The Vatican Museums and Sistine chapel

This is a rather large succession of photographs.  Far fewer even,  than I could conceivably post of these rooms at the Vatican museums.  I am told the Vatican is not called the Vatican by Italians... But anyway, I highly recommend the early tour.  We took a small early tour by Viator. and were only 8 people in our group.  We entered the museums one hour before the public.  It was a very slow day, unusually slow we were told by the guide.  It was a great way to see the sights before the masses arrived.  These are some of the various rooms we went through.  If you have been you will remember the beauty and ornate decor of the walls themselves.  Beyond ornate.

This extremely long gallery was stunning.  Along the walls were maps of the districts around italy.  Created anciently and are very accurate even to todays standards.

 Walls like this were everywhere.  Painted by the masters and others unknown.

 Ceilings like this. Fantastic

 Floors with detailed mosaics, some brought here from Ostia Antica which I visited and posted about earlier in November.

 Walls 

A pep through a keyhole to see one of the Swiss Guards on duty.

 a "simple" corridor

 St. Peter's square, Christmas tree being set up.

Inside the basicilica, a mass was in progress so the lights were on.

The ceiling in one area at the from of the basilica.

Ceiling 

A great walking day in Piazza Del Popolo and Spagna

It may have been a bit cloudy and a little drizzly but it was a warm day and a nice one to see the Christmas season blossoming into high gear.   We walked these delightful streets with stores that were getting ready for the holiday rush.  some lovely narrow side streets and rather village like in parts.   Here are a few sights from the area.

This is 34, the restaurant we found as a recommendation form a local cooking supply store. I had a superb fettucini with a truffle sauce, my companion had a gratined gnocchi, fantastic and it arrived bubbling hot, a delicious smoked swordfish that was a salty rendition served with olive oil, avocado and pickled onions, and an Ossobucco with Polenta that was smooth and creamy.

View from a Bidet

Yes, the title is correct.  This is the beautiful view out of my bathroom window from the proximity of sitting on the bidet.  I had wondered why the bidet was situated in such a way that you nearly have to climb over it to get to the actual toilet.  I should have taken a photo to represent this.  The two were located in a small narrow corner of the bathroom, the toilet protruding out from the left wall and the bidet perpendicular pointing out from the wall that forms the corridor.  So I literally had to climb around the bidet to get to the toilet.  Once I finally opened the window it was more clear that perhaps this was positioned for the optimal view.... Who knows but that makes the most sense to me :)