The Vatican
Wow, what an interesting place... we woke early (or should I say Abbey woke us early...) on our final day of holiday in Rome. 
After getting us all up and ready, Mez took off to find a place in the already extensive queue to get into the Vatican Museum. Being a Sunday, it was bound to be busy, but our guide informed us that it was busy such as it only gets for one or two days a year, which sounds kinda exciting, but realistically is a bit of a nightmare. Imagine being part of a gigantic crowd that continues to move at the same rate as though on a gigantic conveyor belt - all towards the final destination (the Sistine Chapel), before being spat back out into the light of day... that's close to the experience. That sounds like an entirely unpleasant experience, however the Vatican museums are still exceedingly cool - corridoor after corridoor of amazing artwork, incredible sculptures, some of the most beautiful things man has yet created - all in one place, and that's another glimpse of what it was like. Abbey and I decided it was best to get rested before attempting the day, so had a wee snooze on the bed while Mez was down the street 
sussing us out a tour. Our tour guide informed us that Pius' vision for the vatican state was essentially to create a state as close to heaven as can be found on earth - to fill it with things of beauty that can reflect the beauty of the creator. While on the one hand that is a noble pursuit, to a certain extent it's also exceedingly arrogant - to assume one could create something as cool as heaven here on earth... which clearly it isn't. Also, and perhaps more interestingly again, the things of beauty are all man made - i tend to think if you want to see beautiful stuff that make you think of the creator, go to the top of a mountain, or a beautiful beach. Maybe they should have made the vatican state in Nepal. Would annoy the buddhists a bit I bet though. Anyway, I digress.
After getting us all up and ready, Mez took off to find a place in the already extensive queue to get into the Vatican Museum. Being a Sunday, it was bound to be busy, but our guide informed us that it was busy such as it only gets for one or two days a year, which sounds kinda exciting, but realistically is a bit of a nightmare. Imagine being part of a gigantic crowd that continues to move at the same rate as though on a gigantic conveyor belt - all towards the final destination (the Sistine Chapel), before being spat back out into the light of day... that's close to the experience. That sounds like an entirely unpleasant experience, however the Vatican museums are still exceedingly cool - corridoor after corridoor of amazing artwork, incredible sculptures, some of the most beautiful things man has yet created - all in one place, and that's another glimpse of what it was like. Abbey and I decided it was best to get rested before attempting the day, so had a wee snooze on the bed while Mez was down the street 
sussing us out a tour. Our tour guide informed us that Pius' vision for the vatican state was essentially to create a state as close to heaven as can be found on earth - to fill it with things of beauty that can reflect the beauty of the creator. While on the one hand that is a noble pursuit, to a certain extent it's also exceedingly arrogant - to assume one could create something as cool as heaven here on earth... which clearly it isn't. Also, and perhaps more interestingly again, the things of beauty are all man made - i tend to think if you want to see beautiful stuff that make you think of the creator, go to the top of a mountain, or a beautiful beach. Maybe they should have made the vatican state in Nepal. Would annoy the buddhists a bit I bet though. Anyway, I digress.The Vatican state had been dreamt of for a while before 
Pope Pius made it a reality in the 1960's. It is 
arguably the most powerful state on the planet, being the central place for the administration of the world's 1.115 billion Catholics. (that's 17% of the entire population of the world!). The pope is not only the spiritual leader of the world's Catholics... he is also the head of state for the Vatican - putting him on a parr with other heads of state such as Mr Bush, Mr Brown, Mr Sarkosy, Mr Mugabe, Mr Jong-il, Mr Ahmadinejad and Ms Clark (to name but a few). Clearly there was a point to my naming heads of state of not just powerful western nations (such as NZ) but also more infamous heads such as those of Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran, with whom he also must struggle to find a bit of common ground... Interesting job I guess.
Anyway, I doubt he has a lot to do with those guys anyway - except for 
the occasional call for them to stop doing the bad stuff they deny doing. Ok I'm way off track now. What is this blog meant to be about? Oh the Vatican. The Vatican is home to a few of only a handful of purple marble pieces in the world. these are apparrently so rare and valuable that they cannot be stolen - every piece in existence is known of and in a private collection somewhere. Coolish I guess. If you like purple marble treasure chests. But the sheer size of one of the purple
marble bowl is 
staggering - let alone the fact that it can't be stolen because it is so rare... it's not the kind of thing you could just turf in your back pocket... it's more of a swimming pool that a bowl! Gigantic, and though one does look at it and think 'wow what a cool bowl', i wouldn't call it priceless...
I have to say though that the
Sistine Chapel is AMAZING!! such rich colours - and very glad to have been there post restoration - it is said that there were generations of painters who attempted to replicate Michaelangelo's style, and in doing that they used loads of black paint to darken their work... not realising that the bright colours originally painted by the master had in fact just been darkened by layer upon layer of smoke thanks to candles in use in the room. Abbey was not overly 
impressed, her Art expertise having been acutely developed over the past few weeks!! Definately not appreciative of all the people, that got in the way of all the lovely pillars, never mind those paintings! I suspect she was a little perplexed at why anyone would bother hanging anything to cover a perfectly good pillar as we passed through one of the great halls leading to the Sistine chapel that was almost entirely hung with gigantic cross stitch pieces (ok showing a distinct lack of appreciation for those... whatever those wall hanging carpet looking 
things were...) Anyway back to the Sistine chapel... Having lived with a smoker (my dad) I can say i know how smoke discolours the roof paint... sad though that it virtually enshrouded such magnificent work for so many centuries before the restoration work was done in the 90's... Great depictions though, i really recommend going to see them, but also getting them explained by a guide... especially a guide with a degree in Art history! really useful to help in understanding the work - like in the last judgement which is on the far wall of the Chapel, the fact that Mary is depicted looking toward those coming up from earth towards heaven, illustrating her role to pray for those on earth, Jesus is depicted as being constantly moving - indicating the dynamic nature of God, there are those poor souls trying to get into heaven who clearly didn't make the cut, as well as those enjoying the fruits of their worthy earthly existence.
there is loads more to say - but very very cool - much better to go and see it yourself!
Pope Pius made it a reality in the 1960's. It is 
arguably the most powerful state on the planet, being the central place for the administration of the world's 1.115 billion Catholics. (that's 17% of the entire population of the world!). The pope is not only the spiritual leader of the world's Catholics... he is also the head of state for the Vatican - putting him on a parr with other heads of state such as Mr Bush, Mr Brown, Mr Sarkosy, Mr Mugabe, Mr Jong-il, Mr Ahmadinejad and Ms Clark (to name but a few). Clearly there was a point to my naming heads of state of not just powerful western nations (such as NZ) but also more infamous heads such as those of Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran, with whom he also must struggle to find a bit of common ground... Interesting job I guess.
Anyway, I doubt he has a lot to do with those guys anyway - except for 
the occasional call for them to stop doing the bad stuff they deny doing. Ok I'm way off track now. What is this blog meant to be about? Oh the Vatican. The Vatican is home to a few of only a handful of purple marble pieces in the world. these are apparrently so rare and valuable that they cannot be stolen - every piece in existence is known of and in a private collection somewhere. Coolish I guess. If you like purple marble treasure chests. But the sheer size of one of the purple
marble bowl is 
staggering - let alone the fact that it can't be stolen because it is so rare... it's not the kind of thing you could just turf in your back pocket... it's more of a swimming pool that a bowl! Gigantic, and though one does look at it and think 'wow what a cool bowl', i wouldn't call it priceless...I have to say though that the
Sistine Chapel is AMAZING!! such rich colours - and very glad to have been there post restoration - it is said that there were generations of painters who attempted to replicate Michaelangelo's style, and in doing that they used loads of black paint to darken their work... not realising that the bright colours originally painted by the master had in fact just been darkened by layer upon layer of smoke thanks to candles in use in the room. Abbey was not overly 
impressed, her Art expertise having been acutely developed over the past few weeks!! Definately not appreciative of all the people, that got in the way of all the lovely pillars, never mind those paintings! I suspect she was a little perplexed at why anyone would bother hanging anything to cover a perfectly good pillar as we passed through one of the great halls leading to the Sistine chapel that was almost entirely hung with gigantic cross stitch pieces (ok showing a distinct lack of appreciation for those... whatever those wall hanging carpet looking 
things were...) Anyway back to the Sistine chapel... Having lived with a smoker (my dad) I can say i know how smoke discolours the roof paint... sad though that it virtually enshrouded such magnificent work for so many centuries before the restoration work was done in the 90's... Great depictions though, i really recommend going to see them, but also getting them explained by a guide... especially a guide with a degree in Art history! really useful to help in understanding the work - like in the last judgement which is on the far wall of the Chapel, the fact that Mary is depicted looking toward those coming up from earth towards heaven, illustrating her role to pray for those on earth, Jesus is depicted as being constantly moving - indicating the dynamic nature of God, there are those poor souls trying to get into heaven who clearly didn't make the cut, as well as those enjoying the fruits of their worthy earthly existence.there is loads more to say - but very very cool - much better to go and see it yourself!
Anyway after loads of fun in the Vatican Museums we
decided to head off for another adventure in the Vatican - this time to the top of the dome of St Peter's Basilica. Took more than a wee bit of coaxing on my part to get my slightly less intrepid female companions to join me, with the possible exception of the Abster, who was excited about a wee surprise she wanted to show me at the top. We elected to take the lift up the first 200ish steps, and then from there walked the remaining 500ish steps to the 
top. A little claustraphobic on the way up, and wouldn't be an entirely pleasant experience if you were 6ft or over, or girthly challenged, but i'm not tall, and nor am I a fatty so it was fine ;-)
decided to head off for another adventure in the Vatican - this time to the top of the dome of St Peter's Basilica. Took more than a wee bit of coaxing on my part to get my slightly less intrepid female companions to join me, with the possible exception of the Abster, who was excited about a wee surprise she wanted to show me at the top. We elected to take the lift up the first 200ish steps, and then from there walked the remaining 500ish steps to the 
top. A little claustraphobic on the way up, and wouldn't be an entirely pleasant experience if you were 6ft or over, or girthly challenged, but i'm not tall, and nor am I a fatty so it was fine ;-) You get to the inside of the dome and have an upclose view of some quite amazing Mosaics (you would never think they were mosaics from the ground... just paintings with extraordinary depth! - again showing 
a lack of Art knowledge here...) Quite stunning pieces though, I think 
they were meant to be cherubs... whaddya reckon? (see left for distance, right for detail)
a lack of Art knowledge here...) Quite stunning pieces though, I think 
they were meant to be cherubs... whaddya reckon? (see left for distance, right for detail) The view from the top of St Peter's is of course superb, and entirely worth the climb, regardless of what it does to your leg muscles the next day! We had a wee wander to the top and a good look out over the vast city we'd spent the past couple of days exploring via bus and feet, and felt grateful our accomodation was only a block or so away! 
It was about then, that Abbey let us in on a little secret she had been saving for us, ever the 
comedienne and one to proffer a significant challenge, she let rip with an almighty torrent of putrid rear ended discharge. Thankfully I have lightening fast reflexes and was able to hold her away from me so that the gush down her leg didn't find its way onto my nice clean shirt. She smiled at my skill in avoidance, and
then gave me a look as if to say "what's your next move - wise-guy?" I simply smiled back and looked hurriedly (I resist saying 
frantically) for somewhere we could put her down atop a crowded dome. Crisis averted though, I think all were satisfied that the job was well done, and we stopped a moment longer to admire the Vatican gardens, before winding our way back down the dome and back out into the dwindling day.
It was about then, that Abbey let us in on a little secret she had been saving for us, ever the 
comedienne and one to proffer a significant challenge, she let rip with an almighty torrent of putrid rear ended discharge. Thankfully I have lightening fast reflexes and was able to hold her away from me so that the gush down her leg didn't find its way onto my nice clean shirt. She smiled at my skill in avoidance, and
then gave me a look as if to say "what's your next move - wise-guy?" I simply smiled back and looked hurriedly (I resist saying 
frantically) for somewhere we could put her down atop a crowded dome. Crisis averted though, I think all were satisfied that the job was well done, and we stopped a moment longer to admire the Vatican gardens, before winding our way back down the dome and back out into the dwindling day. Dinner was back to our favourite restaurant of Rome, just around the corner from home... a brief stoppage en route to organise our ride the next morning to the airport, which was organised by a very friendly taxi driver who knew a guy, who knew a guy who had a van and was only too happy to take us for a small fortune. All good, we got there, which meant we got back here (Nottingham) safe, sound, and on time. Back to work the very next day for me! D'oh!!!
Have to say for Mez, Abbey and I, that we had a simply marvellous time, have thousands of precious photos and memories that we will take with us throughout life... truly what life is all about! My only concern off the tail end of that was - when is our next holiday!!!
posted by Ryan and Mez at
12:07 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home