[INSIGHT TRAVEL - EUROPEAN GRANDEUR] - Rome, Day 2

DAY 19 - SEPTEMBER 18, 2000
ROME, ITALY - HOTEL ALBANI
ROOM 503

Talk about your hectic days -- where on earth did all these people come from? Jubilee Year indeed, the Church had better be able to tell everyone later on where their entrance fees and such have been distributed. The sheer volume of money involved blows the mind away!

LisaH routed all of us out of our beds early, in an effort to get us out of the hotel at around 0800H so as to secure a good place in the Vatican City queue. What met us in the breakfast room was utter chaos. We were mixed up with at least two other tour groups that were also heading for the Vatican! Such a carrying-on as to drive hotel staff to the brink of insanity! After a hearty breakfast (none for others, though) we were rushed to the Vatican Museum.

On the coach, LisaH gave us our game plan. Most of it hinged on whether the access door from the Sistine to St. Peter's would stay open so we could shoot straight through and not have to return in the afternoon. At the drop-off point, I'm quite sure Dmitri's heart stopped for several moments when Elaine knocked herself on something and fell -- she stepped off the bus as Dmitri was making the final adjustments. She's all right, though, if somewhat shaken, as I know Dmitri probably is, too. She did manage to finish the tour this morning in fair enough condition, so I'm hoping everything works out.

The Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum are more lovely than I remembered. Who would have thought those dingy ceilings and walls could turn up such brilliant colors? Restoration on the Sistine has rendered it positively breathtaking. Apparently, a good number of people are inclined to agree with me -- the Sistine was jampacked with any number of tour groups. Including one led by Alice San Juan and Fr. Larry Tan -- of all the people to meet in the SISTINE CHAPEL!!

Our guide for the day, Daniella, was the same one who handled Mom and Dad on their previous Insight tour. She actually remembered Ma! After we'd done the Sistine, Daniella shepherded us into St. Peter's. Five minutes after we entered the basilica, the access gate to the Sistine was closed for the day -- we were ahead of the last group of 15 people that managed to squeak through.

St. Peter's is now as dark as the Sistine is light. Mainly because the great front doors are kept closed now. Which is a shame, since the sunlight was always meant to come pouring down the nave, breathing life into the statues of Carrara marble.

On the other hand, such crowds! There were already a lot of people when I first saw this place, but even then, the sound of voices was still swallowed up by the huge cathedral. Not anymore...there was such a huge crowd in front of the Pieta that it would have been impossible to pray in front of it, even if one had the time to do so.

Having braved the semi-controlled chaos of the Vatican, it was time for us to head for the Colosseum, the Forum and our lunch stop before our return to the hotel. Somehow, it seems on this trip I was really able to appreciate these colossal monuments. The Flavian Ampitheatre has lost a lot of its former glory, not the least of the causes being the Roman propensity to recycle anything worth using. Initially it was the marble facings of the buildings. Then later on it was the bricks themselves. But even what is left is an impressive sight.

The Forum was hot -- the sun was out in full force and I have deeply kiess by the rays. Got a nice, up close and personal look at the Flavian and Hadrian arches; I really missed a wealth of detail the first time around.

Then at last it was time for lunch and not a moment too soon, as Ma was getting grumpy from the heat and the hiking. And who should we meet at the cafe but Nap Sayson, the father-in-law of Melma of Rajah Tours, who took care of our booking details, and Dad's golfing mate. We pulled up at his table and while I attended to the food, he and Dad happily chatted away. Seems Tito Nap was also on an Insight Tour, and his Tour director was John Gillespie. Only their tour started in Amsterdam and was working its way to Paris. We introduced him to LisaH, who was as pleased as punch with the information.

At 1400H, we were shepherded back to the hotel via the public transporation system under LisaH's watchful eye -- first by train, then by bus. It was a hot and tired little trio that made its way back to the hotel room, only to discover -- oh, horrors! -- that the room hadn't been made up yet! Fortunately we managed to collar the chambermaid and the room was fixed in time for a proper rest before our optional night out. LisaH waid we could choose to dress for comfort or elegance, and said she was opting for elegance. So did I, and so did most of the others who were coming along -- we were a really spiffy group.

The restaurant was a cosy enough place -- rather like a brighter, Italian version of a beer cellar. Long tables -- and this time I sat with the younger members instead of Mom and Dad, which was what LisaH was hoping I would do. I enjoyed the night, getting better acquainted with Alex; and the songs and skits were funny and lovely by turns.

On the bus tonight, people found out I could sing, and there was a loud clamour for me to render a song. So I obliged them with It's Now or Never, and they very obligingly joined in the chorus. What can I say, after two glasses of white wine, I get showbiz in my blood. Heaven was merciful - it did not rain, nor did my voice break or tighten up on high notes. So it was center stage for me tonight, and it was grand to hear the compliments.

When we get to the hotel, I joined Joe and Franca, Greg and his Lisa, Alex and Fiona, and Jane and Brian at the bar/lounge. Rod and Rhonda were there too...we did a bit of general unwinding before going our separate ways, and it was, in review, an excellent way to spend a day.