Day 18: ROMA

Cooked my first breakfast away:  cornflakes, bacon and eggs, toast and cola (I forgot to buy tea or coffee!)  I distrust the Roman buses, but had no choice today than to venture forth.  Took the #46 into St Peter's :  the hardest part was working out which side of the street to wait on.

Through security, and joined the thousands already there: found a seat on the shady side of the square, right in front of one of the big TV screens and with a clear, though distant view, of the podium.  Got there at 9.15 for a 10.30 start.  So said the ticket.  On the dot of 9.30 out rolled the Popemobile, and Francis spent the next 30 minutes waving, always smiling, kissing babies - and even gave a couple of kids a ride.  He then went up onto the podium and we listened to the gospel in 6 different langauges.  Then at 10.15 Francis began his talk in Italian.  That was all over by 10.30.

Then we had to listen to a summary of the talk in 8 languages for different pilgrim groups, and the Pope addressed each briefly -- always in Italian except for Spanish speakers.  He doesn't try to copy his predecessors in being multilingual.  Blessing, and all over by 11.  You can imagine the exodus heading for buses and trains.  As far as I could see, the square was pretty full, way back behind the reserver seating area to the beginning of the square.

My energy levels are still a bit low, so I returned to the aprtment, had a snack and a nap.  At 2pm I decided to go see the Capitoline Museums, which I had never visited before.  Took the subways for this, getting off at Colosseo and walking between Caesar's Forum and Trajan's Forum, up the hill behind the Victor Emmanuel Mounument to the Capitoline Hill, the most sacred of Rome's seven hills.  It started as the Citadel of the earliest settlers; in later times the Temple of Jupiter was here.  Today it is capped by a beautiful palazzo designed by Michelangelo.  The museums are spread across 3 buildings, and contain a wealth of historic and more recent art:  statuary, paintings, murals, carvings and memorial plaques innumerable.  It is one of those places that deserves to be visited just one room a day that that one can really enjoy each piece and read up on its origins.  I found myself just strolling past masterpieces without a second glance because it is just too much to take in on a short visit.  

Hit the peak hour subways home, pretty weary after standing squashed in the trains for nearly half an hour.  Tonight I plan to eat locally, watch some TV, and have a reasonably early night.

A selection of today's photos are here.