the heart of christendom

 

a long day: the vatican museum and st peters (including climbing the dome) --- crazy long ticket lines all over --- i don't understand why people don't get tickets beforehand since that saves a ton of time ---

my favorite thing at st. pete's was the medieval statue of peter, all detail on his right foot worn absolutely smooth from a thousand years of pilgrims kissing and rubbing it --- it is one of the few things salvaged from constantine's basilica --- other remnants in the crypt, but most of it (as was too much at the forum, the vatican, and elsewhere) could only be glimpsed through barriers ---