The World's Smallest Country

The Vatican - 0.2 square miles with a population of 770, none of whom are permanent residents. (I should have asked for a stamp in my Passport when I was there!) It has its own postal system, armed guards, radio station (KPOP), mini-train station and helicopter pad. Not bad for a country with no permaent residents.

Our last day in Rome, we went to visit the Pope's home. It was a Sunday and it was free Sunday and it was crowded. The Vatican musuem which you have to go through to see the Sistine chapel is only open from 9-1pm. So, get there early and not have to wait in much of a line, right? We got there at 8:30 and we didn't get into the museum until after 10am. A long wait, a long line - in the hot sun. At least there were some interesting people.

My favorite? There were a group of what appeared to be HS/early college girls from the Northeast (I assume New York) who were with their teacher or chaperone of some sort. They were about 10 feet in front of Jane and me. The teacher was loud and funny, but dignified and classy - if you can be all of those at once. First, I started laughing because the teacher started a bet with a Euro entry fee on how long they would wait in the line before they got into the museum. I almost asked if I could get in on that action.

Second, we were in a very long line and some people do not enjoy waiting in lines - they like to cut in line. A man attempted to cut in line in front of this group of students and the teacher nicely, but forcefully, said "No Way, Buddy. No Butting, go to the end of the line like everyone else and she personally escorted this guy arm in arm to the other side of the barricade and towards the back of the line. It was hilarious. It became ever more funny when she said similar statements to 5-10 more people. There were some nuns that kind of cut in but she didn't say anything to them...just kind of looked at them and let them pass. They probably have a get in line free card anyway!

The museum was interesting. It is 4 miles worth of ancient statues and Christian art and paintings and at the end of the tour? The most famous painting of them all - Michelangelo's Sistene Chapel. I've never really been a big art fan, but I thought the waiting and going through the museum was worth it once I got to the chapel. Maybe it's because I'm catholic. Maybe it's because I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Either way - It was gorgeous. While in there, I just kept thinking about what it would be like with all of the world's cardinals locked in there for prayer to vote on the next pope. I was not able to get any photos of the chapel because they are not allowed.

After the Chapel, we went to St. Peter's Square and Basilica. It's excatly how it looks on TV and how you hear it described in books. The church is impressive. As the largest church in the world, it is massive. The statues of angels would seem like giants to most normal sized men. Thousands of people walk around with their eyes looking up (towards heaven). You really can't believe how large it is. You can also go to the top of the dome for an impressive view of the city. Amazingly, there are no skyscrapers in Rome. There is a law that no building can be taller than the dome of St. Peter's.


The most disappointing aspect of my trip to the Vatican was that I did not get to see the Pope. There was a small oppotunity from a family friend who is becoming a priest and was studying in Rome who offered to get Jane and I tickets to the one of the Pope's next addresses. However, after some miscommunication, it did not happen. The Pope was in Poland anyways when we were there. That would have been awesome though - maybe next time.