I was really spoiled in Rome. Not only did I get experience it with locals, learning the rhythms of their neighborhood, but I also got to experience it with a friend who blew through town for a few days, wanting to explore as much of the city as possible. It was great to be with another tourist, especially one who had just watched a large number of documentaries in preparation for the trip!

One of the places I probably wouldn’t have dragged my friends and their baby, and wouldn’t have wanted to experience alone, was the Vatican Museum. Thankfully, I’d been warned beforehand that the lines are insane, but it’s totally worth the wait. I’d also been warned that the amount of incredible art inside would be overwhelming.

Yep.

These are just a sample of my photos. They don’t try to capture the art, or the scale, but mostly share snippets that entertained me – statues with resting bitch-face, the death star, the map room, that moment when my friend realized he was looking at The School of Athens, the crowds. We couldn’t take photos in the Sistine Chapel, but could stare at the ceiling (hoping not to bump into anyone or fall over or pass out) for as long as we wanted.