We started the day much the same as yesterday. Still buggered from the day before, we started by catching the same tour bus this time to the Pantheon. This building is the oldest ruins in Rome, and it is probably the most well kept. We nearly got lost trying to find the place, dogging down small back streets to get to it, but we finally arrived. Spent about 45 mins taking photos of the old structure and the statues and paintings inside.

We walked all the way back to the Vatican, had an early lunch and decided whether or not to go on a tour of the Vatican. We decided to do it ourselves and in the boiling heat had to cover our arms and legs. It was sweltering waiting to get in through the x-ray equipment and then up into a queue for the Dome. At least this queue was only for about 1/2 hour and then realised it was because you had to walk up 350 stairs to the top. Once at the top we looked down into the inside of the Basilica. We were very high and looking down into the church we were able to see things differently. On the way out we saw the entrance to the Capulet. Little did we know that it was going to be another 100 or more steps up a very narrow and winding passageway. The views from the top were well worth the throbbing legs and not to mention the sweat pouring down our faces. We had a 360 deg view of Rome from a bird eye’s view. Coming down was fun – not only were we sore but now getting very dizzy from the tight winding staircase not to mention dehydrated.

Once down on ground level again, we came out into the Basilica. This is the biggest church in the world and it looked it. We spent the next hour in the depths of the church taking many photos of the famous sculptures inside while keeping cool. We then walked to the Vatican Museums where the Sistine Chapel is located. By this stage it was just after 3pm and we thought it may be closed. To our surprise it was still open but better still there was no queue! We were able to walk straight in. Walking around the Museums we saw many pieces of art ranging from marble and bronze sculptures and paintings. We found our way finally into the Sistine Chapel – not what I was expecting and saw Michaelangelo’s masterpiece. We weren’t able to take any photos so Matt thought he could sneak one as he did of David. Unfortunately he was busted but we didn’t get kicked out luckily. By the time we saw the Chapel and walked thru the maze to the exit we had had enough and it was time to go.

Last stop for the day was Palazzo Venezia, or what the American soldiers called “The Wedding Cake” as it is a massive white building with large pillars that really look like the top layer of a cake. We were able to spend about an hour there seeing the grave of the unknown soldier and looking at the view right across Rome before we were due on the last bus back to the train station.

We had two extremely busy days in Rome and by the end of these we were absolutely exhausted. Unfortunately we just didn’t have time to visit Pompeii as it would have taken a full day in itself just to get there and back. Maybe next time?