Rome – May 10 – 13, 2012

Arrived in Rome about lunchtime via the high speed train from Florence.  

The NH Leonardo Davinci hotel was a pleasant surprise.  After our little hotel in Florence, we were prepared for another very old small hotel – but no!  This hotel was modern with very comfortable rooms and a breakfast to rival the Smithville Inn (OK – not exactly).   

www.nhleonardodavinci@nh-hotels.com
After checking in, we walked a couple of blocks to the main street and found a little pizzeria for lunch.   You picked out your  pizza , and they charged you by the weight of it.  Interesting.  Prices seem to be higher here than in Florence, and the quality seems lower.
After lunch we unpacked and then walked about 10 blocks to St. Peter’s Square where we decided to pick up the hop on hop off bus and take the 2 1/2 hour tour around the town to get oriented to Rome.  Traffic is wild here.   Worse than NY.  There are no parking laws.   If you can fit your car in the space, it’s legal.  :)  I guess the police have better things to do than give out parking tickets. Check out the smart car in the picture below. :)

Our first full day, we planned to take the bus to the Vatican Museum rather than walk, since we knew that we would be on our feet for hours for this tour.   No busses today.   Strike.    Evidently, this is typical.   We were told that the strike would be over at 5:00 PM.  Sounded crazy to us, but we believed it.   So – we walked the 10 blocks to the Vatican and Kos  bought the tickets from a little restaurant across the street (we had dinner there the night before) and we were able to enter the museum without waiting in the lines.  For this convenience, we paid almost twice the price (26 Eu) rather than 15 Eu.   But – what the hell – we’re on vacation.   The museum and the Sistine Chapel were awesome.  Overwhelming.  We had the Rick Steve’s audio tour which was very good.   He adds a bit of humor to his audio tours.   No photo’s were allowed in the chapel.  The photo’s below are from the museum.
   
Thanks to Rick Steve’s guide book, we knew that we could enter St. Peter’s Basilica from the door on the far right when we finished our tour of the Sistine Chapel. 
St. Peter’s is the greatest of the papal basilicas in Rome, and is often described as the largest church in the world and the centre of Catholicism.  According to tradition, St. Peter’s Basilica was erected on the tomb of the Apostle Peter, who was crucified and put to death around 60 AD.  The construction of the current basilica of St. Peter began on the 18th of April 1506 under Pope Julius II, and was completed in 1626 during the pontificate of Pope Urban VIII.  The construction of St. Peter’s Square opposite the basilica wasn’t completed until 1667.  The Dome of St. Peter, with a height of 136 meters, a diameter of 42 meters and 537 steps, is the emblem of the basilica and one of the symbols of the entire city of Rome.  St. Peter’s Square (the design of the Piazza) was the renowned work of the genius Gian Lorenzo Bernini.  The balustrade above the columns is decorated with 140 statues of Saints.  At the front of the square, an enormous three level staircase is adorned at its sides by statues of St. Peter and St. Paul.   In the middle of the square stand two large fountains and the obelisk. (1656-1667)


   
It was lunchtime when we finished our tour  of St. Peter's and we wanted to take the tour bus around for the afternoon.   We went to a cafeteria style cafe nearest to the basilica.  Very crowded, but enjoyable.  While we stood on line, we were handed cups of champagne.  This is good. :)


After lunch (more pasta and lasagna), we hopped on our tour bus with the idea that we would get off at Barbarini plaza – walk around – and then take the local train back to our hotel – rather than get back on the tour bus.   The weather was very warm – about 80 degrees – not a cloud in the sky – and not a breeze.   We cooked on the top of the tour bus.  By the time we got off, we were overheated and tired so we thought we’d just get the train and come back to the hotel to rest and cool down.   Just one problem  -  trains not running either because of the strike.   Maybe we’ll get a bus back.  Here’s Kos trying to figure out where we are and how to get back.  :)  You can see that he is still smiling. :)

Plan A was to take a bus back to the  hotel, but that didn’t work out – so we went to Plan B – a taxi.   Taxi’s don’t pick you up just anywhere.  You must go to a taxi stop and get in line and hope a taxi stops.    After some rest back at the hotel, we decided to see if the train started running after 5 PM so we could enjoy the evening at The Trevi Fountain and The Spanish Steps.  Great – the trains are running again.  The strike is over!  Yes.



The Trevi Fountain is the largest and most well known fountains of Rome, and is widely held as one of the most famous fountains of the world.  The theme of the sculpture is the sea.  A famous tradition dictates that a coin should be thrown over your shoulder into the fountain, in order to ensure a return to the city.  The coins are collected daily and taken to the Municipality of Rome and used for charitable purposes. 
   
Above we’re sitting on the famous Spanish Steps.  
After walking around the area, we had dinner in a very nice restaurant before heading back to the Metro to go back to the hotel.   Metro – closed.  ??? Why -  no one knows.  So – we walk and walk until we can get a taxi back to the hotel.  
On Saturday, our last day in Rome, we plan to see the Coliseum.   The weather forcast is hot and sunny, so we leave early in the morning.   Arrive around 9 AM – get our tickets at the Palatine ruins since it’s not the most popular attraction and there are no lines.  Lines at the Coliseum are ridiculous.   Another good tip from the Rick Steve’s guidebook.   The ticket covers both attractions.    The Coliseum is the most famous Roman amphitheatre in the world, as well as the most striking monument of Ancient Rome still with us today.  It had a capacity of about 50,000 spectators.  It was built on an area at the eastern end of the Roman Forum.   Its construction was initiated by Vespasian in 72 AD, and was inaugurated by his son Titus in 80 AD.  The structure was used for the entertainment of the people of Rome.  Endless crowds were always eager to support the gladiator battles, chanting to the Emporor, Caesar.    It was a theater of death.  Spectators came to see animals and people fight to the death and slaughter.
  
Back to the hotel for some rest and packing.   In the morning we fly home.
Some thoughts about Rome -
1.   You have to be flexible.  At any time, your transportation plans may have to be changed due to frequent strikes.
2.   A sense of humor is important.
3.   Enjoy the locals.   They are warm and helpful if you try to communicate.   Don’t let the occasional rude Italian spoil your day.  
4.  Comfortable shoes.
5.  Public transportation works – but can be confusing.   Stay calm.
6.  Be alert of your surroundings.  Use a money belt be careful in crowded areas.