Day 39 – We cross another border, into the world’s smallest state . .

Set in about 109 acres with 25,000 visitors per day, Vatican City gives you the impression of being more of a financial centre, but its heart still beats blood and life through the veins of the world’s faithful.

Last time I was in Rome was in 1964! Whoa – time needs to slow down methinks. I’m fast becoming part of history!! A few memories still linger from that school trip. One being the hotel soup. Miniscule pasta twirls swirling around in big bowls of thin warm water. Swimming cheek to cheek with tiny “bogey” size pieces of meat. Aimlessly doing their best to numb the ravenous appetites of a bunch of teenagers used to having piles of “English” chips with everything.

Randomly stopped and engaged in polite conversation by Fernandez, a young Sri Lanken. We suspected a hard sell. However, his recommendation to sign up for a guided tour proved to be good advice. The queues were really massive. Our party of twenty, lead by Sabrina, by-passing them all.

She took us for a walk through the museums. It was not a cakewalk. No time to stop or stare. Phones and cameras cranked in unison. A ten-wide column of snap-happy by-passers. Hundreds of thousands of objets d’art. Too many to take in or capture. And why would you? It seems that the Italian Renaissance period went crazy for art. Especially religious art. I was reminded of the 1970s 10cc line – “Art for art’s sake, money for God’s sake”. True or what?

Since 1506 the Swiss Guards have been the official Popes’ Protectors inside the Vatican. They saved Pope Clement VII’s life. Been paying for it ever since.Their fighting gear obviously cut to ribbons in battle. Sewing not their forte.