September 17, 2024

Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, Roman Forum and Colosseum

This day was packed with sightseeing and crowds and rain, ticket confusion at the Vatican and, well, trying to keep track of my husband.

Imagine this. Shoulder to shoulder crowds in the Vatican Museum inching our way forward for a precious few minutes in the Sistine Chapel. Vatican guide at the front providing info through a headset; local guide bringing up the rear of our group. Mind you, we are surrounded. I look around and can’t find Jim. The group moves forward, no Jim. The rear guard asks me if someone is missing. Yes.

I turn on my phone, but Jim calls his sister. Multiple times. She hands the phone to me (multiple times) and he wants me to explain where we are… and how to get there!

Are you kidding me? The guide says, we can’t go back to get him because we will lose the group. Tell your husband to follow signs to the Sistine Chapel. Jim sends me a picture of where he is; I show the guide; he says Jim is on a different floor. Mama Mia.

But all is well that ends well…we reunite in the Sistine Chapel. Jim says – what took you so long…. ?

Three guesses where he was off to. If you guess that he saw a post office along the way (???) with no line and decided to buy some stamps, then you would be correct.

Seriously.

The Colosseum