Review: Western Med Jade cruise Nov. 1 -12, 2014

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I'm sure you have seen this picture before!:

 

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timed out

Edited March 18, 2015 by QuattroRomeo

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Exiting the Pantheon, there are little shops across the square:

 

 

Life goes on just around it:

 

 

 

en route to our next stop:

 

 

 

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From that unassuming entrance to see this inside- incredible!:

 

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Although it was in low light, and very high up, the exquisite Bernini sculpture ‘Ecstasy of St. Theresa’

 

 

 

 

 

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There was at least one beggar at every site with a stairway!

 

 

Another building at the same intersection:

 

 

 

Walked by these on our way to the van:

 

 

On our way to the next stop:

 

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The church on the right of this square is our next stop:

 

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Santa Maria del Popolo:

 

 

Another grand interior:

 

 

 

 

 

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And then off to our next stop.

 

 

 

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Piazza Navona:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Our big van on the right:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Time for lunch! Maurizio booked us a casual place for a quick bite.

Delicious carbonara all around, plus house wine!

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch, we head for our Vatican tour! From inside the van, you can see how the big windows allow for a good view:

 

 

 

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Approaching the Vatican.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Maurizio delivered us to our guide, and we headed in to get our tickets from the reservation desk.

 

 

 

Passed through the security scanner:

 

 

 

 

 

Our guide leading us up the escalator to start the tour.

 

 

 

 

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One of my favourite photos! :

 

 

 

Isn't it too soon to start shopping??

 

 

 

 

 

Now it starts to get crowded!

 

 

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Our guide took us to the courtyard first for an orientation talk:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sculpture by Pomodoro:

 

 

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We then started our walk down some very long hallways filled with old treasures. A sampling:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The first of way too many fancy bath tubs for the rich and famous in Roman times!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Old mural maps of Italian regions:

 

 

Venice of course!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We entered the Sistine Chapel, which was very crowded- standing room only. Some people sat on the steps that run around the sides of the room. I think every inch of ceiling and wall was covered with some type of art! I found it a bit much, but still fascinating to see in person. No photos were allowed in here, and the security guards managed to make more noise than the crowd did, when they kept yelling 'Silencio!"

 

Next, we headed outside to go to St. Peter's Basilica. The Pope had a public service earlier in the day so there were still rows of chairs out front.

 

 

 

The Vatican gift shop actually had some souvenirs that were not overpriced.