Ticking off the bucket list ...

Today we were up early to meet our guide outside the Vatican Museum for an early 'queue jumping start'. It was certainly worth it. The Vatican Museum had a major upgrade in 2,000 and the entrance, ticketing etc has been greatly improved. Our early start at 7.30 meant we were in the Sistine Chapel by about 9.30am and we probably spent an hour there with very few people. Last time I was here we had to keep moving, etc etc. It's an amazing room with so much world history crammed into one small area.

I'd recommend one of these sorts of tours.

However we then found of course that the line for St Peters was probably three hours long, so we're doing that at 7am tomorrow. 

We then went to Villa Borghese Gardens - an oasis of quiet in the middle or Rome. Then we headed for Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. Lots of stuff happening there, with buskers and a special Church parade to commemorate the work of the Rescue Services with people marching holding statues or Saints, a band - the whole works.

There were more guys doing the Indian rope trick,  great piano accordionist and all sorts of other stuff happening. It was great.

Off to St Peters early tomorrow, then breakfast and more of Rome.

Outside St Peter's.

Piazza Navona 

Tasting a real Italian Gelato from a store that has been making them since 1897!