Today, I woke up very early because it was too damn cold to sleep. I just looked through all those pictures we took in Venice, Paris and Rome, deleting most of the ss pictures by the girls.

The morning here is so peaceful, no honking of vehicles. The view was so nice complemented with the fresh air. Really a nice place to study. Well, Julian's room was not as grand as I expect it to be. Took a picture of it facing the cupboard and door.

At 4PM, we both went out to roam the town and I bought some DVDs to burn the pictures as the netbook was to be returned to him. Okay, the town is not a place for girls, no shopping at all. It was a freaking small town. A year there for me is okay thou. ^^

We took our breakfast, lunch and dinner at this Chinese restaurant. Three meal into one, a plate of fried rice. =.= That's economical. Well, nothing to do, so just went back and sleep.

Today's the day I returned to UK, but first, the long waiting game, at the airport and the train station. I was already at the Rome Termini at 8AM and got my tickets to Ciampino. Reached the airport very early, a bit too early.

On my way to the airport, I finally saw the last of the four papal basilicas in Rome - Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, which I missed visiting yesterday. A bit regret why I did not went there. T.T

Waited at the airport for 6 long hours before I was finally allowed to board the plane. One last Ryanair flight. ^^ The plane took almost 3 hours to reach Stansted, a bit of delay. I passed the immigration with ease, albeit some questioning. =.=

Took the Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale and got onto the London Tube which transfer me to Euston north-bound railway station. I had an hour to spare but nothing to do. After the wait, I finally boarded the Virgin train to Preston. Changed train there and I was 15 minutes away from Lancaster.

Julian was already waiting for me at the station and we went for supper, a pizza takeaway. Damn the food is uber-cheap here. =.= GBP2 for a 9 inch Margherita. It's already after 12AM by then and we just went back to his hostel.

It's quite cool here, very nice weather with a bit of rain. A big contrast to the hot Rome. I will take the 2 days here to rest and maybe go to have some walk outside. ^^

Today is World Museum Day and the Vatican Museum is offering free entrance. I, for one, would not let this opportunity go. ^^ I was already on the way out at 7:45AM, reaching Vatican at 8:30AM.

What welcomed me was a long line of queue. WTH The museum open its doors at 9AM and the line is already speechless. I waited in the line for 90 minutes and finally got to enter the compound at about 10AM.


The was a security check as usual. Paranoid humans at work. =.= The place is too valuable perhaps. The holiest place on Earth. Well, it wasn't so strict after all. Everybody got pass it.


Reached the ticket booth but all were closed and we just enter to the upper level. A signboard welcomed me and I did not choose the right route. =.= Because I chose the left one that leads me to the Sistine Chapel.


First room I entered was the exhibition about the Egyptian stuffs. ^^ My favourite, and quite comprehensive as well. The best I had seen thus far, but wish for better at British Museum next week. As every Egyptian exhibition, there are mummies on display.




There are also statues of ancient goddess and also spiritual animals that linked to the good and bad. Familiar names such as Osiris, Isis, Horus, Anubis etc flashed in those description boards.


From the balcony, I was also able to get some great pictures of the lawn with the St Peter's Basilica dome as the background. The flow of tourist had just increased.



After some time out in the balcony, I proceed and enter another exhibition hall one floor higher. As expected, the were wall paintings and also the nice ceilings.





I was already lost when I entered this room with many sarcophagi. Damn, I should had get the audio device with map. =.= Never mind as few rooms later I found my way again.


And yeah, there were gold everywhere. I wonder how there are so many poor Catholics in the world when Vatican is so fucking rich. The collections of Vatican worth billions and yet some people are starving. Yet, I pay for the souvenirs. As Nigel said, "Religion is opium of the society."



I was able to get some nice view of Rome from the highest floor of exhibition rooms. The rooms are almost similar with more wall paintings and drawings on ceilings. The following 120 meter corridor exhibits carpets (or something I forgot its exact term), map paintings and many different types of cupboard (some opened for display, some are locked).










Then, there were more paintings and beautiful ceilings. The people in Vatican just don't get bored with these stuffs. =.= Wall paintings, ceilings, gold, and much more stuffs impractical to daily life.







After some walk, I stopped by the cafe just before entering the Sistine Chapel. The tastiest bread I tasted in Italy, and it's cheap too. Total cost for that meal - 4 Euros.


After exiting the washroom, I entered the famous Sistine Chapel. Too bad no photos or videos allowed, and you guys need to visit it yourselves. Nothing much actually, just a room crowded with people and guards shouting "no photos and videos". There are much more beautiful church out there in Rome, easily beaten.


And there is this corridor where I was able to see how's life inside the Vatican. It's paradise. The pope will be long life living there. =.= More wall paintings and ceiling drawings followed with more exhibits in the rooms that followed.






Approaching the exit, there is this outdoor cafe which is quite a nice place to have some tea. I did not order anything but went out to have a look at the Vatican Gardens. Tourist are only allowed into the garden with reservation.


Across the cafe, there is this underground exhibit of the official carriages of the pope, then and now (not so now). Those carriages are so grand. Popes really lived a lavish life, since the beginning of Vatican.



After the carriage exhibition, I entered another room with more exhibits. But the room is too small and I can't get photos for some articles which was too large. =.=












Outside the Pinacoteca room, there is another balcony which faces the St. Peter's Basilica. Got some nice pictures there before proceeding to the last 2 rooms.





After the philatelic and coin exhibition, I bought myself some souvenirs from the Vatican Post Office just before the exit. Sent the postcard home and hopefully it will reach Malaysia - a country most Italians never heard of.



Leaving the Vatican museum with satisfaction but exhausted, thus canceled my plan to visit the Basilica San Paolo. Went straight home from the Museum, sitting the Metro for one last time. ^^