World Tour 2002

 Introduction 
 Boston 
 Williamstown 
 Grove City 
 Louisville 
 Calgary / Banff 
 Prince George 
 Vancouver 
 San Francisco 
 Las Vegas 
 Los Angeles 
 New Zealand 
 Thailand 
 Rome 
 Venice 
 Vienna 
 Berlin 
 Oslo 

Rome

19th December - 21st December

I arrived back in Europe at about 6am, and went through the usual rigmarole of passport control, luggage reclaim, currency exchange and all. By the time I got to get a taxi to my hotel, it was 7:25, and I noticed that if I just stood there for 5 minutes, I'd avoid the night surcharge of €20. (£13.56, $21.23). So I did that. The taxi driver seemed a little amused, though. My hotel was just on the far side of town, so I also got a free guided tour of many of the city's landmarks.

I got to the hotel at about 8:30, and was told that I wouldn't be allowed to check in before 2pm. So I dumped my backpack and went exploring. I saw the Colosseum, Trajan's Column (which, if I recall, celebrates the Roman Empire's final conquest in what is now Romania), the Venetian Palace and a centurion with a mobile 'phone, among other things. Then I headed back to my hotel to check in.

After a shower, a shave and a change of clothes, I felt quite a bit better, though still not up to eating anything. I headed over to Vatican City, because I've always intrigued by the idea of a country within a city. On the way, I met the Emperor Trajan. Anyway, after a while I cross the Tiber, and enter Vatican City. I was rather disappointed that there was no passport control at the border, but I suppose that would be annoying for all the commuters. Still, I'd been looking forward to getting another stamp in my passport.

It was about evening by the time I got to St Peter's Basilica, which lead to some nice lighting effects. Unfortunately, it was too dark inside for me to take photos, so I had to go back the next morning. I'm not a good enough photographer to go it justice, but it's one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever been inside. I mean, it really took my breath away. Awe-inspiring.

I paid €5 (£3.37, $5.26) to look around the museum / vault / reliquary, and saw some dead popes, and the skull of John the Baptist. Although I couldn't actually see it, because it was covered in gold. But they promised it was in there. There were lots of sceptres, rings, brooches, robes and all sorts of cool stuff. But they wouldn't let me take a souvenir, and photography was forbidden through most of it.

Then there were the Swiss Guard. I suppose that their dress uniform isn't really an sillier than the Household Cavalry's, but I really couldn't stop thinking of them as 17th century university students. And the halberds don't look like they'd be too much use, either. The Italian police, in their bullet proof vests, with metal detectors and guns looked like they were doing far more to protect the Pope.

I didn't do much else in Rome, because I wasn't feeling well. But after a couple of days, I caught the train up to Venice, the start of a leg that would see me get all the way to Oslo by train.