Vatican City

The tour of the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's basilica and the Vatican museums started at 8.00 a.m. Or that's what time we were supposed to meet the guide. Google maps allowed 35 minutes from our apartment but they meant 35 minutes jogging. We got to the meeting point red faced and sweating.

This has to be one of the most crowded places on earth. It was hard to get back to take a photo without doing physical damage to yourself or the people squeezed up against you or all of the above.

Once inside there were treasures galore. The tapestry above is very pretty and the ceiling below colourfully delicious.

The senses are constantly assaulted by more gold, more mosaics, more naked angels. More, more, more.

I liked the serene face of the woman below and the pale pastels were a relief after all the bright colours.

The boy in the black cap is Raphael. He painted himself into a larger scene called the School of Athens. He was nineteen at the time.

He also painted his friends into the scene. The figure with the long white beard and pinkish robes is supposed to be Plato but it is really Leonardo Da Vinci and the back haired dude in lilac lounging on the front left of the picture is Michaelangelo.

We were whizzed from gallery to gallery by our vivacious Italian guide. She breathlessly informed us as we squeezed past the crowds that the church was closing half an hour early today so we had to sharpen up the pace. Easier said than done. All the guide groups were in the same position and we were all trying to bash our way through the sea of human flesh in front of us. After all, we had paid good money to see the Sistine chapel and St Peters. We didn't want to miss a thing.

As we flew through the more modern galleries I spotted this dear little sculpture and the Matisse below. There were lots of modern paintings in these galleries full of gifts to various popes.

I'm pretty sure this is a Picasso or it might be another Matisse. We didn't have time to stop. I also saw a Salvador Dali out of the corner of my eye.

And then we had the glory of the Sistine Chapel. It was worth all the undignified pushing and shoving. It is the work of a genius. The ceiling took Michelangelo four years to finish and the blue wall at the back another two years. Apparently he almost went blind painting as he hung straddled from the ceiling. I was only in there twenty minutes and my neck was aching from looking up. I remember the last time I was here you were allowed to take photos. But not today. It has to stay in the memory.

And then into the church to see the wonderful Pieta. I remember when I saw this the first time when I was sixteen you were allowed to reach up and touch Christ's foot. Now it is in a bullet proof glass box. You have no idea how long it took me to get this shot without a selfie stick or a couple of heads in the picture.

It isn't just tourists inside. These people are the devoted who come here for spiritual succour.

We are allowed to take photos inside St Peters because there are no fragile canvases. Everything is either glass, metal or stone. This lovely little Saint is made entirely of delicate mosaic tiles.

And then were outside. It was over. It had been an intense experience.

Just time for a photo opportunity across from Castel Sant'Angelo before a well deserved lunch.