Ancient Rome
As I have said in earlier posts, Donna and I both independently listed the top three countries that we wanted to visit after retirement, and amazingly enough we listed the exact same three countries: New Zealand - went there for a month in 2011; Ireland - we were there for 3 weeks in 2013; and Italy. So it is time to finish off our top three (many more to come we hope), so it was off to Italy for 24 days in March and April, 2015.
Italy is the cradle of European civilization, and has a crazy, wonderful and rich culture with Italians truly living La Dolce Vita (the sweet life).
Italy is the cradle of European civilization, and has a crazy, wonderful and rich culture with Italians truly living La Dolce Vita (the sweet life).
We left Denver on a British Airways flight direct to Heathrow after Donna worked on a Wednesday. On time, uneventful, normal
catnaps on plane. 4 hour layover in
Heathrow, usual security fun, then British Airways flight to Rome. Leonardo Express train to Roma Termini in Rome
(about a half hour), minor hiccup – couldn’t pay with credit card, no chip in
card; ended up paying with cash. Bigger
hiccup catching the Metro line A to Ottaviano stop (machines did not take
credit cards, and as it turned out no bills larger than 5 Euros….smallest we
had was ten Euros. Someone came along
and changed our ten, and took two Euros for the bambinos (probably a scammer,
but we were glad to do it), then couldn’t find b and b, tried calling on my
phone…didn’t work, then stopped in a shop, figured out how to get to our b and
b, and walked into building as Ludis (a local but originally from Peru) was
walking out…she got us booked in, and gave great sightseeing tips…then we
collapsed into bed exhausted from our travels. So as you can see, the traveling part of traveling is often challenging especially the first days. Although "getting there" can sometimes be challenging the rewards of the trip outweigh such inconveniences.
Our b and b (A View of Rome) has a great view of the Vatican
wall (a half a block away) and the dome of Saint Peters Basiica…Primo. It is owned by two Italian entrepreneurs, Livio and Daniele...both whom we met during our stay - very entertaining guys. There was a rugby tournament going on in Rome while we there, and our fellow guests were all Brits there for the rugby match between Italy and Wales - many Brits were decked out in full regalia in the bar/restorante next door to our accommodation, drinking beer and watching the match on the tele.
Our first full day in Italy is ancient Rome day. Walked the few blocks over to Saint Peters square, then over to Pantheon (roughly 2000 years old, and amazingly preserved.. saved from destruction because it was used as a church for many years). Then over to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, before heading over to the Colosseum. Then we walked along the outside of the Roman Forum in the evening, and headed slowly back via the Dolce Vita Stroll (Rick Steves Guide) taking in the Trevi Fountain (under reconstruction) , and the Spanish steps before eating our first Italian dinner at Zigaetano near our b and b. Probably walked 10 miles if we walked an inch, but we had a beautiful and wonderful day, with highs in 60’s, and truly amazing sights.
Our first full day in Italy is ancient Rome day. Walked the few blocks over to Saint Peters square, then over to Pantheon (roughly 2000 years old, and amazingly preserved.. saved from destruction because it was used as a church for many years). Then over to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, before heading over to the Colosseum. Then we walked along the outside of the Roman Forum in the evening, and headed slowly back via the Dolce Vita Stroll (Rick Steves Guide) taking in the Trevi Fountain (under reconstruction) , and the Spanish steps before eating our first Italian dinner at Zigaetano near our b and b. Probably walked 10 miles if we walked an inch, but we had a beautiful and wonderful day, with highs in 60’s, and truly amazing sights.
Two years ago, we were in Ireland eating at a pub that was built in the 1200's, and that was amazing...today we were walking on stones that were laid down 2000 years ago in the Roman Forum, and gazing out our b and b window at the dome of Saint Peter's Basilica, perhaps the richest and grandest church in Christiandom. This can be faith inspiring or a bit disconcerting (most likely depending on your "believer" status) when you contrast the vast and grand church with the beggars just outside the vatican walls, but perhaps more on that dichotomy another time.
So, a very long but absolutely fantastic start to our tour of Italia. Let's see some ancient history.
Room with a View (Saint Peter's Basilica dome)
Room with a View (Saint Peter's Basilica dome)
The building our room was in (6th floor, pink building, dates to 1800's)
Donna in Saint Peter's square
Pantheon
Pantheon
Pantheon
Pantheon
A wedding we stumbled on in a beautiful church near the Pantheon
Church near Pantheon
Church near Pantheon
Church near Pantheon
Roman Forum
Our first meal in Italia - lunch near the Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Coliseum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Coliseum
Roman Coliseum
Roman Coliseum
Roman Coliseum
Roman Coliseum
Arch of Constantine
It's Italy after all; some folks have to dress up even for the Coliseum
Roman Coliseum
Roman Coliseum
Roman Coliseum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Roman Forum
Victor Emanuel Monument
newer excavation near Roman Forum and Coliseum
Victor Emanuel Monument
The Spanish Steps at Night (taken from the top of the steps)
Practical footwear in a shop window, Roma
First dessert
Hi Don,
ReplyDeleteYes, sounds like typical, and very frustrating, first day of travel stuff. Great pix, Don!! Looks like by the time of your first dessert, you'd made a splendid recovery.
Don