My last day in Rome started like the plot of a sitcom.
I woke early and decided to shave on the balcony out of deference to the roommates. I use an electric razor and it can be noisy at times.
Out in the fresh air, I removed the front face plate to empty the stubble and watch the plate fly out of my hands and tumble six floors down to the courtyard below. Quickly, I made note of where it had landed and raced down the stairs. Running around the corner, I saw the face plate not ten feet in front of me. I also saw that construction worker that poured a whole bucket of rubble down upon it. Turns out that they’re remodeling the courtyard and this was their trash pile.
What could I do?
I borrowed a shovel and spent the next 15 minutes excavating my razor. Honestly, I’m surprised I found it and that it still works. I had to toss one of the three rotary blades, but two will hold me until get home.
Finally showered AND shaved, I returned to the Vatican. I had yet to go up in the dome over the altar. In buying tickets, I had two choices: use the stairs or pay more and use the lift. I’m young, fit, and healthy; I chose to take the stairs.
I’m also now very sore.
There are over 600 stairs to the top of St. Peters! 300 to the interior of the central dome, 320 more to the cupola above. The stairs to the cupola were especially treacherous. A twisting, narrow path that had me climbing hunched over and turned sideways. It was like spelunking to the top of the basilica.
The view is well worth the effort.
I used the last of my film taking shots of that include the entire city of Rome. I spent an hour looking down on history and waiting for the light to be right for shots in certain directions. I also spent a good 30 minutes being crushed against the railing by a large group of junior-high kids from Moderna. If there was a limit on how many people could safely be up there, I think we exceeded it by half. Thank God for old world craftmanship.
Descending, I went back inside St. Peters to see the Pieta one more time. There, I encountered Julia – a British tour guide that has studied Renaissance art for the last 5 years. I learned so much more about the fabulous works in the Vatican. She offered to take me on a tour of the Vatican Museum, but I had to decline. I needed to get back to Termi in time to catch my flight home. We did have time for a nice lunch before I came here to talk to you all.
This is Joshua, signing off from Rome.
Ciao bella,
3:15 PM Rome time