The Vatican & Mercato

Every last Sunday of the month, Rome provides free tours/entrance for The Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and other various museums around the city in order to keep Rome. The tours are free in order to keep the city civil by letting the people who cannot afford the tours to visit, learn, and explore. 
The pour student I am, was able to go with AUR at 9AM this Sunday. Waiting in line for 45minutes (give a little more) was totally worth it. Walking inside, we had to check our bags, walk up a few flights of stairs...then BAM! Rooms beyond rooms of statues, coffins, and more statues. I hesitated to purchase the headphones that explain each and every item in the museums, and decided not to rent...which I regret. It's hard to appreciate all the art work when you don't know the background of it. Everything was cool to look at but it became simply 'statue after statue' without complete knowledge.

This being said I still had a wonderful time. I was able to see/read/learn about ancient Rome.

Emperor Claudius 

I want to go again before I leave because it was hard to appreciate every room in one day. Favorite part was The Sistine Chapel. Walking in the crowded room, everyone's heads were cranked back. I stared for a good ten minutes, trying to absorb the fact that I was able to experience, and see live- the famous part of the ceiling- where God is reaching out to Adam. I searched for Michelangelo himself..no luck. Is that even true?

THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR: The crazies trying to sell you a tour- they 'can sneak you up in front' so you don't have to wait in line. However, this is highly illegal and they have no true knowledge about the things except from reading in a book.

Wear comfortable shoes- Libby

MERCATO EXPERIENCE:

Libby and I had only one banana to last us until tomorrow (our first day of classes eek!) and knowing that the markets are closed on Sundays we thought we were S.O.L. However, there is one mercato open 7 days a week until 8pm. After The Vatican, we got lost (naturally) trying to find it. Of course I did (I am quite the navigator). Walking in the store was no where close to a Rainbow/Cub/Festival. There was one whole aisle full of wines but no over-the-stove popcorn? Come on Italy. 

Paying €28.40, we walked out with eggs, bananas, pasta, sugo in a jar, mushrooms, yogurt, chicken, nesquik, and cookies. Nummers