I visited the Borghese Museum, the Museum Julia and saw a number of Etruscan sarcophagi. The highlight of the day was taking a bus out to see the Roman catacombs. If you ever get a chance to see the catacombs, my advice is to bring your own flashlight and to not let people rush you through them. The is good advice for any new or even seasoned traveler. Whether it is a professor, a tour guide or the other visitors there is always a certain amount of pressure to hurry through a site. Don't get too trapped up in this. You have likely traveled a long way and saved money to see an interesting place. Take your time. Listen to the silence, pause, absorb the experience. Let the flash-and-go photo takers do their thing and wait for them to move on. You may never get an opportunity to do this again. The catacombs are a place I won't likely forget.
July 16, 1995 (Sunday)
Visited the Vatican--Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo's works, Piazza St. Peters, St. Peter, Porta Prima Augusta, Discobolos, Doryphoros, Huge Roman gallery, Tombs of Popes. As I went through the Vatican I remember being very disappointed that we could not take pictures or video, although I did notice that some special people were taking video. I guess I didn't pay enough money to do that! One thing that struck me were the bronze statue of Peter I believe, and his foot was nearly worn off from people touching it. I remind people at the Kelsey museum of the power of touching artifacts over time, and that experience with the bronze foot that was nearly worn away. I was morbidly fascinated as I viewed the dead popes. I was also awed by the incredible beauty of the statue called Pietas.