We had a lovely day in the home of El Papa in Roma. Musei Vaticani was as fantastic as always. My favourite continues to be the Galleria delle carte geografiche, the amazing long gallery painted by Danti between 1580-1583. The golden frescoes on the ceiling are just incredible and the maps – commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII, make this space, I think, even more fantastic than the Cappella Sistina. The Musei was pretty crowded but our wait in line worth it once we entered. Michelangelo’s artwork is unquestionably spectacular, but it always intrigues me how people rush past all of the treasures and don’t even stop to look at what must be the most amazing collection in the world.
I was very excited as the Vatican hadn’t given away their Chagall’s – they were hanging exactly where they should have been. I know that Capella Sistina is amazing, but personally, I always find it so stark and do hope they bring comfy chairs in for conclave. Always crowded, the security makes so much noise telling everyone to be quiet, for me, it loses some of the feeling of a sacred space. I had not known the Stanze di Raphael was the residence of the Popes between 1507-1585 – I was rushing this morning and tipped my cup of tea all over the wall in the hotel – imagine doing that to the Raphael frescoes.
One really should wear ones glasses. I was convinced our flight back to London left at 8.45pm – no it was 6.45 – I have never gone so close to missing a plane !! Wouldn’t it be just terrible to be stranded in Rome!
We arrived back into Heathrow and collected our car. Well a few years ago my children remember the total saga of picking up a car in Paris on a Friday evening and not being able to get the damn thing into reverse. We had to make sure we only drove forward, until a kindly elderly medico helped by jumping into the car, laughing and driving off waving (he did bring it back) and madam (neither of them spoke English) was in fits of laughter on the side of the road – whilst this madam was in floods of tear after travelling with four L’enfant terrible. Well this time we are in Reading. Totally dodgy neighborhood. We pulled into the golden arches – because I had almost caused us to miss our flight we hadn’t had anything to eat since the morning so we decided we would succumb to salty chips. Anyway, we pulled into this dark commercial area with a whole heap of feral kids with car bonnets up. I obviously don’t get out much cause Lyd told me the same types hang out around Coles – anyway the hoodies, tatts and metal (and that was the girls) made me feel slightly anxious at 10.30pm at night. We ran in got something to eat, came out and started the car up – well do you think I could work out how an hell to put the thing in reverse – we searched the car for books, flicking lights on and off. The car in front of us contained hoodie wearing, delinquent looking UK types and we could see them staring. Well, impressions can be so wrong. We eventually decided that they weren’t going anywhere and we couldn’t go forward so I climbed out (of the locked car) and went and said ‘ I know you are going to think I am really weird by I can’t work out how to put the damn car in reverse’ – out of the shadows came these very cultured young men (not) who climbed into the car – I did think for a moment he would steal the car and Lydia, but no, he was totally delightful – they all thought it was incredibly funny and Lyd is now reminding me of my judgmental ways – they couldn’t figure out why and earth we had left Australia for cold, boring old England
Today’s drive through the Cotswold’s to the home of the Bard of Avon was pretty damn gorgeous. I had never been to this part of England and the gardens of Anne Hathaway’s cottage really looked like a postcard. We drove across picture perfect fields through the Venice of England, Bourton on the Water, and had lunch in a lovely old pub overlooking the idyllic village scenery.
Well we went from honey golden old stone to tonight’s fantastic ‘grand design’ house near Bath. We have the house to ourselves and it really is so stunning. I have been out in the garden with the camera. The awards that it has won and the architectural magazine features are all downstairs and I am looking forward to getting out with the camera again tomorrow.
It really has been 24 hours of total culture change!
Sleeping under the stars 
Loving your stories Mandy Moo……have just read the whole lot to Annie who is driving the car. ps and she knows how to reverse!
KR