Wonderful Rome!

Sunday 20th to Thursday 24th July.

Ok, so we are back home in Wineham now, and it’s a very tolerable 19 degrees.

It was a SENSATIONAL journey, to Rome. Am I overdoing it?…:) I hope the following does it justice.

Where to begin? For my 80th birthday, Jen said she would take us to Quebec for a couple of nights in the Chateau Frontenac. At £450 per night, that was never going to be a starter, and it wasn’t practical at the time, anyway. But for the next one, a mystery flight, and four nights in the Kolbe Hotel in Rome, close to the Colosseum, was something to be excited about.

We nearly missed the fight, because the private car parking space close to Gatwick airport, had moved, and there were no notices to say where!! The last time we used the service was 7 years ago and they never sent us an advice to say they were moving..:) Fortunately the new improved facility wasn’t too far away and a quick google search got us there in time for a connecting bus to the airport.

The weather in the UK had been very nice with temp’s in the late 20’s. Arriving in Rome nearly 2 hours later than scheduled, at 8pm, then another hour till the bags arrived. The 30min train ride from the airport then taxi from the Termini, got us to the hotel at 10pm, 9pm UK time. The hotel staff were very helpful and rustled us up a salad, after the kitchen had closed. Oh! the difference in customer service and attitude. The temperature, hot and humid. late 20’s still at that time.

Day 2.

After an enormous breakfast and armed with a city map from hotel reception, we walked the 20minutes to meet our tour guide and group for the Colosseum tour. I won’t bore you with details but will try and let some photos do the talking. It’s 30+ degrees and the direct sun is fierce. The area, bordered by the Colosseum is a massive historic goldmine. Arches, chariot courses, columns, crumbling but once massive buildings, many undergoing some sort of restoration. Not wanting to sound a smart-arse, but we have visited countless historic sights and ruins in all continents and many countries, but nothing, I repeat nothing, comes close to Rome for sheer scale and diversity of historic architecture.

I’m quite disappointed with the clarity of photos. Taking only the small and versatile Casio camera, I can now see the huge gap in photo quality from the bulky Canon, which we left at home in the UK. Anyway, I am sure those who haven’t seen Rome with their own eyes, will get a gimps of the wonders, even if poorly photographed.

We weren’t the only ones visiting..:)

The humans give an indication of the scale of the Colosseum. The lady looking into the camera in the middle foreground, is a lovely Aussie who we enjoyed interacting with, during the tour. Though she told us her name, I’m not going to try and repeat it in case I got it wrong. She is from Perth. We may hear from her?

While Jen had no problems with the guide’s English pronunciation, I could hardly understand any of it! Though I think I heard, that the Catholic Church were responsible for the many “erosion’s” of the columns to remove the interlocking iron bars between stone blocks? Hence the ‘Swiss Cheese’ appearance. When and why, remains a mystery. Google informs me that the iron rods were pilfered for weapon making, in the middle ages. So, there you go…:)

The business end of this mighty structure. In the middle, the pits where animals, mainly lions, tigers & bears, even crocodiles and elephants, were kept to engage poorly armed, mostly slaves, to entertain the spectators seated above. The floor of the arena where the events were conducted, long ago collapsed.

The raised platform where Julius Caesar was cremated, following his murder in 44BC.

The area referred to as ‘The Forum’.

In the lower foreground, a small part of the 600m long x 140m wide Chariot racing circuit, Circus Maximus.

Day 3.

Today’s feature was a 2+ hours spent on the Hop on Hop Off sightseeing bus. Once completing a circuit of the city we got off and explored some of it on foot. Places such as the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon.

River Tiber

Reusing and relaying cobble stones that the city moves on.

Trevi Fountain.

Pantheon

One of the approximately 2000 fountains in and around the city.

A protest at the slaughter in Gaza….

Note the radicals protesting..:)

A moral cause I support. I suspect sadly, the two Paddi wagons heading towards the protesters, with sirens blaring, would have dispersed it? English is widely spoken here. I know, this is not a place for political statements, but I hope most will agree. For those that don’t, sorry, but I don’t care. Comment below if you wish. The following quote, sent to me by Kevin, is a perfect summation of the above.

Day 4.

Today it’s a trip to the other side of the city, to The Vatican and Sistine Chapel.

We’ll take an 81 bus, the decision. There is a little shop beside the quite remote bus stop, that sells tickets. Get one before you board, is the information on the sign. Only they didn’t have any left. Oh well, on we jump to a very full bus. Chatting with some passengers next to us who shrugged and said, “nobody buys tickets, only tourists”. Smugly we continued…until we were about to alight when a team of inspectors got on the bus and quickly picked out the ones without tickets, ourselves and the three we were chatting with, and we found ourselves on the pavement trying to defend ourselves. ..:)

The upshot, on producing my NZ drivers license, was given a fine of €104.94. “Pay me now and I’ll halve it”. Jen would not give him her ID..:). She’s smarter than me. With absolutely no room for further discussion, and my anger rising, we walked away from him. Here’s me, banging on about morality, I had/have no intention of paying the fine! Will I be refused departure at the airport tomorrow?..:)

We were still a couple of k’s away from the Vatican, and it’s damn hot, but we decide to leg it. Across the Tiber and with google maps to guide us we came to a space in the impressive walls, along with literally thousands of others. Having purchased our tour tickets well in advance, we were quickly into the inner sanctum. A highly commercial operation.

A model of the Vatican. St Peters in the foreground.

This time our allocated guide was very articulate and easy to understand and we were taken on a tour of what can only be described as a journey of extreme opulence and wealth. I have to ask…who funded this? It was created long before there was a hoard of wealthy tourists! Now let me guess?..:)

I hope the following pics give an indication in reference to my last comment?

A great deal of homo-erotic art, much of it created by Michelangelo

Masterpieces on the ceilings…

…and floors. This photo showing the blue inlaid stone, Lapis Lazuli, from Afghanistan, once far rarer and more valuable, than gold.

The buildings within the 44ha area that comprises the city state, are enormous.

It is said that there are 80k’s of historic files retained in the Vatican that will not see the light of day.

By 2pm we had seen about as much as we were happy to. The museum could have occupied us for another 4 hours but we opted to walk instead, around the perimeter of the Vatican City and visit St Peters Square and church.

The exit from the complex…

Again, stupendous scale and splendor of St Peters as follows..

By 3pm we headed back to the hotel.

Castel St Angelo

A €1.50 return bus fare back within walking distance of the hotel.

Our dining experience for this evening was a roadside restaurant overlooking a historic area. after a drink at an adjoining bar.

This experience of Italy, for me, has been very, very enjoyable. It must be 50 years since I was last here in Italy, apart from minor crossings of the northern part, and it is now modern, vibrant, stylish and welcoming. The locals we have interacted with have been gracious and warm, except of course the intransigent bus inspector…:)

Day 5. Returning home.

After another enormous breakfast it was a taxi ride back to the Termini, then a modern, smooth and quiet, train ride to Fiumicino Airport.

What a wonderful experience, the whole journey. Thank you Jen, you’re amazing.

It was an overcast and drizzly UK that we returned to.

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