Tuesday October 7, 2008 - more Rome spring of my heart - and Vatican City

This is how they clean the Vatican - with a vacuum cleaner of course!




Waiting in line at the Vatican...



Penis's lopped off by Pope Pious - my mum told me this story - you were right mum!

Quinn very excited by the mummy.

I have taken a few things from Italy; firstly you can’t help but be fascinated and in love with it and dream of coming back even while you’re still in the middle of a visit. The church in Italy is an interesting phenomenon; nowhere else in the world does the Catholic Church have real control of the state. On the train to Rome we met an amazing young woman, a university student studying law her name, Liza – I mentioned her earlier; and she really criticized the churches hold on Italy. I heard the chant I have myself chanted in many pro-choice rallies in my day – not the church, not the state, women must decide our fate – and as I pondered a church run state I felt a chill – this time, surely must be over – move on Italy, grow up! It is perverse how easily controlled and manipulated the Italians are, and they say Australians are apathetic! The Mafia in the south and Bellasconi – with a strong influence in the media – strong as in owning it – in government and the church in Rome overseeing all things. It makes you wonder why if the church has that much power, it doesn’t help do something about the Mafia – I’d guess that they are evilly connected. Unfortunately, the church has always been dazzled by money; and the Mafia knows how to make it.

Vatican City Museum is one of the best in the world and for five hours it had us transfixed. Hamish got up at 6.30am and headed out of the apartment and stood in line outside the Vatican – at 7am I woke the boys and we raced to get ready to meet him in the queue. The doors open at 8.30am and we were there at about 8.35am – Hamish was just about to go in and we just made it. It was an excellent idea and we entered the Vatican with only 30 0r 40 other people to start with so from the word go we had a chilled out experience and we were able to see everything without the crush of humanity which was waiting in the queue to come in.

The Sistine Chapel was amazing and Iggy had specially asked to see it so we were delighted to take him there – he then sent a postcard to Lucy at school with a Vatican stamp on it – he was so excited to do this when we explained that Vatican city has it’s own special stamp! Then he and Quinn laughed about how they thought Lucy would cry when she read about the Sistine Chapel and Quinn did a great impression.

Iggy was truly impressed by Vatican City and it was great to take him there –Quinn was completely unimpressed – he’s four – what can I say. It was a great time for us as a family and we have really grown into this experience. I am really proud of the children.

After the Vatican we moseyed around Villa Borgayse – which becomes quite a seedy drug and sleazy sex hot spot later in the evening as we were quick to discover and escape. But before it was horrid we went rowing in a really lame pond and the kids really liked that.

The kids played soccer while I walked through a Gallery exhibition called the Big Bang – which was great. I met them later post major soccer fun and we got lost and after a few distractions stumbled on the Spanish steps – which weren’t much chop by my reckoning – a lot of the tourist things in Rome are aimed at shopping – piazza shimazza I say – I don’t want to be attacked in such a capitalist way – Europe shits me with it’s constant money suck – it can leave a bad feeling to see gypsies begging in the street – they don’t accept under $20 Australian dollars those cheeky gypsies – and Luis Vuitton, Prada, Versace – I can’t justify it in my mind – it’s plain and ugly wrong!

Then we found Fontana di Trevi and it was wonderful, beautiful and packed with people sharing joy and goodwill – this is the Rome I love, such a great place. The children loved the idea of throwing money over their shoulder into the water and we had to hold Quinn back from diving in and retrieving the coins and not just ours – no matter how rationally he tried to explain ‘but we’ll be rich mum!’

We dragged our sad and sorry asses back to the apartment and everyone hit the bed without a whimper, too tired. Two days in Rome 12 hours a day dedicated to unlocking some of the city for ourselves – we did well – very bloody well indeed; tomorrow Barcelona.