Thurs - on the mend

We took it easy this morning and set out after lunch.  We visited the same sites as last night so we could appreciate them in the daylight.  First the most inconspicuous church from the outside holds paintings which I find more incredible than the Sistine Chapel.  This is the inside of Sant Ignazio

The 3D effect of the ceiling gives the illusion that the height is infinite but it is just a rounded barrel.

This is just a painted circle on the ceiling, giving the illusion that there is a dome.

Front of Sant Iganazio

The Pantheon, it's hard to believe this was built before the days of Christ.

Inside the Pantheon.

360 degrees inside the Pantheon

Walking to one of the most beautiful fountains in Rome.

The four rivers fountain in Piazzo Navonna by Bernini.

After our sightseeing we went to vista Sangita at her work.  She works for the Food and Agriculture department of the United Nations and this is the view from onto of her building.

Then early friday morning we headed back to London, this I believe is France.

Wed - still sick

Despite my unwillingness to give into this cold I am physically wearing down.  We went to the Vatican/St. Peter's/Sistine Chapel today.  The Pope had an audience just before we got there, 12,000 were in attendance.  We arranged a spur of the moment guided tour and it was fantastic.  We have been so lucky to have our accommodations provided by my friend Sangita that we don't mind spending a bit more on things like the guided tours and then later in the evening we went on a guided tour of Rome at night via a Segway.  This could not have been more jam packed with beauty and fun.

Courtyard of the Vatican Museum

Top of St Peter"s

Modern art in the courtyard, a world within a world.

Mosaic floor tiles.

This is on a ceiling. It is not a sculpture, rather a flat painting.

A ceiling joining the rooms.

Painting inside a dome.

Michelangelo's Pietre, the tomb of St Peter.  I've wanted to see this for a long time and it did not disappoint.

another ceiling

A door over a basement in St Peter's. wow.

This was the most surprising.  Many altar pieces have these pictorials over them.  I thought they were paintings but Kristina pointed out that they are mosaics. 

incredible.

This sculpture of a pope is only visible from this window and I love the way the bars frame his face.  Note his glasses.

Vatican police.

The wedding cake building, built by Mussolini, it has a better name but it's known as the wedding cake.

side of the Pantheon 

Front of the Pantheon

So much fun!!!