Rome, Day Two

We were up well before our students on Friday morning. After breakfast, we used the time to scout out our planned morning walk. I didn't want to repeat the previous day's problem of being unprepared to navigate.

We located the Jewish Ghetto area of Rome via paper map without difficulty, and found all of the sites in the area highlighted by our guidebook. We then returned to the hotel for a bit of relaxation until the students caught up with us.

We led the group back to the Ghetto and the mini-lectures on the way went well. Students then had some free time, and most returned to the excavated Roman ruins, rather than focusing on the 20th century history here. We almost lost one, who wandered into a shop and lost track of time. But in the end, we got everyone back to the hotel.

At 11:30 a.m. we met our hired guide, Nino (ninoknows.com). Nino is quite a guy -- extremely knowledgeable and with considerable stamina. He is one of the few people who walks even faster than I when leading a group, and some of those with short legs were running to keep up! But he stopped frequently, pointing out things that might have otherwise gone unnoticed, and sharing a wealth of information about Rome.

Nino got us to the Vatican Museum exactly on time for our group reservation entry, got us equipped with radio receivers so that we could hear him amid the crowds, and helped us avoid the longest lines. He pointed out salient features of the Museum and got us all into the Sistine Chapel -- always an awsome place, even on this, my third visit.

We entered St. Peter's Basilica via the "Holy Door" that is only open during the "Holy Year of Mercy" declared by Pope Francis. Students were getting tired, but still hung in for Michelangelo's Pieta. But by the time we reached the high altar, their brains were fried. I sort of had to intervene to get Nino to wrap up, or he could have gone on for hours more. He is very passionate about these sites.

Some of the group elected to remain in the area of the Vatican to look around on their own. Most followed us back to the hotel. After resting up a bit, we had a very nice meal at a little restaurant not far away, but off the beaten track. We appeared to be the only Americans in the place.

We didn't walk as far today as yesterday, but standing to listen is perhaps even more tiring. We were ready for bed early, as there is more touring in store tomorrow.