Rome - day 2

Day 2 - a trip to the Vatican and its museum.

Turns out the museum is actually free one day a month - and what day were we there on - the free day. Woohoo. Meant the queues were a bit longer but we got up quite early and only had to queue for a few hours. Well worth it for everything you get to see.

Calendar outside showing when it's free to get in.

The queue. Down the street and around the corner.

Once inside, we ran around checking this and that out. It was just too much to take in. This was me posing with the Nile (I think).

My angel, posing with, well, a hall of statues.

What I shall call, the wall of busts.
And seeing as my parish back home is St Pius X, I was happy to come across a plaque on the floor to him.



Now, believe it or not, this was a tapestry. It is the size of a normal wall, and there are about 50 of these in one hall - massive bastards!



The DETAIL of these paintings on the ceiling of this hall... whew... each one a masterpiece.

I enjoyed this one... the inscription above is 'Non Nobis Domine, to O' da gloria (sorry for my Latin spelling) which was my school motto at Plumstead High (Not unto us O Lord - to you the glory). Was cool to see it in one of the world's most famous places.




The Sistine Chapel.

Walking out afterwards... this staircase was made so that whoever could ride horses up it.



Outside in St Peter's Square. We needed some gelati after such a lot of walking.



A few fountain photies. Cath was willing to rest now... poor pregnant woman, carrying around a sack of potatoes. So I went for a quick wander to Castel St Angelo.

Back at St Peter's, scene of the masses when the Pope speaks.




I think this was his window. If not some old woman is going to be really P$%^&ed off at me for taking snaps at her window.

Looking at the bascilica.



The Swiss guard at the Vatican. Go ahead laugh, they can kill a man in 247 different ways. Go on, laugh.

We went downstairs to the tombs - once again, we should have paid to get in but there was no-one there taking money ...excellent.

Pope John Paul I. Photos strictly not allowed. Oops. John Paul II had a bunch of people around his tomb.




Inside the bascilica... we went for Mass.

Inside, looking towards the altar.

Behind the altar.

After mass, looking out from the bascilicaover St Peter's sq.



And looking back.



The mega-babe.

Rome - day 1

Wow. Okay, this is being updated in June but we actually visited Rome in March. If not Feb. I can't remember so much has happened since then.

If you're a regular blog follower, you know I tend to write essays when we visit other countries - there's so much to explain. But I'll try and keep this one short(er).

This trip was a bit longer than our usual weekend trips. We only left Rome on the Monday eve, so we had a whole extra day in the city to see whatever. Means we didn't need to rush so much.



First stop - the colliseum. Of course. Well we only went in later - but we were passing so... photo time! Other photo is Constantine's arch.

This was up in the Palantine, the old city, looking out over the colliseum.



Up in the Palantino looking out over the old forum, etc

Alan in the Roman forum. I'm so cool.

In the Roman forum.

Grabbing a bit of sustinance after a lot of walking.

Then we hit the colliseum proper. Inside.

And outside.

At Piazza Campidoglio. And the tomb of the unknown soldier.

What trip to Rome would be complete without a trip to the Trevi fountain? We threw a few coins in - rands of course - we don't part with our euros easily.

It started getting a bit late so we had a bit of tea at the fountain
and then headed to the Spanish steps.

Some geezer gave us some roses. Okay then, home much does it cost buddy? Mutter mutter. The Trinita dei Monti is in the background.



The trip to the Spanish steps was worth it for this view out at St Peter's alone. To think we nearly didn't climb the steps to look out. This was sunset on our first night.

With the sun set, we headed back to the Colliseo with our tripod for a few 'quieter' photies.
These will make it into the Valkenburg photo frames, oh yes.

Belmullet baby!

You haven't lived until you've been to Belmullet they say. Who says? Well, Belmullet people mainly. But it is quite nice there. Cath and I made the trip up to see my fam one last time before we headeded back home.

Belmullet is up north, quite far from Cork, but the scenery is stunning, like only the west of Ireland can be.

Along the way we needed a rest spot for a few samies and a driver change. Came across this random beautiful spot. That's what I love about going off the beaten track, coming across places that you wouldn't normally see.



Belmullet is in the Gaeltacht. Bless me? No I didn't sneeze - the gaeltacht is basically an area of ireland where Gaelic (or Irish as they say) is still spoken and used as the main language (suposedly). So it can make knowing where to go next a bit tricky when you're driving...

After about a six hour drive, we slept well that night - mmm - comfy bed.

Behind the house where my fam lives, is the bay. We got up early
the next morning and went for a bit of a walk.





Meet the fam...
This is Sean, Maura and Buddy.



Sean took us for a drive around. Stunning. Was so cool having our own tour guide, telling us about things that happened during the war, what the locals think of the pipelines being built, etc.

Sean and Cath at a stone circle and right, pointing out America to me. Okay not really, but I can't remember now what we were talking about then.

It was short and sweet and after the roast that Maura made for us, we didn't ever want to leave. But we had to, and we began the long drive home, passing a snow-capped peak as we did. It wasn't Croagh Patrick, I know that much.

And we had to fill up of course. In Ireland they don't have slaves to do it for them dontchaknow?! So you actually have to get out of the car yourself. Honestly! So third-world.

A bit chilly!

Cath sleeptalking

I've taken to reading in bed for about an hour before hitting the sack, which often means that Cath is fast asleep by the time I turn in.
This incident amused me so I thought I'd share...

After reading, I got up for a midnight pee. Cath was fast asleep but when I came back to bed she opened her eyes and said something like "My boyfriend's personal effects..."

I said: "What?" and she said (quote) "No, the spreadsheet is about personal effects and da da da da dah." I said "Oh" and she closed her eyes and rolled over.

It worries me that she has a boyfriend but it worries me more that she's now doing spreadsheets in her sleep. Sigh, an accountant, always an accountant.