Turtle Power in the Vatican (April 15th)

"Are you kidding me?"

This is the question I continued to ask myself as Jordan and I toured through the astonishing Vatican.

Don't get me wrong, the Vatican is startling and mind-boggling (those are crappy word to describe it) in its history, architecture, and art work. Probably the best collection I will ever see. It absolutely blows you away. But are you kidding me?

Christina, our (insert everything Jordan said in yesterday's blog) tour guide, walked us through the gardens, the museum, the Raphael Rooms, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square over a three and half hour period. All of which are just absolutely stunning and fascinating, especially the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel…WOW! You have to see it to understand I think or just be a better writer than I am! And because of the knowledge Christina offered us in her perfect accent, we could actually appreciate what we, as art idiots, were looking at. But I had to ask wonderful Christina...Are you kidding me?

Just to reiterate, I, for the first time in my life could actually stare at these works of art and they were holding my attention through their detail and mastery. And I am not talking about Christina...But are you kidding me?

I will take a deep breath now, and explain my frustration.

I live in American.

The Pope lives in the Vatican.

I come to the Vatican.

The Pope goes to AMERICA!!!! ON THE VERY DAY I COME TO THE VATICAN!!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!?

And no he is not kidding me and nobody else was either. The Pope had landed in American just about the same time I took a gander into his window.

Though I will probably never get over this fact, the day was still great and how can it not be.

I got to see some of the greatest works of art any human will ever create and their names just happen to be Michelangelo and Raphael. I got another tour from the perfect Christina. I got to walk through the most breathtaking halls and holy areas the world has ever seen.

Pope or no Pope, the Vatican is still worth it.

Just a side note: Not trying to bring the mood down, but seeing John Paul II's resting place was a touching site.

Another side note: I hope you enjoy the Pope America!

Picture Explanations:

These are marble statues with the original eyes still in them.

The guy looking at you in this picture is Raphael’s self portrait.

That is Christina.

And that is Jordan and I with St. Peter’s Basilica behind us.

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Gelato Count
Scott – 6
Jordan- 7