Primo Giorno

So people got pretty smashed for our last night in Munich.  Had a good time at the Hostel bar again, before going to another bar area.  We had to get up pretty early though, to check out, and leave.  Had some food and drink and Yarmas before boarding the Luftansa airport bus.  Made the mistake of getting off at the wrong terminal, and had a far walk to the other terminal.  We checked in a little too early though, because there is nothing to do on that side of the airport.  Except two crap airport stores and a small food stand we were forced to deal with.  This airplane was delayed, because the plane getting to Munich was delayed.  A common recurrence with us already.  We didn't have to go through customs or anything, so we didn't get any Italian stamps in our passports :(   Our driver was waiting for us, and whisked us away to Trastevere.  I don't get how these people drive their big vans like maniacs in very narrow streets, but they do, and boy are they aggressive.  We checked out our new apartment digs, which is a very nice two story flat, with two studio type suites on the upper floor area.  We explored our neighborhood a little bit, and got a panini since we were starving.  Then we were off to walk to St. Peters Square, only to find out the visiting hours were over, since a papal concert was at 8 or something.

We went to a Pizza by the slice place featured on Anthony Bourdain's "The Layover" for dinner, and I had some pizza composed of prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, and tomato.

We walked to the Vatican entrance, chilled before it was our reservation.  And then we were off.  It's just amazing how empty it was, when you first get in there. Not hordes of people, lots of comfortable room to see pieces of history.  The Egyptian museum collection it whatever, but the Villa Excacvations at Tivoli, showing Hadrian as a Pharoah/Roman soldier statue's were cool.

We actually stopped in the Belvedere courtyard this time, so I got to see my Laocoon and his Sons sculpture.  It's just astounding seeing all the historical sites and stuff.

Whether its the Belvedere Torso, or the famous Discuss thrower statue.

 But this time we made sure to visit the Raphael Rooms, and boy do they not disappoint.  I thought they we're going to be small or something, but the paintings are ginormous and cover the whole wall.  From the Room of Constantine, to the room featuring the School of Athens, the detailing by Raphael and his assistants is insane.

We blazed through the Borgia apartment, and the Collection of modern art before we could get to the Sistine Chapel.  The first you notice, was how empty the chapel was.  Of course all the seats are taken, but instead of dealing with 200 people on the floor all looking up and bouncing each other, you are on the floor with less than 50 people.  The guards don't have to yell as much, but they like to tell. They also love scolding people for using their cameras.  After this, everyone was really sleepy and we needed a taxi ride back to the apartment.  It's kind of sad that we're essentially staying in the loud and party part of the city, and today is the only day without rain, and that we're all in bed before midnight.  But that's life I guess.

Arriverdeci