We left Florence and went back to Rome.
We went back to the Vatican and hoped it was open this time. Boy was it ever. Let's play find the Pope.
The Pope wove through the crowd on the back of a golf cart.
Here's a hint: find the red cross sign and look just below it to the right.
He started speaking but since we didn't understand a word of it, we went over to the Vatican museum. Since the Pope was speaking, there was litteraly only a single person in line in front of us. Apparantly this is totally amazing and you usually wait for an hour or two in line.
The above were all shots taken inside the Vatican before you get to the Sistine Chapel. No photos allowed in there...sorry.
The exit stairway from the Vatican Museum.
Another great Rick Steve's place to eat. This place was VERY friendly and they even had a discount menu, fruit bowel and special lemon liquor for people who show the guidebook. The girl behind nikki eating tomatos is in the book....she is the owner's daughter Simona.
In the book, it said Sophia drove a red smartcar so I had to take a picture of this.
There was a maze of passageways that held prisoners, animals, supplies etc underneath the floor.
Roman Forum
The forum viewed from palatine hill
For being the nicest hotel of the trip, they had a very strange poster hanging on the wall