I've just seen a really funny "white van"

Oh I wish I'd seen that! Did you manage to get a photo jings?

When I read your post out to my DH, he said, Good, he deserves business with that sense of humour

Brilliant!

My camera is broken, and I can't get photos to load onto here from my Ipad Mini.

Ok!

He is memorable, then!

We were driving behind a white van once. The van was very dirty and someone had written in the grime - "also comes in white."

I love the Cistine Chapel van - he deserves a lot of work (smile)

Not being pedantic – but, actually, yes I am. It's the Sistine Chapel, named after the fourth Pope Sixtus and even that doesn't sound as if it really makes sense.

Of, flip me!

You are a clever little girl. (pats absent encouragingly on head)

But did it actually manage to raise just a teeny smile absent?

I stand corrected. It is the Sistine chapel and not Cistine. I Googled Pope Sixtus and there are more than one which is confusing but I guess it was a saint's name that has been lost in time.

The spelling doesn't matter. It's the one in Rome. The one where you have to walk for miles to just get to the entrance of the building, and then they make you go through all of the museum bit before they eventually herd you into the Chapel itself. And then the ceiling tends to be somewhat underwhelming, due in part to your achingly tired legs which cannot be relieved because the seating round the edge is occupied by mothers and their children. [grr]

Oh and then you get to the long corridor where they try to flog you tat before letting you, at last, out of the sodding place.

(I succumbed and bought a plate featuring God's and Adam's reaching hands. It is a very nice plate, and cheaper than a picture)

Someone told me that -

a) The best time to visit the Sistine Chapel is first thing in the morning, before the tourists have had their breakfast.
b) Rush through the museum and make for the chapel.
c) Don't look at the ceiling until you are in the centre of the room.
d) Take a mirror with you - saves cricking the neck looking up.

We saw the Sistine Chapel after queuing for an hour and a half in searing heat one September. Actually I did rather enjoy the museum and the delayed gratification of the grand finale in the chapel itself. Even managed to sneak a few photos (NOT allowed!!).
this is the best way to see it though

I went to Rome some years ago and was disappointed.

Didn't manage to see the Sistine Chapel because the queue was daunting.

I found all the beggars very upsetting and there was a woman disguised as a nun (not a very convincing disguise) trying to fool the tourists. Also the competitive taxi drivers outside the airport were almost frightening.

Loved all the shops selling religious iconography though. It reminded me of Ireland.

Speaking of inspired plumbers etc., I saw an Asian firm with the slogan
"You've tried the Cowboys, now try the Indians." on the side

Somebody, somewhere might find that racist and offensive of course

Sorry, the van, not your post

They might - but it's very funny!

I was watching an old film the other day, and it suddenly struck me how horrific it must have been for native Indians to have to sit through all those cowboy films at the cinema.

As for the chapel - there's just too much going on, it's too busy to be able to take it all in. I mean, the decorations are too busy. You would need a year in there all by yourself. Ashtree's link is good.

Falconbird I like that. Yes it might be un PC, but if you are of Asian Indian origin it's a good joke and you are "allowed" to make such remarks.

Come to think of it most other ethnic groups make jokes about their compatriots idiosyncracies and national attitudes.

Probably not North Korea though, not aloud anyway.

Thanks for that link Ash Tree - saved me a few bob in plane fares etc.

Oh gosh yes! (About the beggars) We went back to look at St Peters after dark and there was a whole community of them sleeping under the cover of a building alongside the square. It was so sad!

I loved the tapestries, and some of the paintings in the museum, more than the ceiling really. I think the wonder of the ceiling is the fact that he managed to do it at all. Although it is very beautiful.

I want to go back.

That's the problem though, I would also feel that I needed to go back, just to take it all in. Like the Louvre.