The Vatican Museum

Friday evening I got into Rome completely exhausted. I checked into and paid for my hostel and promptly lost my credit card. After I dumped out my whole purse and insisted that the front desk staff must not have given it back, I found my credit card inside my passport. Not my brightest moment. After that, I was too tired to think, so I put down my stuff and took a nap. I woke up around six, which was nearly too late. The Vatican museum is normally only open during the day, but certain nights in the summer they open late. I had a prebooked and prepaid ticket for 7pm. But the desk staff warned me that the metro only runs until 9pm. This is pretty ridiculous. I later learned that this is only because of construction, but they’re closing at 9pm for a whole year. How on earth are people supposed to get home? If I lived in Rome, I’m sure I could have figured out a bus route to take instead, but since I’m only in the city for two and a half days, I really don’t have the time. So I was already annoyed, plus I hadn’t eaten since noon. I hurried to the metro station, and found a ticket machine. There were teenagers standing next to each of the ticket machines, which made me uncomfortable. When I started to buy a ticket, I was asked, “English?” and then given directions for the machine. The annoying thing is, the machine had an English setting, so I didn’t need help. To make matters worse, these teenagers were invading my personal space, and I was clinging to my purse. I gave up, frustrated, and walked away. Once I had my personal space back, I decided I’d better see what I could of the Vatican Museum before 8:30pm, and then ride the metro back before 9. Even if I didn’t see much, at least I wouldn’t have wasted my ticket. I went back to the ticket machines. This time I told the teens I didn’t need help, but they crowded me anyway, and asked for money as soon as the change came out. I was so frustrated at this point that I snapped “NO!” and walked away. It’s a good thing those kids didn’t come any closer. I was ready to start screaming for the police. Generally I feel bad for the beggars in metro stations, but not the ones that get in my space, and especially not when I haven’t eaten in hours.

I finally made it to the Vatican, and I was impressed, although I’m sure I’d have enjoyed it more if I had eaten dinner first, and if I hadn’t been so worried that I’d miss the last metro home. I’m a fan of statues, but they had so many I could barely glance at them as I walked by. There were rooms full of statues that would make any museum proud, and there are so many in the Vatican Museum that you barely have time to look. There’s just so much there. 

I don't know who the sculptor is, but there's a piece just like this in Washington, D.C.

 

It was a really good time to see the Vatican Museum. Even though some things were closed, I was the only person in some of the rooms, which made it worthwhile. I love that feeling when you’re in a museum that’s nearly empty. It almost feels forbidden. Plus, it’s much cooler and quieter, and that always makes me feel better.

 This room looked like the inside of the White Witch's castle in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, with all the animals turned to stone. I think I read somewhere that C.S. Lewis actually based that room on this room, but I can't remember where I read that, so I could have just made it up. Either way, it's a cool room.

I also saw the Sistene Chapel, but you aren’t allowed to take pictures inside. There are these bored-looking security guards whose sole job is to stand inside the Sistene Chapel and say “No Photo!” every time some tourist pulls out a camera. It’s really funny. People keep trying, despite all the signs that say no photos are allowed. I didn’t find the Sistene Chapel as impressive as I’d expected. It’s beautiful, and it’s impressive that such great painting was done on the ceiling rather than on canvasses in a nice studio, but somehow I thought it would be bigger. Plus, I’m really hard to impress when I’m starving. I made it out in time to catch the metro, and I finally got dinner.