Rome diem quinque

This is a painting of the crucifixion of Peter

looking onto St. Peter's Basilica

a door to St. Peter's that is cemented shut except for one year in twenty-five. the next year is 2025.

the altar from which the Pope delivers mass

The mummification of a pope given sainthood

St.Peter's Square

Looking to the balcony from which the new pope gives his first speech

Raphael's "Transfiguration"

Today we toured the Vatican. The Vatican, which is its own state, is the smallest state in the world. I have had the rare experience of seeing a pope resign. The Vatican has territory spread out over all of world. We also saw the Sistine Chapel. In my opinion, the "Last Judgment" was more impressive than the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The reason that we didn't take any pictures in the chapel was because you weren't allowed to use any kind of photography or videotaping. After that, we went to Saint Peter's Basilica. The inside was magnificent, ornate sculptures covered it from floor to ceiling. Once the Vatican tour was finished, we came back to our hotel to take a nap. For dinner we had pasta.