Rome

Thursday May 15, 2008

Arrived in Rome at 1130 am, after an uneventful flight to Toronto then on to Rome. Once in the airport waiting for our transfer to the hotel we met a couple who were on the same tour we were who are from Medicine Hat. They know mom's relatives. Bev and Don, she is also a nurse. Small world! We got to our hotel after an incredible drive. The traffic is like nothing I have ever seen before, with traffic signals and stopping for pedestrians being only suggestions. Vespas everywhere. After checking in we ventured out to figure out the Metro. A 10 minute walk took us to a different station than we were looking for, but it worked all the same, just one stop down from where we intended. Took the Metro to the Spanish Steps in the Piazza di Spagna, which was full of tourists taking pictures just like us!

The Spanish Steps are a set of steps climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti. The Steps are without a doubt the longest and widest staircase in all Europe. The monumental stairway of 138 steps was in 1723–1725, linking the Bourbon Spanish Embassy to the Holy See.

Had a great lunch at Hosteria da Giggi, red wine and spaghetti with tomato sauce. So good!! We sat outside at a table in an alley and people watched. A fantastic introduction to Rome! Then on to the Piazza del Popolo, passing many designer stores. The Piazza del Popolo is the 'Square of the People,' with a huge obelisk made of pink granite.

Purple tongue from great red wine!

Just off the Piazza was the church Santa Maria del Popolo, which we explored. I can't accurately describe the towering pictures and stone carvings.

Santa Maria del Popolo is a notable Augustinian church. It stands to the north side of the Piazza del Popolo, one of the most famous squares of the city, between the ancient Porta Flaminia, one of the gates of the Aurelian Walls and the starting point of the Via Flaminia, and the most important route to the north of Ancient Rome.

In 1099, the chapel was built by Pope Paschal II to Our Lady, over a tomb of the Domitia family; since the people of Rome funded the building, the chapel received the name del Popolo, "of the people".

Then we ventured across the river Tevere to the Piazza Cavor and Castel Sant'Angelo. There is a huge moat around the castle with grass at the bottom, where many dogs were playing. By this point I was starting to get the hang of crossing the street. You just have to start walking, hope you will catch the eye of the driver, and they will stop inches away from you as Vespas speed around you and the stopped car. Rome is very overwhelming, churches, statues, traffic, smog and noise everywhere. A wonderful introduction to our trip!

The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building, initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum. The tomb of the Roman emperor Hadrian was erected on the right bank of the Tevere, between 135 and 139.

After exploring around the castle we walked up Via Virgilio to the Lepan Metro station. There was a train pulling up, so instead of checking which direction it was going we jumped on. Of course it was the wrong direction, so we got off and switched directions at the next stop. Once back at the hotel I had a terrible headache so I went to bed while mom tried to call home.

Friday May 16, 2008

We slept in until 8:00 am. Had breakfast, amazing fried tomatoes! Then we explored the gardens around the hotel. We then took a Taxi to Ancient Rome. As soon as you get out people are trying to get you to sign up for their tour of the grounds. We started at the Roman Forum, which was a good choice as the line was short and you could buy entry tickets to both the Forum and the Colosseum, and then you didn't have to wait in line. The line at the Colosseum was huge! We started with Palatine Hill. This was where in 753 BC Romulus killed Remus and founded Rome. We had a great view of Circus Maximus.

Palatine Hill. Rome has its origins on the Palatine. Indeed, recent excavations show that people have lived there since approximately 1000 BC. Many affluent Romans of the Republican period (510 BC – c. 44 BC) had their residences there. The ruins of the palaces of Augustus (63 BC – 14), Tiberius (42 BC – 37) and Domitian (51 – 96) can still be seen. Augustus also built a temple to Apollo here, beside his house.

Circus Maximus

Then we went down to the Roman Forum. From the 6th century BC to the 5th century AD the Forum was the centre of political, religious and commercial activities. I was thankful for an overcast day as it wasn't too hot and we could explore all day.

We went to the Colosseum and with our tickets didn't have to wait in line. Our bags were x-rayed upon entry. We bought books on Rome in the bookstore.

Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign (81–96).

Originally capable of seating around 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. It remained in use for nearly 500 years with the last recorded games being held there as late as the 6th century. As well as the traditional gladiatorial games, many other public spectacles were held there, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology.

Then up to the Mon Vittorio Emanuelle II building which looked like a giant wedding cake. We found a great cafe and sat at a table on the street amongst all the hustle and bustle, and ate margarita pizza. So good! I won't be able to eat pizza at home anymore, as is won't compare!

We walked up Via del Corso and found some great little shops. At the end of the street we stumbled across Trevi Fountain, which was so much bigger than I expected. I love fountains! We took some pictures but couldn't really get close enough to throw a coin. On the way back we had our first gelato, I had papaya and passion fruit and mom had coconut and wild berry. It was even better than I expected.

We found a Taxi and went back to the hotel to relax a bit before meeting out tour group for our orientation meeting.

Our tour guide was Dawn, who is originally from Scotland, now living in southern France. She speaks 5 languages, English, French, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. She has been working for our tour company Insight for 30 years. There are people in our group from Australia, the States, and Canada. After going over the particulars we went on an optional excursion to Trevi Fountain, a night drive and dinner.

Then we went to Piazza del Campidoglio which was designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti in 1536 - 1546, and took pictures overlooking the Forum.

Then we went to dinner at Ristorante al Gladiatore, which was across the street from the Colosseum. It looked so beautiful light up at night. We sat at tables on the sidewalk, while the owners sang to us accompanied by an accordion. The wine kept flowing as we ate antipasto, pasta pomodoro and several kinds of pizza. I tried mushroom and then eggplant. We had tiramisu for desert, which of course was nothing like at home. I think it was the best thing I have ever tasted, combined with the scenery and good company made for a spectacular evening. They even gave us a half bottle of their house wine to take home

Video

It was very late when we got back to the hotel as we had to take several detours as many roads were closed for a marathon the next day. We realized the hotel had internet in the lobby so we emailed home, then went to bed. We had a 5:30 am wake up call the next day.

Saturday May 17, 2008

Up at the crack of dawn to beat the lines at the Vatican. Had to go through security. Our local guide was wonderful. We saw the Vatican museums, the Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basilica, and Piazza St Pietro (St Peter's). Everything was very crowed. We had earpieces and walkie talkie type gizmo we wore around our necks so we could all hear the guide, cause we didn't already look like tourists!! They did work great. It was quite over stimulating trying to listen to the guide with the earpiece, look at what she is describing, take pictures and not get lost is the crowds.

The scale of St Peter's Basilica was incredible. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. I use that expression a lot to describe what I was seeing, as I was truly at a loss for words. It was so busy inside; there were many cruise ship groups there. We laughed as mom is going on a Mediterranean cruise this fall, and she will be part of the massive cruise ship descending.

Construction of St Peter’s Basilica began on April 18, 1506 and was completed in 1626.

The Pieta by Michelangelo was completed in 1499. This is probably the world's most famous sculpture of a religious subject. Michelangelo carved it when he was 24 years old, and it is the only one he ever signed.

Swiss Guards is the name that has been given to Swiss mercenary soldiers who have served as bodyguards, ceremonial guards, and palace guards at foreign European courts from the late 15th century until the present day. The Papal Swiss Guard in the Vatican was founded in 1506 and is the only Swiss Guard that still exists.

We then had some free time and ate pizza from a street vendor and explored some stores. Then the guide took us to Colosseum. Since we had already seen it the day before we went in briefly and then walked around outside, seeking refuge from the heat.

Then back to the hotel for a few hours rest before dinner out with our tour companions. Mom and I got sunburned and the Aussie's couldn't believe that this was the first time we had seen sun this year as our spring was so wet this year. Dinner was a 'Dine Around' which you pick from several menus and the tour guide drops the small groups off at each location. We had bruschetta, I had pasta pomodoro, as the included pasta was carbonara. Then we had several kinds of pizza. I asked for no meat, and as mom is allergic to mushrooms, so between the two of us we were a pain to eat with! Then was had vanilla and chocolate gelato for desert and endless wine throughout.

Then we had time to explore Piazza Navona. It rained on and off. I was on the hunt for a knock off Prada handbag, but no luck that night. We saw the Pantheon and did some shopping before going back to the hotel. I loved Rome, all its history, and mayhem, but I was looking forward to going to Florence the next day, for a less hectic city. 6:00 am wake up call!