First, let me again thank everyone at Viator for the amazing experience that will stay with my daughter and I forever. She said to me just yesterday, “Dad, it’s really just starting to sink in what an experience the Vatican tour was. I mean, do you know how cool that was to be alone in the Sistine Chapel?” I said “Yes dear, I’m just starting to realize it myself.”

When I wrote for the contest I said, “It’s probably as close as I’ll ever get to Heaven.”

Standing alone in the Sistine Chapel with all of the beautiful artwork and a complete sense of the presence of God, I truly felt like I was already there. It was at that moment that I felt so sorry for the mass of people that see this room and never get to experience the solitude.

I’ll tell you the story as we have been telling it.

We arrived at The Bronze Doors as instructed 15 minutes prior to our tour time. It was a beautiful day in Rome and construction workers were busy replacing the sidewalk in front of the entrance. After waiting a few minutes, we asked one of the workers if we were in the right place. He said we were, but the museum was closed for the day. We became a little concerned and went to the exit where the crowds were still streaming out. We talked to the guard there and in our best Italian and his best English were informed that “Yes”, the museum was closed for the day and “No”, there was no such thing as a “Private tour of the Vatican”. Silly tourists.

We went back down to The Bronze Doors and began to worry. It was almost 6:00pm, our tour time. After all, this was April Fool’s Day and the prize was almost too good to be true. Was this an elaborate hoax? No, it couldn’t be. We had received numerous emails from the great people at Viator confirming this. Yet here it was, almost time with no guide or tour group in sight.

I sent my daughter down to the other corner to see if she saw someone from Viator. As she walked off, dismayed, a beautiful young Italian woman came running up and said “Are you Mr. Thie?” What a relief – it was Maria, our tour guide. She was right on time and explained that the other five people had forgotten about the time change and were running late. The other five? I was thinking, “Well, where are the rest of them?” Surely there had to be more than five. Nope -it was going to be my daughter and I, Maria the guide, and a small group of tourists from Germany. Fortunately, I speak a little German, which helped break the ice.

The April Fool’s joke was on me and I’m glad it was.

As we entered the Vatican Museum I began to realize what a unique experience this was going to be. As we were escorted by the Vatican guard we entered room after room of beautiful artwork. Simply amazing in grandeur and history. I stood in awe thinking about the number of people who had been here throughout time. In America, we don’t have this sense of history. Two-hundred years is nothing compared to this. Anyway, our Vatican guard was extremely nice and opened several windows that gave us views of the grounds that most people don’t get to see. My favorite was the view of Vatican City Radio.

As we entered the Sistine Chapel, I was absolutely floored. Here was the magnificent room made so famous in the Dan Brown novel The Da Vinci Code and numerous Rick Steves videos, but there was something missing. Oh yes, the people. Standing there with that small group in complete silence you could almost feel God’s hand in yours. The Last Judgment loomed before us and you could actually feel the power of it. St. Bartholomew holding his own skin and the ferry across the river Styx were particularly stunning and formed a mental picture I will never forget.

As we began to leave, I couldn’t resist holding back and soon my daughter and I were alone in the Sistine Chapel. Alone in the Sistine Chapel…Do you know how many people have ever had that experience? I bet not many. The guard at the door gave a knowing wink and nod as if to say “You lucky guy! It’s really cool, but it’s time to go.” That moment will last forever.

Thanks does not begin to express my gratitude to the fine people at Viator, especially Scott, Dominique, and Maria our guide. If you want to experience the Vatican in a truly unique venue, I would highly recommend this tour. You’ll never, ever forget it.

While we were in Rome, we also went on two other Viator tours: Angels and Demons and the Colosseum. Although our group was larger, around 25 people, they were both great tours. We were still spoiled from the Vatican.

Being a Dan Brown fan, I found the Angels and Demons tour particularly interesting. Our tour guide, Sarah, was not only knowledgeable, but entertaining as well. She made the tour truly enjoyable. As we wove through the streets and churches of Rome, you could feel the novel unwinding, as the Illuminati mercilessly killed and branded the four cardinals. Good book, great tour.

The Colosseum tour was also fascinating. I was not expecting much – after all it’s just half of a decrepit building in Rome. As we skipped the lines, passing hundreds of tourists waiting for tickets, I began to feel better. Our guide made the tour interesting with his facts and stories. He was very careful about sorting fact from fiction, which made a lot of sense to me. As we entered the interior, I gained a true sense of history and grandeur of this monument. There was a newly renovated display of the gladiator’s armor throughout the years. Highly interesting.

We left the Colosseum and proceeded up Palatine Hill and then walked down through the ruins of ancient Rome. Extremely interesting, but my mind was elsewhere…I was still standing alone with my daughter in the Sistine Chapel.

Thank you again for this most wonderful experience.

-Tom Thie