Olwyn and Fred Thursday 3rd June

Heading for the Vatican for our 10.30 booking we decided to set ourselves up with a day pass on the Metro. Our B & B is a convenient few minutes walk from the Termini so we trundled down there and after some observation of how the system worked we plunged into the fray........with success!
Our booking was not for a guided tour, just a queue hopping entry booking, but well worth it, saving us a couple of hours standing in the queue and a couple of good hints from the guide. We started with the Museum. Mmmmm, 2000 rooms.........! Needless to say, the artworks to be viewed only use a fraction of those rooms, but took us all of 2 hours oooohing and aaaaghing over magnificent works and exhibits till we eventually ended up in the acclaimed Sistine Chapel.....wow
From here to St Peters and who should we bump into as soon as we entered (no Culhane, not the Pope) but California Coes!!!! How crazy is that in all of Rome and amongst the hundreds of others trailing around the Vatican!!!!
The grandeur and magnificence of St Peters defies description. I think it's really more than something to view, rather, something to experience! Fred says that to date this is the highlight of his trip. And Emily, yes; the Pieta is breathtaking!
Just as we came out of St Peters, the rain started, so a quick huddle to eat our long overdue lunch, then with brollies in place a very interesting walk past lots of shops selling Vatican and Rome memorablia back to the Metro. We snatched a fab coffee (just 1 euro each!) at an amazing little corner shop which seemed to be a confectionary and specialty goods shop - Freddie bought (by weight) a huge chunk of the creamiest chocolate which we proceeded to munch as we walked.
A quick change of clothes into warmer and more weather proof clothing then back on the Metro and over to Russell and Mary's where Bruce and Diana had already assembled. What a lot of catching up we all had to do and then downstairs to a nearby restaurant who was a little startled to be asked for a table for eight. We assured him we couldeasily fill half an hour at the nearby bar till he could accomodate us. Fred eagerly engage the barmen here and gleaned mcuh "useful"information about Italian beers. Back to the restaurant and a fabulous dinner. Fred went bold with a starter of Carpacchio for our table of four(phew how delish!!), Russell had suckling pig (succulent it looked and smelt), Nick a hearty plate of steak (he'sbuilding up before the start of his summer athletics training), Fred had a very tasty Greek style pasta and me, the beautiful Asparagus Ravioli.
You know how it goes when the Coes get together; so much talking and laughing and suddenly we were running for the last train. Too late, then the station attendant had to run to let us out of the locked underground! Taxi a good option at that stage for us and safely home about midnight.