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Vatican City and the Baker's daughter

Happy Anniversary to us. This morning we had planned to get up early to get into the Vatican museums without too much queuing, but since we were pretty tired from yesterday we slept in until 7. By the time we got down to the Vatican it was 9am and already the queue was around the corner from the entrance. It didn't open until 10 and who knows how long the queues were then!

Once inside they funnel you around through each of the different galleries and museums. We had audioguides which helped us to understand the architecture and masterpieces. The best parts were the Raphael frescos and of course the Sistine Chapel, but the downside was that the whole way through the whole place was rammed with people. We got a bite to eat in the extremely overpriced cafe in the museums and headed out to St Peter's Square. More queueing, and we were inside the massive basilica of St Peter. The scale of the place is just amazing. By the time we came out of the undercroft where the popes are buried, we were very thirsty and footsore. A gelati later and we are back at the hotel getting ready to go out again for dinner.

We had booked dinner at a lovely place in Trastevere, Romolo nel Giardino della Fornarina, but it was nowhere near the metro, so we walked along the river in the evening light to get there. The place itself is a charming old house with a beautiful walled garden out the back. Supposedly the house was where a baker's daughter who was Raphael's girlfriend lived. The food was delicious and the staff very friendly. After dinner we had a wander around Trastevere - there were heaps of people around in the bars, but no-one seemed to be overly drunk or anything. Looks like a nice place for a wander during the day though!

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