17 August Rome

Today we visited the Vatican. We had organised this from New Zealand, with a guarantee of a guided tour and no queues (Yay) Temperatures are soaring with one gauge saying it was 43 degrees. We thought yesterday was worse. We had a fantastic 3-½ hour tour with yet another guide who brought everything alive. The Vatican is its own country with its own currency, stamps, post office, army, fire brigade, security force (separate from the army) hospital, train, police and government separate from Rome. They do rely on Rome for their electricity; otherwise they are self-sufficient.
The art, sculptures and architecture are pretty mind blowing and so was the behaviour of some of the Popes, some good and some not so good. Many of the “nephews” who moved up in the ranks to be cardinals and high profile officials were actually their sons. This is where the word nepotism comes from. Our selection of photos tells its own story.
Following lunch and somewhere cool, we were back on the Metro to catch another bus tour. This time to see The Appian way, The catacombs and Circo Massimo. We wanted to check out a few Museums but inconveniently Monday is the day Museums are closed. Oh well. The bus driver and his assistant did the two-hour trip in 55 minutes, and rushed around, which was borderline dangerous, dropped us off then tore off somewhere else. This could be why we couldn’t find them yesterday. They had disappeared to the nearest watering hole.
Back to the Hotel and the cool. Gave some moral support to a South African Family. Mike is an internationally renowned doctor who had a fall on a cruise ship. The main buffet floor was wet and he slipped, wrecking tendons in his shoulder and fracturing his wrist. They fly back to the US tomorrow, where the wrist will be set. Mike wants a specialist to set it, as he is a classical pianist as well. The trouble being is he is in acute pain and the pain medication was inadequate. Lisa had had no sleep so was slowly losing it, as you do. We took her in hand and worked through things with her and did what we could to help. Mike turns 50 next month so we felt the bling had to be passed onto somebody worthy. We had an instant connection as if we had known each other forever and honestly believe we will cross each other’s path again.
Last night in Rome, we start the long trek back home tomorrow via Kuala Lumpur. Not looking forward to reality but sick of living out of suitcases. Ready for our own space and our cat.