Days 11 & 12 - The Vatican City & back to Malta!

Our last full day in Rome was spent in our neighborhood...as our apartment was literally steps away from the Vatican City. Because we were so close, we opted to risk not getting skip-the line-tickets for the Sistine Chapel. The prices for the Vatican were higher than I remember- regular admission was $20 each, with the skip-the-line option coming in at nearly double that price. Instead, we got up bright and early and headed over to the ticket line 30 min. before opening, and there were perhaps onl ya hundred people ahead of us? (Not a big deal at all). So the gamble paid off, as we purchased tickets within 5-10 minutes of the posted opening time.

Because I was still sick, and not dying to see the entire museum again, I opted to rest with my dad (who was also sick) back at the apartment once we waved goodbye to them. We figured Rich was the best option (with this built in GPS) to ensure that my mom and Ryan would see all the main museum attractions and the Sistine Chapel as quickly as possible (and they did, they even walked through the Chapel twice)!

 The highlight of the Vatican, according to Ryan?

"The cafe in the museum was the best!"
         -Wise, sophisticated, future historian...Ryan M.

We met up with them three hours later just outside the exit of the museum, and then entered the Vatican city through the main gate together. It had been steadily drizzling all day, but it was now reaching the level of needing to wear our ponchos. Thankfully, the line going into St. Peter's Basilica was moving quickly, and once again, we were inside the chapel within 20 minutes of getting in line.

The colonnades bordering St. Peter's Square/Basilica

Where the masses congregate to see the Pope

With all the um...scandals going on with priests preying on children...we were on high alert with our child. We weren't gong to take any chances letting him out of our sight!

Entrance to St. Peters Basilica

 

Believe it or not, Ryan wanted to go down into the grottoes and see the tombs...which I would've been fine skipping after our lovely walk through the catacombs in Malta. However, I'm glad he excitedly insisted, as it was quite beautiful, serene, and we got to see a few dozen of the hundreds of former Popes entombed there.

Although I would've liked to have climbed up the dome (I did it with Rich about fifteen years ago), it was now almost $10 pp. Paying $50 to climb a few stairs, with almost no view because of the rain = skipped it! However, we did get our obligatory viewing of the Swiss Guards as we left the city...

The next morning, our journey back to Malta should have been simple- check out of the apartment, hop on a subway train (then a bus), ride a plane for an hour or so, then grab a cab or bus to our hotel. Unfortunately, I was extremely nauseous getting off the subway that morning, and that had me dry heaving in a hotel bathroom sink across the street from the bus station (while waiting for our coach to take us to the airport).

The bus ride was even worse...lots of stop and go in traffic, so by the time I got off at the airport, I was green. I made another 3-4 trips to the bathroom in the Ciampino airport to dry heave again. 

We boarded our Ryanair flight in the pouring rain without incident. Rich had paid a little more to get priority boarding, which helped us ensure our bags would get on. But the plane ride did not help my motion sickness, and I felt ill most of flight, but managed to not dry heave. Once we touched down in Malta, I recall feeling okay enough to get on the bus to our hotel.

Unfortunately, the bus was PACKED and the ride was another stop-go affair for another 45 min. At this point, I was officially feeling both disgusting and homicidal with rage at how long it was taking to get to our hotel, and doing my best not to throw up on the moving bus. By that point, I'd thrown up about 7 times already and was just OVER being sick.

Back at the Malta airport...a cute, quaint place.

Luckily, with the help of a kind stranger, we found our beautiful apartment for the night within 10 minutes, and we all loved our beautifully modern room.  It was located in the St. Julien's area, near the harbor, and had I not felt horrific, I would have loved an evening walk along the water. Rich and my dad were kind enough to source out our final meal in Malta- an international affair (sushi, cannoli, bleu cheese/arugula burgers/fries). They went a little overboard, but it was good, as I had recovered enough to be able to eat (I can usually rally when food is involved).

Rich, Ry and I's digs for the night

We loved our apartment, it had a massive kitchen/living room that almost felt cavernous and a great split system in each room. After our traditional home in Malta with it's deteriorating furnishings, linens/towels, stinky bathroom...we were doubly grateful for, and enjoying the niceties of our Italian and second Maltese digs. Though we all much preferred the second modern apartment we had in Malta, we all agreed our location in Valletta couldn't have been better and was worth the discomfort in the traditional home.

It was a wonderful way to spend our last night in a beautiful country we had had a memorable and peaceful time in.