St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City, and our visit there meant that we've (Chee Hui and I, at least, Nicholas went on his own) seen the world's second and third largest cathedrals. The largest is in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, and I don't realistically think I'll have a chance (and the money, at least in the foreseeable future) of getting there.
A Swiss guard in the Vatican. These are mercenaries, but one of the most reliable mercenaries on hire anywhere in the world. In 1527, these stout-hearted soldiers fought to the last man the rampaging troops of Charles V in the Sack of Rome, delaying them in order to give then pontiff, Clement VII, enough time to escape. Clement VII was infamously hustled out of Rome buried in a cart full of dung.
Nuns come to see the Pope on Wednesday, when the Pope holds his weekly public audience. Appointments have to be made in writing the week before. I'm not sure if you have to be Catholic. Anyway, he's in that screen there, somewhere.
Piazza San Pietro, and for me, the famousest of squares in Rome!
She's Egyptian, 2900, and fast asleep. I hope I've gotten my facts right, and I haven't added the two additional zeros for the fun of it!
One of the many splendid frescoes in the Vatican Museum, not surpassing of course those in the Sistine Chapel, where photography wasn't allowed. This one here depicts the final victory of Christianity over paganism, represented respectively by the crucifix and the broken Roman sculpture.
We weren't sure if we had to bring our passports along when we visited the Vatican - it being an independent state within Rome.The smallest state in the world is impressively equipped with their own postal service, and can boast as well one of the friendliest postal staff anywhere in the wide world (as occasioned by the wiry man at the counter, who very kindly agreed to pose for this photograph).
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