Thursday April 17

So I woke up at 745 to get ready to go to the Vatican. Got on the metro line and found the tour group. I have to say, the Vatican wasn't what I expected it be. Since I read Angels and Demons and saw the movie also I was expecting ....I don't really know but something different. Well anyways, it was really crowded and hard to move around in the rooms. I found the Sistine Chapel wall behind the altar very cool. I thought it was better than the ceiling.
The Sistine Chapel was a very interesting environment. We were all supposed to be quiet and not take pictures but everyone was talking and trying to take pictures incognito. When a Vatican guard would see someone take a picture they would pretty much yell at them "No pictures! No pictures!" they would say while waving a finger at the person. The guards never caught me :).

 This is in the Vatican representing a country within another country

 

 Me in St. Peter's Square

 St. Peter's Basilica

 

 St. Peter's Basilica

I met a guy named Joe on my tour and he and I got lunch (and my very first gelato!!!) and slowly made our way through the city and to the Colosseum. It was a long walk and a long day and we finally arrived there around five and I could tell Joe was getting tired and a little out of sorts. There was a very short line to get in and it was open for about another 2 hours. I was thinking about going in and a guard told me that the Pope was going to be there tomorrow so I was sold about going in. Joe was tired so he headed back to his hostel and I stayed to get into the Colosseum.

 On our way to the Colosseum climbed some crazy stairs and got a great view

 

 

 After the Colosseum I grabbed some dinner and gelato and headed back to my hostel because I was wiped out! Sorry for such short posts but I am extremely busy right now back in Oxford so I will hopefully be able to post more later this week! I have so much more to tell you about my awesome vacation in Italy.