I agree with you about the barricades and throngs of misbehaved tourists (tank tops, shorts, uncouth comments, the list goes on and on). The Vatican Museum is also overwhelming – so much to see, and such historical importance. The Sistene Chapel is so beautiful and significant – something we have all read about and heard about our whole lives. I am willing to bet that your Italian is better than you think. Siamo contenti que siete passando una buona vacanza. Tutte le fotografie sono meravigliose. Ciao, la familia Richmond