Things have been too good to be true - we arise tired - tired - tired - even more than tired - we feel exhausted - the dreaded Jet Lag has struck! - never mind - we will continue to strike out in pursuit of the last traces of Caesar's realm.
Shower - that is nice - I am feeling better already - this is a nice shower compartment - what is that string - of course - it is just an extra exhaust fan - good idea the room is getting a little misty- bloody idiot! - you did that the last time you were in Italy - off goes the alarm in the owner's quarters - the young lady arrives at the door - pajama clad - bedraggled - irritated - excuse' - excuse' - excuse' - is OK - is OK - she does not sound convinced!
Breakfast? - remember the instructions - downstairs - left - 2 metres - we hand over our card - join dogs and their Italian servants - croissants and coffee - hardly memorable - clearly not a great start to this day for the jet lagged travelers .
The agenda? - The Vatican - the Colosseum - strike out for the Vatican - is this a good idea on a Sunday in May?- probably not - we continue on - do you feel like a pilgrim? - no - do you feel like an interested tourist- no - do you feel like you are going through the motions - sure do! - never mind we are here now - lets soldier on!
Careful there Bernie - Bernie is battling along- like me she is finding the walk less than enjoyable - she ambulates with an obvious limp - young mother and father wilh a pram approach side by side on a footpath that is two shoulders wide - they are important - they have a child - we form a single file - they assume passage priority - mother shoulder charges Bernie - it is OK if you say excuse' thinks she - I hope some other young mother gives you your "come-upance" thinks me .
Across the River Tiber - he looks unloved - a little miserable - unused - where are the watercraft so common on the rivers of other tourist centres - not obvious at least is these environs.
Towards St Peter's - the human density of the thoroughfare steadily increases - we approach the square - the square acts like a black hole - the human density increases exponentially - the human mass of the square seems like it has the potential to reach infinity - clearly Papa will appear shortly - still the tourist keep arriving - the walking tour leaders hold up their flag embellished umbrellas - their minions struggle to keep pace - our little observation place on a low pedestals of a colonnade column becomes impossible to defend - our noses become embedded in the generous backsides of pilgrims who decide that our observation place is the perfect place from which to capture a photographic memory.
We yield - the pilgrims are more interested in acquiring our fortress than we are in defending it - lets head for the Musei - with everyone here it must be empty!
Wrong! - away from the square - towards the Musei - we walk against a steady torrent of people still approaching the square - I am tempted to scream "stop - you are being sucked into a black hole" - I resist the temptation - save for the Collingwood scarves they could be a queue approaching the MCG on grand final day and who would put effort into saving a stream of Collingwood supporters?
All of sudden our forward progress towards the Musei ceases - we form part of a train wreck as our Musei express crashes into the back of the mile long stationary train of visitors already waiting at Musei station for controlled entry - an hour passes - we find ourselves inside .
Towards Capella Sistina - the long route or the short route? - the short route please! - past tapestry - tapestry - tapestry - large - large - through long passages with vaulted fresco'ed ceilings - with walls adorned with detailed murals of regional Italy - past rooms holding the sources of inspiration for modern day concrete garden product manufacturers - past book and trinket sales counters.
Onwards toward Capella Sistina - the long route and the short route merge - the flag adorned umbrellas of the walking tour guides multiply - the tour guides jostle with one another for position - their trailing stream of dedicated and desperate merge, mix, un-mix, un-merge, accelerate - decelerate - stop - turn - twist - lose concentration - realise that have lost concentration - a look of panic- a look of relief- there is my shepherd!
Bernie survives all of this , she enjoy, she marvels - look at this - look at that!
Into Capella Sistina - dark- quite - I am not inspired - the undeniable need for an environment conducive to conservation makes the visit disappointing .
I am tired - Bernie is exhausted - we seek refuge in a pizzeria
Recover - slow - back past the square - the black hole has failed to materialise - the crowds have managed to survive and have largely effected their return from whence they came - lets return to La Mongolfiera and rest awhile! - oh no Mike! - look at that calendar - young, handsome Priest in full dog collar - they must be kidding!
Sleep more than is reasonable - rise to dine - admire the street entrepreneur - a toy helicopter vendor - he spies some children dining with their parents deep in the heart of the restaurant - he sends a helicopter in through an open window - some circles over the children - a safe return to him - if he doesn't get a sale it will not be for a lack of endeavour or ingenuity!
Still some of the tensions that afflict the muscles remain - sleeping is a challenge - write a little - Bernie wants to chat- how can I silence her so I can keep writing? - I know - Bernie could you check the travel arrangements for tomorrow? -There is no need to check Mike - I remember - the train leaves Roma at 9:51 - this is not going well - clearly I am not going to get any writing time - I try again - Bernie! - Please! - just go and check! - Ok cranky pants! - some peace at last - things go quiet - very quiet - Mike! - no! - the train ARRIVES at Firenze at 9:51 - frantically re-book the taxi - gee that was lucky - imagine the fun that Margaret would have had at our expense if we had missed the train!
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