My head full of angels and skeletons, I rounded out my second day in Rome with a visit to the supermarket called Standa, and bought some groceries to see me through breakfast, lunches and snacks for the next few days. It was challenging, but fun shopping in a store where everything was in another language. I picked out juices in aseptic packages, yogurt, cheese, crackers, and of course, the essential chocolate.

For purchasing produce, they have a very clever system where you weigh what you want on a computerized scale, then press the picture of the item (oranges, for instance) on the attached keypad and, viola! Out comes a printed label with the name of the item, weight and the total amount owed. So handy, and saves time at check out, too.

On my way back to the hostel, a woman walking briskly toward me stopped, and asked me, in Italian, for directions. Although I couldn't help her find her way, I was delighted: My second day in Italy, and already mistaken for a local! (I'm sure the Standa bag helped.)

I set out the next morning with another hostel friend. We visited about half a dozen bakeries trying to buy plain bread, but only sweet bread and pastry were to be had that early. Finally we found a nice baker who was able to sell me some rolls (to accompany my cheese for lunch). Then we joined the short line of folks waiting for the Vatican Museum to open.

I had been warned that the Vatican Museum was vast, but nothing could have adequately prepared me for art on this scale. Like an art history textbook in 3-D, familiar works appeared in abundance around every corner.

The Vatican Museum Courtyard

The terribly famous Laocoön, only one of countless enormously renowned works housed in the Vatican Museum.

Next: Vatican Bathtubs