Do We Need Our Passports?

After another good morning rehearsal, we loaded into the buses and headed off to another country...The Vatican. There we saw many statues, tapestries, frescos and amazing architecture. The Sistine Chapel was breath-taking (sorry no photos allowed inside the chapel). Then into St. Peter's Basilica...huge and beautiful. For some energetic souls it was up to the Cupola (domed roof) of the Basilica. A climb of 540 of the weirdest spiralling, crooked angled, tight fitting steps you would ever come across. If you survived the claustrophobia, you emerged outside on a catwalk with a gorgeous view of Rome. Others who did not want to partake in this adventure, wandered St. Peter's Square or visited the Catacombs where all the Popes are buried. We then boarded the buses and headed off to the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia conducted by Antonio Pappano. This wonderful orchestra performed Verdi's "Aida", Liszt's "Concerto for piano no. 1", and Mahler's "Symphony no. 1 ". This is the hall that we perform in on Monday. Back on the buses to a late Italian dinner in the hotel and off to bed. Rehearsal comes early you know.