Short day in Vatican City

I got to St. Peter's today but had to cut my day short as the cold I have is beating me down.  I think it might be divine intervention.  I was thinking of staging a protest outside of the Pope's window to (1) say that women should be allowed to enter the priesthood and (2) that priest should be allowed to marry.  Perhaps God thought it would be too much for the Pope to handle, so he took me down with a cold.

Listen - - - I'm just saying.....

Anyway, I did get to see the square and Saint Peter's Basilica before I got all woozy from the combination of the summer heat and my stuffy head.  I was coherent enough to take in the beauty of this church and, again, the over abundant display of wealth of the Catholic Church.     Which is something that just doesn't sit well with me, but those are thoughts that will wait for another day and another post...  For today, just enjoy the pictures.  

St. Peter's house stands on the spot where he was crucified and buried. His grave is under the main alter.   There are also several Pope's buried here as well, and Pope John XXIII is actually displayed in a glass coffin.  I could't take a picture of that, it just didn't seem right.  

The layout.

The rules for entry.

Apparently this is a new rule...

The roof of the "front porch"

Looking out from the front porch...

Mr Fancy Pants

Tomorrow my Hershey, PA friends Pamm and Marilee arrive for a 3-week visit.  We will spend time visiting a few towns in Tuscany, visiting their extended family and eating way to much.  We will also be spending a week in Sicily - where we will definitely have to taste the cannoli...  It will be good to see some familiar faces from home and to hear fluent English for a change.