Category: Rome

Italy, Rome

Roma

Last full day yesterday and still so much we wanted to see.

First two days were gloriously cool and Naples/Pompeii was even cooler. Everyone we spoke with told us hoe luckynwe were. We were convinced because the last few days have been super hot – near 100 degrees. We try to do outdoor stuff in mornings or evenings and inside stuff in the afternoons, but thank goodness for ice coffees (caffe latte freddo) and Gelato. It is amazing how one small (piccolo) cone can power you through to the next stop. Our favorite ice coffee so far is Dante’s bar near Piazza Venezia because they put chocolate syrup on the inside of the glass before filling it. Mmmmmmm.

We went to Mercato Trianfale on Tuesday and brought home meat, veggies, cheese, bread, etc so we have been cooking a lot and eating out only lunch and snacks/drinks. Budget for cold water is helped by the faucets of cold water on every street where we fill our bottles and wet down our bananas. (Also sometimes our shirts!)

Not enough Internet juice for pictures so far, so here is a brief verbal recap:

Friday arrival and after a tiny argument with our host about extra taxes (we didn’t pay) we walked over to St Peter’s square and then had a great pizza and pasta dinner before going back to do laundry and get organized.

Saturday we did a crazy thing that actually worked out really well. We walked over to Vatican early to buy advance tickets for another day (because we had no internet!) and alowed ourselves to br suckered into one of the skip the line tours. One of the first groups in at 8:30am, so not a ton of waiting (15 minutes compared to hours and hours). Our guide sucked so we ditched him and did our own tour which we loved though after all the research and pictures we have studied, the Sistine Chapel was underwhelming, if that makes sense. We got lost and ended up doing it twice and are glad we did it because the exhibits of Vatican art and treasures was terrific. The fast entry and shortcut for the guided tours into St. Peter’s was worth the $34 extra (each) we spent on the tour. St Peter’s is amazing and awe inspiring and spectacular and really there are not words enough. (Which is what I thought we would feel at Sistene.)

After Vatican we went to lunch (GREAT pizza) near Victor Emmanuel monument and then off to Colosseum. It was later in the afternoon and no line at Palantine so we bought our tickets there, admired the Arch of Constantine, then walked back over to the short line for colosseum. (Thank you, Rick Steves!) We loved it and keep spotting it during the week. Yesterday we walked over to the metro there just to say hello. (A mistake as it was a bloody hot walk and I whined. A lot.)

Sunday we went early to Palatine hill and Roman Forum. These are the type of ruins that needs research and imagination or a really good guide. (We had imagination!) The little museum was good. Still cool, so a pleasant morning.

After lunch we went to the Pantheon which was tremendous and awesome in the classical sense of that word. We got Gelato and wondered over to the Trevi Fountain what was mobbed so I climbed under the rail and slid down which amazed Jacob. Got our required selfie and tossed in our coins. Before fighting our way out, we wet down our bandanas and filled our bottles from the drinking fountain on the far right, thrn headed back to our apartment. Tried to walk the Spanish steps but they are closed for renovation. Got pictures through the fence. Stumbled into St Ignatius by fortuitous accident. Breathtaking.

Monday was Pompeii and Naples. Long day leaving at 6am and returning at 11pm. Should have booked a room there. I could have spent days at Pompeii. Overwhelming in size and scope, (next time I am going with a guide.) The plaster casts of the victims really make you feel the terror and pain and despair. The Museum in Naples has a spectacular Pompeii collection, but it is great to see some things on situ.

Tuesday we rested, shopped, went to Michelangelo’s St Maria dei Angeli which is spectacular (I keep using that word) and the Baths of Diocletion museum which is huge. Then the coin exhibit at National museum before we headed home to collapse again.

Wednesday we went to baths of Caracula which are very cool (not literally unfortunately as it was hot even early in the morning.) Then back to National museum for the rest of the collection, (Jacob went down to say hello to the coins again.) Lunch and the Doria Pamphily villa/gallery. This is a private home opened as a museum and the current owner gives the audio guide. Birthplace of nepotism and baroque, he claims (as do the Borgheses). More Gelato before the hot walk to the Colosseum Metro and home to make risotto for dinner.

Thursday’s plan was either the crypts or Capitoline Museums but instead we wandered, and shopped. (Jacob got better walking sandals and a bag. I got fabulous earrings.) We hung out at a cafe in the Borghese Gardens/park for a while, drinking ice coffee. Then we rented a buggy car and pedaled around Borghese Gardens for an hour. At 3, we took our 2 hours in the Borghese Gallery. I freaking loved it. Jacob likes Doria Pamphily more. Doria is more homey, I suppose, if a city block sized four storey villa can be considered homey. Borghese was designed to impress and it does. I was the first one I and one of the last to leave – so many treasures, so little time.

Friday and time to move on. Packing, cleaning and taking out the trash, then off to the train station for breakfast and to wait for our train to Firenze/Florence.

Ciao Roma!

Italy, Rome, Traveling

Travel Thoughts

The past month has been a whirlwind. When planning, it seemed as if a week was a long time in each major city, but in reality, the time has always raced by as we tried to see as much as possible, while taking time to relax and get a feel for each city and country.
We have eaten out a lot more than planned, but have tried to shop and cook breakfast whenever we had a kitchen. Sometimes we are organized enough to make sandwiches for a picnic lunch, but more often we look for a cafe or snack bar to sit and eat and rest our feet. Some times we are lucky to find wifi and can get messages and upload a few pictures. We keep planning to find an internet café and upload all the pictures, but so far, this mythical day off has never arrived.

We still have chores and everyday things that we have to do. Right now we are lucky to have a washing machine so we have clean clothes drying on the rack by the window. We shop for sunscreen and toothpaste and soap when we run out unless we are lucky to find it in our hotel or b&b or airbnb rental. Jacob needs a haircut soon and I am trying to decide if I keep pushing my hair back or have my bangs trimmed.
Each morning we tidy up and make the beds and wash our breakfast dishes. We turn off the lights, unplug the appliances and shut off the air conditioner before we go out.

Everyday stuff.

Jacob and I have had some arguments – mainly over how much research I thought he should do and how much he thought he should do. I need to let that go and accept that I have a need/desire for more details than he does. It is silly to have the same argument once a week. (At this point it happens when he gets impatient with me for stopping to look something up in a guidebook.) Those who know me are laughing because I have always been the one to wander through a city, site, museum or whatever and just absorb it, then maybe read about it later. Of course, I missed a lot doing that and I don’t want Jacob to miss the good bits! (Or me!)
We miss home which to us means Fred and our friends and our dogs. Jacob manages to find a dog every day or so for his “fix”, but he still misses Brin.
Fred and I text most mornings and some evenings when I can stay awake. It reminds me of the emails we sent when we were first dating. He writes great messages. Very detailed with lots of emotions and gestures and body language coming across. I have always loved that.
We have been lucky health wise and except for some blisters and chaffing very healthy. Our feet and legs ache at the end of the day and the beds are (for the most part) like sleeping on stone.

Sometimes our lodging is great, mostly it is okay as we don’t spend much time there. Only once has it been terrible but it was only two nights and has made us appreciate the okay places more.

We find we. are not very picky about our food, so we are generally focused on how inexpensively we can go from hungry to not hungry. We have very low expectations because Fred is such a great cook that we almost never have food that is better than his. This means when we do have something great, we are pleasantly surprised.
Budget wise we are close to plan. Some cities seem to be more expensive than others. We are not skimping on sites or museums or other attractions, but do walk more and eat on the cheap, plus have booked cheapest travel and lodging available as long as it looked safe.
With the halfway point coming up, we are getting a routine for packing up and moving on, then arrival and moving in each time.
We don’t get much news unless someone is worried about us (Fred) when a tragedy like Nice occurs. We try to stay aware and safe, but life is good living, not hiding in fear. There have been a few stressful moments. But tthere have been more truly magical moments: showing Big Ben to my son. Sneaking him a sip of Guinness while listening to Irish music in a Dublin pub. Seeing the Acropolis bathed in afternoon sunlight. Walking the streets of Oia above the caldera. Floating in the teal waters of Crete. The Colosseum rearing up against a deep blue sky. The glory of a baroque church. The first taste of real gelato.

Life is good.