Europe: Day 12, May 12, Rome, Italy

Roma!  We began the day with a bus tour through the city.  Sara is our guide for the tour. I may have said this, but she is Italian and very knowledgeable about all the areas visited so far.  In Rome, you are required to have a "local guide" certified and qualified to guide tours in Rome.  We were absolutely dumb struck by the ruins and buildings in the city. I did not realize that current-day Rome is built on top of Ancient Rome. Current-day Rome is "only" 500-600 years old. Beneath it is Ancient Rome.  There is much evidence of Ancient Rome but most of it it lies underneath Rome today.  

The colosseum is probably the most well known example of Ancient Rome architecture. Much of the Ancient Rome buildings were dismantled, or partly dismantled, to build the newer Rome.  Those folks didn't have much appreciation for the ancient buildings of Rome.  

After our bus tour, we toured the Vatican.  It was impressive in many ways, but disappointing, in others.  The buildings were impressive, but way overdone.  

The Vatican museum, the cathedral of St. Peter, where St. Peter is thought to be buried and the Sistine chapel were full of amazing artwork. Paintings, sculptures, tapestries, mummified bodies of popes, mosaics, and so many other works of art were interesting and impressive.  Much of the tour was spent explaining the value and uniqueness of the buildings and artwork. Michelangelo's frescos in the Sistine chapel were amazing, but little was said about the message they portrayed.  I kept thinking of the comparison between a visit to the Vatican and a visit it temple square. I may be a little biased, but I think the hollow, empty feeling I felt in the Vatican would not be felt at temple square. 

 This guard at The Vatican had heard of Utah and even talked about BYU!!

The Vatican, like all cathedrals and churches visited during this trip, were almost completely void of information or testimony about the Savior.  He is not their emphasis.  The size, cost and uniqueness of the buildings and furnishings are.

At any rate, we were fascinated by what we saw, and disappointed by the lack of message. 

We were in awe that we were in Rome, the birthplace of much of the world's "Christianity."  The history is incredible.

Dinner was on our own. We headed to see Trevi Fountain.  We had seen it earlier, but it was being cleaned so was not flowing.  While visiting Trevi Fountain it is a custom to throw a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand and make a wish.  

 On the way we came across many, many policemen.  There were probably hundreds of them and they were dressed for battle.  The were armed and had had protective gear including helmets and clear shields.  They seemed ready for a riot.  We tried to ask what was going on, but all they would tell us was that there was a "demonstration" planned. They then shooed us on our way. There was also a helicopter flying overhead all evening. We still don't really know what was going on. Our guide, Sara, told us it was a protest against high rent prices.

Most of the people on the tour had signed up for a dinner in a restaurant. We chose not to go, but to find our own dinner. It was delicious!