June 2, 2012 -Day 4 Saturday Vatican Museum

Today wasan interesting day to walk to the Vatican museum as the Roman's celebratedtheir independence. The Vatican was much closer than I expected. As we walkedthrough the curves and beautiful views of Rome I felt the excitement andanxiety to get there increase. Once we took the final curve, my heart justdropped to the floor and pushed back up to the sky in a matter of seconds. 

I foundmyself in a mixture of emotions. I felt mostly happy at the site with a bit ofdisbelieve. I had seen this image in movies and photograph but to actually bein front of the Vatican was too much for me to take in all at once.

We were there for about a minute or two before we found our way to the museum. A coupleof feet away I was able to see a defender of the church's freedom, a Swiss guard,standing tall and sharp.

As we kept walking and turning, Dr. Weber pointed out how short the linewas compared to previous years. The Vatican museum was another world of itsown.  We did seem like a river of peoplebeing taken down stream with no time to stop. I still enjoyed every piece of art and the years it carried withit.  I loved the fact that I understoodthe stories behind several of the paintings. I had never waited so anxiously to get somewhere like I felt as weapproached the Sistine chapel.

The room was amazing! Somewhat small than what I had in mind but truly beautiful.  I can’t believe the hands of a human madethis.  We had been told we couldn’t takepictures but everyone was snapping away when we walked it and so did we. 

Blanca andI walked over to mass and got a great first look of the Vatican before ourclass visit.  I have to admit it took mea while to look away from the amount of tourist disrespecting the church andkeep in mind this is not the religion of all people.  Once I looked away from that I was able toenjoy the mass and take in the peaceful presence in the place.