Day 22: Going Underground

Today is our last day in Rome, what can I say, I have liked it, but I haven't loved it. It is quite a dirty city with a lot of homeless and a lot of beggars with dogs, which pull on the heart strings. We have loved its history but hated its roads. 1. You have to take your life in your hands when you cross, regardless of traffic lights. Sandy and I always hold hands so at least we either both make it or both get cleaned up, so far so good. And 2. Those bloody cobblestones!!!

Twice I have rolled my ankle, and numerous times I have stumbled, as good as they look the practicality just isn't there.

After breakfast we made our way to The Vatican City as I had booked the special Scavi Tour. This is a tour I stumbled across somehow which is underneath St Peters Basilica where St Peters tomb and  his bones lay, a necropolis ( city of the dead)

We got there early as we didn't really know where we were going, and we had to put my backpack in the cloak room as it wasn't allowed on the tour. We approached the Swiss Guards who actually look like jesters( not sure who they are trying to scare?)

We were then told to check our bag in we had to get to the front of the line of about 4000 people all waiting to get in. This was going to be tricky because I knew people were going to think we were pushing in, but Sandy being very assertive just walked straight past the 500m queue, with me tagging along behind not making eye contact. We made it to the front of the queue with only 1 comment, mission accomplished. Note: to all who have paid extra for skip the line, you can do it for free.

Back to the guards and we were allowed in to wait for the tour. This tour is limited to 250 people/ week and there were probably 12 people only on our tour. We made our way underground, which was the original street level 2000 or so years ago, before they covered it with fill and built the Basilica on top, totally amazing .

We walked through tunnels where family tombs were, mainly the rich families, with mosaic floors and painted ceilings, where all the urns of family ashes were kept, mind blowing!!

After about an hour underground which was warm and humid, we found our way to St Peter, where his bones were found and still remain. We made our way upstairs to what is now the street level in The Basilica completely awestruck, it makes no difference if your are Catholic, Christian or Hindu the history of it all is still overwhelming.

So we didn't see everything in Rome but the 2 tours we had were particularly special and not the usual run of the mill tours. We leave tomorrow for the port town of Civitavecchia, where other adventures await...stay tuned!!