Vatican, Day 6

Our 2nd day in Rome was our last chance to complete our city tour before heading to Barcelona, Spain the following day. As we did not have enough time, we literally did not waste a single minute. So, we woke up early and immediately proceeded to our destination - Vatican - through a taxi hoping we could get there before the queue to St Peter Basilica piles up. Luckily, We reached the Basilica on time when the  queue was still light. The first thing that we did inside was to mount the cupola (dome-like structure) of the Basilica. The peak of the cupola could only be reached through the stairs composed of 320 steep and small steps and a space enough only for a medium-built man like me. Mija, being a claustrophobic, chickened out and stayed at the base of the cupola while I ascended to the highest stairs i have ever climbed in my whole life. I wanted Mija to come with me so she could also see the beauty of Rome viewed from above but no sweet talks could get the fear out of her system. The view from the peak of cupola was spectacular!

Up up to cupola!

Mija was all smile as she reached the 1st stage of the cupola.
She remembered this wall was mentioned
in the book Angels & Demons.

Mija's 1st attempt to climb the
2nd stage (peak) of the cupola.
From this point she backed out.

At first I thought I wouldn't fit here...

Spectacular! Breathtaking! Magnificent!

After descending from the peak we shopped for souvenirs at the cupola souvenir shop. Then we descended to the Tombs of the Popes. Cameras were not allowed inside but I still managed to get away with pictures of the tombs of my favorite Pope John Paul II and other great popes like St. Peter, Pope Paul VI, and Pope John Paul I. After the Tombs of the Popes, we entered St. Peter Basilaca and we took a lot of decent pictures of its magnificent internal structure. On the right wing of the Basilica we saw Michaelangelo's famous sculpture the La Pieta while on its left wing we offered mass for Lola Mary and my two uncles who all passed away late last year. We also heard an italian mass inside.

This is St. Peter's throne

The stunning architecture of
St. Peter Basilica

List of Popes

Basilica's isle

La Pieta

Tomb of Pope Paul VI

Tomb of Pope John Paul I

Tomb of the great John Paul II

St. Peter's Tomb

When we finished touring inside the Basilica we both went to the Vatican Museum whose entrance is a few meters away from the Basilica. Inside the museum was the Sistine Chapel famous for its architecture and its decoration that was frescoed throughout by the greatest Renaissance artists including Michaeangelo, Raphael, Bernini, and Sandro Botticelli. The highlight of the chapel was the ceiling as painted by Michaelangelo and the center piece "Creation of Adam".

Way to the Vatican Museum. Mija paused for a picture-taking and I choreographed her posing.
It would have been perfect if she raised her right arm against the wall ala bikini model. lol 

Adam's Creation - center piece of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Michaelangelo's masterpice

Looking tired but still managed to smile for a picture

Day 6 was a hectic day for us and we were both exhausted and our feet trembling from fatigue. After reaching our hotel we immediately hit the sack.