Day 5 – The Vatican… Everybody else arrives!

Transitioning to Rome was easier than transitioning to San Gimignano.  Of course, being in the same time zone helps a LOT! :D  Some took showers, some decided to wait. MIL, the kids and I opted to leave around 9:30am and walk up to the Vatican (practically in our backyard) while the Principal and FIL were going to hang around the apartment and head off to the airport to get BIL/SIL/DN & MIL2.  Their plane was to land at 12:40 local time, and you have to allow an hour to get there in Rome traffic, plus they were going to need to fill up the bus.

Walking up to the Vatican was an easy walk.  We passed by the typical vendors of all thing “Rome”, or more likely “Rome-ish”.  Journeyed around the corner and then we were in St Peter’s Square.  Beautiful as always… but there is a huge difference between “the locals” and “the tourists”.  Clearly the locals view the place as “that convenient pass through on my way to where I’m going”… the tourists are here for the Basilica itself.  Unfortunately, the line to get in (though free) wrapped halfway around the square.  Even though it was moving at a good steady clip, we decided that if we were going to see it, we really only wanted to wait in that line once, and we were missing half our group.

So we turned around and headed out.  Avoiding pushy street vendors, random scam artists, zippy motor scooters and the double decker convertible tourist buses… we walked down looking for a few post cards for the kids and a few scarves for my MIL.  She wanted to have something to wave at the Pope on Wednesday… and then we saw it.  Some scarves advertised for E1,70.  Roughly $2.50 ea.  She figured that was a huge bargain and we ducked inside.  She bought 10.  Oh my.  The kids perused the rest of the shop, and while the girls were tempted by a couple of t-shirts, we decided to go ahead and leave.  Across a couple more streets and we were at the Castile di San Angeli.  It’s the fortified castle where they used to take the Pope (under ground under the street we just walked) during times of battle & siege.  Now it’s a medieval museum with cannons, spears, swords & knights of armor.  Pretty cool looking from the outside, we figure the guys might take the boys in later in the week.

A short rest on the outer wall of the castle, looking over into the Tiber River and we notice a few street “performers”.  I’m not sure it counts as “performing” if you’re just standing there, or sitting there.  Still, a few Euro coins and you can take their picture and the kids were fascinated. 

I bought a few gifts and we realized we were going to miss the guys leaving to pick up the others, so we opted for a “covert gelato”… which Sweetie offered to pay for herself.  In the end, she didn’t need to, but it was extremely generous of her to offer.  While in the Gelateria, we spied a special surprise for FIL that we’ll reveal to you when we reveal it to him.

About this time, Boo Boo decides that what he’d really like to find is a postcard for a special friend at home.  His Bible Study teachers and he have an ‘inside joke’ about a “dead fish”… and so we’re on the hunt for a rather unusual post card. J

Home again Home again jiggety jog, and we have, indeed, missed the guys.  That’s okay, “Adventures in Laundry” await.

About 2:30, I hear, “THEY’RE HERE!  THEY’RE HERE!!” and there is scrambling for shoes and a dash down the stairs.  Luggage is already on the curb, but DH & the bus are “sorta” blocking traffic (cars can get past, but we're right in front of a bus station... and they can't get by).  He makes another lap around the block while they ask me to bring down the camera, and on my way down I greet the newcomers.  I don’t see him.  He’s had to make another lap.  He comes around the corner and I go hand him the camera and tell him Doodlebug left at least 2 thinks in the compartment near her seat and he tells me to get in and find them. There’s nobody behind him, so “no problem”.  The problem comes as I’m trying to get OUT of the vehicle.  There are now 5 cars behind Dh and I’m trying to negotiate the EXTREMELY large step out of the bus that’s given me pause the last 5 days.  On my way down I twist my ankle and land on my bum… HARD.  That was about the time I look up and realize that the car that had been sitting behind Dh waiting on him to move had decided to maneuver AROUND the bus… and was millimeters from my head.  God is Good.  Ankle hurting, bum hurting… pride bruised… I get up and make it around the back of the bus as Dh is trying to slowly advance out of the way while making sure I’m really okay.  It’s a long 3 flights back up the apartment, but it could be worse.  It could’ve been a long ride to the hospital.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon hanging out in the apartment catching up with family while Dh & MIL returned the rental vehicle until Doodlebug and I were sent around the corner to buy dessert from the Pasticcheria.  That lady, though she speaks no English, has really taken a shine to Doodlebug and every time we go in we buy something, pay, and then she throws in something extra, or in this case, a bag full of some things extra.

Dinner was delicious and afterward most of us journeyed out for Gelato, bread, and a trip to the Vatican.  Yes, most of us had been there earlier that day, but seeing it at night is especially nice.  Walking down the sidewalk we reach a corner, though, and there are quite a few police.  They’ve blocked off the street to vehicles and pedestrians alike.  Something’s up… we’re not sure what… but we figure the Pope may be coming by (we're right next to his back door).

Gelato is also available right there, and my nephew decides ice cream sounds better than whatever it was we were also going to do, so we decided to get the gelato FIRST.  I can go for that.  Several of us are inside the gelateria facing the street, SIL/DN are in the men’s room, several more are out on the sidewalk.  About the time I turn my back to the street, sirens wail and a black limo with the Pope inside, with the inside lit drives by.  BIL got the whole thing on camera, Buddy is pretty sure somebody was taking his picture when he was photo-bombed by the Pope.  We figured that was pretty cool.

Excitement over, gelato consumed and we head off to the Vatican.  You can still see the difference between the locals and the tourists, but that’s okay.  It’s nice seeing it noticeably less crowded.  We decide to leave and walk back taking a slightly different route.  Dh & the girls head to the  “Pane Caldo Anche De Sera” (Hot Bread Even at Night) store which we’ve decided is really better than buying bread at 0:Dark:30 in the morning and the rest of us head to the grocery store… because like all non-locals, we figure grocery stores are going to be open at this hour.  Nope, they closed at 8pm and we were 20 minutes late.  So, back down the street to the apartment where kids start getting ready for bed… and SIL & I continue our battle with the laundry.