Fugitives in the Vatican...

Having cooked/consumed an equivalent of five consecutive bowls of pasta last night, I carbo-loaded myself for today’s trip to the Vatican. Vatican City is the world’s smallest country, and it is surrounded by a thick brick barricade within Rome. The line to even get into the Vatican was ridiculously long; luckily our instructor was able to get us “reservations.” Initially, we were asked to leave the Vatican because of protocol issues, and some students thought that we would get deported like fugitives! Luckily, our professors were able to handle the situation; they truly go the extra mile for us. I was really surprised by the amount of security present—i.e. metal detectors, Swiss guards, etc. Then again, it’s where the Pope lives, and safety is a must.

We toured the museums of the Vatican via headsets—this communication was sort of telepathic in a sense, and our art history instructor served as an informative tour guide. We went through exhibits that covered paintings and sculptures from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Seeing works of art from Raphael and Michelangelo first hand was incredible. The class nonchalantly breezed by the modern art section before heading to the Sistine Chapel—a fresco masterpiece. Before leaving the Vatican, we stopped by the bookstore for a couple of souvenirs and admired the pristine view from the papal courtyard.

Waiting for peers near the courtyard fountain.