Vatican City is the world’s smallest independent state, an ecclesiastical state ruled by the Pope. With a total area of 0.17 square miles and a population of approximately 882 people, it is the smallest sovereign state in the world by both area and population. I got up very early so I could avoid the crowds and get a clean aerial photo of St. Peter’s Bascillica and Square. I did not go into any of the museums or chapels as I hope to share that experience with Jeanine on a future visit.

One of my personal lifetime goals is to have visited the same number of countries as I have years of age. It is a way of incentivizing myself to get out and experience the world. My visit to the Vatican City today put me one over my age, and later this summer Jeanine and I will be visiting Northern Ireland, which will put me at two plus. Another goal it to have visited all the US National Parks. More about that in a future post.

Castel Sant’Angelo.

Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II.

Piazza del Popolo.

A typical street in Rome. Notice the numerous rooftop gardens and crowded narrow streets. Unlike other major cities I have visited in the past few months (Prague, Sydney, Christchurch, Auckland) Rome was not all that I expected. Certainly, the history, the architecture, and the art are unmatched, but the city itself is dirty, noisy, and chaotic. As someone who is half Italian, this is hard for me to write. During the course of my two days here, I have seen at least 500 police men and women suggesting either a major problem with crime or a fear of attack, neither reason inspiring much confidence. To be balanced in my perspective, there are moments when you walk into a square and the view just takes your breath away. We have nothing like this in the United States.

The Spanish Steps and the Trinità dei Monti.