ITALY JOURNAL ENTRY
September
14, 2001
ROME, ITALY
Tony met us in at the port and drove us to Rome. His strategy was simply...go to the Vatican, and once in, do not pass go but run straight to the Sistine Chapel. This strategy was eagerly adopted by Andrew and Alex. When we arrived at the Vatican, Tony knew of a side entrance. He walked us up to the entrance past the crowds in line, spotted a guard and chatted with him. The next thing I know, the guard opens a special door and we are in the Vatican. On one hand, I felt uncomfortable "cutting" in front of the people waiting in line but on the other hand, I felt vindicated. (You see, back in 1981, I stood out in the cold in front of New York's Studio 54 but was never let in!)
OK, back to the Vatican. Tony's strategy was a wise one because when we arrived at the Sistine Chapel, it wasn't too crowded. By the time we left, the Chapel was full of people. The last time Mike and I had visited the Vatican was back in 1990 on our honeymoon. The Sistine Chapel was under renovation then so we saw very little of the ceiling. It took my breath away to see the chapel cleaned and restored. We all wanted to lie on the floor and look up but the guards wouldn't even let people sit on the steps.
Before the kids saw the ceiling, they were drawn by Michelangelo's rendition of "The Last Judgement" painted on a wall of the Chapel. We stood there for half an hour as the kids peppered us with questions. "Why is he being thrown down into the Pit Mommy?" "What does it feel like in the Pit?" "Can you ever get out?" "Is the debul (Alex's term for devil) happy when the people come down?" "Do people try and hide so they don't have to go?" And on and on went the questions! This theme is repeated in much of the art we see today and further along in the trip and each time it is a Schwartz stopper as we have endless questions about the "Pit." Mike and I are hoping the "fear of God factor" will come into play when the boys are teenagers!
At long last, Andrew and Alex looked up toward the ceiling. "Wow," said Andrew. Mike and I now know from our travels that "wow" is a ringing endorsement vs. the dreaded, "whatever." The kids wanted to know what was happening in each scene of Michelangelo's frescos, so my years of Bible study classes paid off! Andrew said it was as if the figures painted on the ceiling were reaching out toward us. (Mike and I cling to these moments when the kids actually get it!)
After we left the Vatican, I asked Alex if he would like to live in Italy. He thought for a moment and said, "I think I prefer to live in a country that is a Superpower." So much for my Tucson dreams!
Back to reality...the California natives were getting restless so Tony suggested the boys take on the Roman Forum. I drank coffee as the boys ran around the Forum using up some of their endless energy. The story of Caesar and Brutus caught the attention of the boys and we saw the alleged spot where Caesar uttered the words, "Et Tu Brute."
After a visit to the Trevi Fountain and a taste of gelato, it was time to go back to the ship.
--------