Signing out from Rome this evening! It's been a fantastic 2 week adventure with perfect weather and no glitches in our travel whatsoever. We are so grateful for this opportunity! Time to head home now. Thanks for following along........
Arrivederci!!!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Rome III
Ciao! This is our last full day in Rome and we had no tours today so just enjoyed “puttering” around the city.
I only took 55 photos today – about a third of what I had normally been taking each day! (slow day)
My first picture is a photo of a sign that made Stu and I chuckle.
You’ve got to give these folks credit for a GREAT ad campaign for bike and scooter rentals!!!
I haven’t told any of you that I’ve been on a “door” kick on this trip. In almost every port on our cruise………I have taken a series of photos called “The Doors of ______.” For instance, “The Doors of Aix-En Provence.” So, I’m going to bore you with one of my door pictures from Rome. Some day….I’m going to do something very clever with all of these photos. (???)
Found a neat little cheese shop (“frommage”).
Inside, there were homemade ravioli’s in the cool case. YUMMO!!!
In case you didn’t know it….the streets here are narrow and the traffic is incredibly bad. So….the cars are SMALL. In this photo, Stu looks almost as big as the Fiat!
COOLEST FIND TODAY……on a little side street near our hotel was a shop that a family was running. You can see the son pressing clay into a mold here.
The Dad was the salesman, the son was the sculptor/potter and the Mom was …..well…..just hanging out today. It was a darling little garden shop with many wonderful small and medium size pieces!
He was making authentic-looking reproduction pieces of Roman pottery and small sculptures. We found two tiny things to shove into our luggage……..but would’ve liked to buy more!!!
I’ve included his business card here….as it was very old-world looking.
We walked over to a chi-chi area on Via Veneto and had a cool drink at the Hard Rock Café. Listened to a little music and then moved on.
We were in the same neighborhood as the “Spanish Steps” so we stopped for a photo there. A very busy place today. And it is near a very ritzy shopping street so lots of traffic through there today.
We are at the hotel now…packing to leave tomorrow morning. Our flight is at 11 a.m.. and it’s just a quick 22 hour hop and skip across the pond to come home. (!!!)
Going back to our favorite little neighborhood spot for dinner tonight…La Cabana.
At bottom of this post…….I’ve included a few photos from our “Rome Illuminated” tour last night.
Ciao for now!
I only took 55 photos today – about a third of what I had normally been taking each day! (slow day)
My first picture is a photo of a sign that made Stu and I chuckle.
You’ve got to give these folks credit for a GREAT ad campaign for bike and scooter rentals!!!
I haven’t told any of you that I’ve been on a “door” kick on this trip. In almost every port on our cruise………I have taken a series of photos called “The Doors of ______.” For instance, “The Doors of Aix-En Provence.” So, I’m going to bore you with one of my door pictures from Rome. Some day….I’m going to do something very clever with all of these photos. (???)
Found a neat little cheese shop (“frommage”).
Inside, there were homemade ravioli’s in the cool case. YUMMO!!!
In case you didn’t know it….the streets here are narrow and the traffic is incredibly bad. So….the cars are SMALL. In this photo, Stu looks almost as big as the Fiat!
COOLEST FIND TODAY……on a little side street near our hotel was a shop that a family was running. You can see the son pressing clay into a mold here.
The Dad was the salesman, the son was the sculptor/potter and the Mom was …..well…..just hanging out today. It was a darling little garden shop with many wonderful small and medium size pieces!
He was making authentic-looking reproduction pieces of Roman pottery and small sculptures. We found two tiny things to shove into our luggage……..but would’ve liked to buy more!!!
I’ve included his business card here….as it was very old-world looking.
We walked over to a chi-chi area on Via Veneto and had a cool drink at the Hard Rock Café. Listened to a little music and then moved on.
We were in the same neighborhood as the “Spanish Steps” so we stopped for a photo there. A very busy place today. And it is near a very ritzy shopping street so lots of traffic through there today.
We are at the hotel now…packing to leave tomorrow morning. Our flight is at 11 a.m.. and it’s just a quick 22 hour hop and skip across the pond to come home. (!!!)
Going back to our favorite little neighborhood spot for dinner tonight…La Cabana.
At bottom of this post…….I’ve included a few photos from our “Rome Illuminated” tour last night.
Ciao for now!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Rome II
Day two in Rome started with another walking tour with private guide, Thomas. He looked like he had spent a bit too much time in the bar or disco last night…..but he is always intelligent and kind.
He took us first to the “San Pietro in Vincoli” – a church near where we stay…but in a residential neighborhood. It was small and beautiful. Michelangelo had done work here also.
This was originally built in the 4th century to house the chains that were used to bind Peter (St. Peter) while he was in prison. Un-real that Stu and I could be standing here today looking at those chains. Amazing!!!
Next, we walked on to the Coliseum….an amazing structure that was started in 72 AD and finished in 80 AD under the Flavian emperors. I have a shot of the Coliseum as it is today...
….and a painting of how it used to be, as well. It held 70,000 people at a time.
In the mornings, they would bring in the criminals to defend themselves against the animals. (usually didn’t work out well for the criminals). And not just any animals – or animals common to Rome. They had hunters go out and find unique animals that people here had not seen before….bears, wild boars, lions and tigers, panthers etc… Then, of course, there was the persecution of Christians in the Coliseum, too. What started as a show about great hunters and the animals they conquered....slowly turned into something more dark... a blood-bath for all spectators to see.
We saw remains of all of these animals, as well as, the cages they were kept in on our tour today. Then, in the afternoons, the Gladiators would begin their show at the Coliseum.
You can see in the photo of the floor of the inner-Coliseum that there were many underground passageways. There used to be wood covering the floor of the Coliseum and beneath it is where the animals and people were secreted away in the passageways.
As everyone knows, Jewish slaves built this great amphitheatre.
Next, we went to the Arch of Constantine. This arch marks the victory of the first Christian emperor over his rival, emperor Maxentius.
I’ve interjected a photo of Acanthus leaves here. We’ve all seen them used in the times of Caesar. They were, evidently, the inspiration for the design of the Corinthian columns, too. And I didn’t realize they had a pretty, white flower either.
Next, on to the Roman Forum. Forum means square.
Square means center of town, community gathering spot.
This area has all been excavated as everything was buried by silt over hundreds of years from flooding from the river Tibur - after the empire fell and the area was not used or occupied. Before Rome fell - population was about 250,000 people. After Rome fell - population was only 20,000!!!
Our guide told us that there are 5 more centuries BELOW THIS that have not been excavated yet!!!
Thomas, our guide, then took us to the Mamertine Prison. This is where it is said that Peter and Paul were incarcerated and held.
Prisoners were originally dropped down through a hole in the floor and the only exit was death.
We then hoofed it over to the “Victor Emanuel Monument.” It is a Presidential monument to the first King of Italy. Absolutely stunning!
On our last stop with Thomas, we went to the Pantheon. Pantheon means “all Gods.” It is considered to be one of the best preserved temples in all of Rome – since it started as a pagan temple and then became a Christian church. It was built in 118 AD.
As an aside, Stu found it extremely interesting that almost every building we see is not as it appeared when it was built. They once were all covered in marble and they had bronze lettering on their fronts – where now just a shadow recess remains. They consider these ancient Roman buildings the greatest quarries of Rome, as after the fall of the Empire….marble and bronze were stripped for use in public and private buildings – as well as for extensive use in the Vatican. Most of the remaining columns and buildings are pocked with holes as even the led was stripped out with heat for re-use and to make coins, tools, weapons, etc….
We parted with Thomas and found a nice lunch spot to rest our weary feet.
Then, we walked some streets to find the Trevi Fountain. It was built in 1732 and is really gorgeous (and very crowded!) It marked the end to an aqueduct which was built in 19 B.C...
We have come home to rest for awhile. We have an evening tour called “Rome Illuminated” from 8 – 10 p.m... All statues, fountains and monuments are lit here at night and will make for some great photos, I would presume.
Wonderful day – and even made better with the help of Thomas! You should have seen the lines to get a ticket at the Coliseum (and Vatican)………and he whisked us by all of the people to the front of the line! Yay, Thomas!!!
He took us first to the “San Pietro in Vincoli” – a church near where we stay…but in a residential neighborhood. It was small and beautiful. Michelangelo had done work here also.
This was originally built in the 4th century to house the chains that were used to bind Peter (St. Peter) while he was in prison. Un-real that Stu and I could be standing here today looking at those chains. Amazing!!!
Next, we walked on to the Coliseum….an amazing structure that was started in 72 AD and finished in 80 AD under the Flavian emperors. I have a shot of the Coliseum as it is today...
….and a painting of how it used to be, as well. It held 70,000 people at a time.
In the mornings, they would bring in the criminals to defend themselves against the animals. (usually didn’t work out well for the criminals). And not just any animals – or animals common to Rome. They had hunters go out and find unique animals that people here had not seen before….bears, wild boars, lions and tigers, panthers etc… Then, of course, there was the persecution of Christians in the Coliseum, too. What started as a show about great hunters and the animals they conquered....slowly turned into something more dark... a blood-bath for all spectators to see.
We saw remains of all of these animals, as well as, the cages they were kept in on our tour today. Then, in the afternoons, the Gladiators would begin their show at the Coliseum. 
You can see in the photo of the floor of the inner-Coliseum that there were many underground passageways. There used to be wood covering the floor of the Coliseum and beneath it is where the animals and people were secreted away in the passageways.
As everyone knows, Jewish slaves built this great amphitheatre.
Next, we went to the Arch of Constantine. This arch marks the victory of the first Christian emperor over his rival, emperor Maxentius.
I’ve interjected a photo of Acanthus leaves here. We’ve all seen them used in the times of Caesar. They were, evidently, the inspiration for the design of the Corinthian columns, too. And I didn’t realize they had a pretty, white flower either.
Next, on to the Roman Forum. Forum means square.
Square means center of town, community gathering spot.
This area has all been excavated as everything was buried by silt over hundreds of years from flooding from the river Tibur - after the empire fell and the area was not used or occupied. Before Rome fell - population was about 250,000 people. After Rome fell - population was only 20,000!!!
Our guide told us that there are 5 more centuries BELOW THIS that have not been excavated yet!!!
Thomas, our guide, then took us to the Mamertine Prison. This is where it is said that Peter and Paul were incarcerated and held.
Prisoners were originally dropped down through a hole in the floor and the only exit was death.
We then hoofed it over to the “Victor Emanuel Monument.” It is a Presidential monument to the first King of Italy. Absolutely stunning!
On our last stop with Thomas, we went to the Pantheon. Pantheon means “all Gods.” It is considered to be one of the best preserved temples in all of Rome – since it started as a pagan temple and then became a Christian church. It was built in 118 AD.
As an aside, Stu found it extremely interesting that almost every building we see is not as it appeared when it was built. They once were all covered in marble and they had bronze lettering on their fronts – where now just a shadow recess remains. They consider these ancient Roman buildings the greatest quarries of Rome, as after the fall of the Empire….marble and bronze were stripped for use in public and private buildings – as well as for extensive use in the Vatican. Most of the remaining columns and buildings are pocked with holes as even the led was stripped out with heat for re-use and to make coins, tools, weapons, etc….
We parted with Thomas and found a nice lunch spot to rest our weary feet.
Then, we walked some streets to find the Trevi Fountain. It was built in 1732 and is really gorgeous (and very crowded!) It marked the end to an aqueduct which was built in 19 B.C...
We have come home to rest for awhile. We have an evening tour called “Rome Illuminated” from 8 – 10 p.m... All statues, fountains and monuments are lit here at night and will make for some great photos, I would presume.
Wonderful day – and even made better with the help of Thomas! You should have seen the lines to get a ticket at the Coliseum (and Vatican)………and he whisked us by all of the people to the front of the line! Yay, Thomas!!!
Ristorante La Cabana
Guide Thomas introduced us to the most amazing little neighborhood eatery last night. It was called La Cabana and served, of course, amazing and authentic Italian food. Can you see the grill and the wood fire burning behind the meat case? We had wonderful antipasti before our meal came, good wine and even better bread! Do you like how they write out our bill/check?! They are closed on Sunday – but we will go back there on Monday night….our last night in Rome!!!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Rome I
Greetings from Rome, Italy!
We had disembarkation from the ship this morning at 10 a.m. in Civitavecchia. Found our driver easily. Loaded luggage easily. Drove 1 hour and 15 min. to Rome.
Checked in to our hotel….The Exedra. Beautiful!
Talked to concierge right after check in. Let’s face it – we’re only here 3 days and there is MUCH to see….so we felt we needed to “move and shake.” He lined us up with Thomas on a private, walking tour of the Vatican for the afternoon. We went to our room, unpacked, walked around a bit and then it was time for Thomas’ tour.
We had a lovely afternoon. Ended up spending 4 hours with Thomas! We took the subway to Vatican City.
This photo is of the Vatican walls. Once you pass through them…you are no longer in Italy!
The Vatican is its own country with its own government, post office, passports, radio station, television station, newspaper, police, etc….
The Basilica and St. Peter's Square can hold 600,000 people!!!
The Basilica is 700 feet long, has 11 chapels, 45 alters and 8 additional chapels.
And, remember to dress properly....or you won't get in! Your shoulders must be covered and no short shorts, etc....
The Vatican Museum takes at least 1 week to see it properly....but who has that much tiime?!
There is no place to sit.......anywhere. It's far too busy a place.
The Vatican architect.....Bernini.
The Sistine Chapel....do not speak in here or the priests will go BONKERS.
It encompasses 100 acres with under 1000 residents which makes it the smallest country in the world!!!
***And, it’s the only country in the world with a birthrate of ZERO!!! HA!
The amount of art, history and its sheer size make the Vatican impossible to write about or even photograph! You really have to come here to experience it.
My poor camera was on steroids today. I think I took 201 pictures at the Vatican alone! So….I will talk about a few things…….but mainly, you will simply have to enjoy some photos today.
We really enjoyed the map room.
I have a picture of one of the huge maps painted on the wall………and there were about 20 of these grand maps painted in one room. Awesome!
I also took a photo of a coffin. It was so interesting to me because first – they are marble and very ornately carved and fantastically gorgeous! But also because, if you look closely…you will see that one of the faces/heads in the carvings is blank. They did this to wait and see who it was that passed away and then would carve the appropriate face on it at that time. Customization at its finest!!! Another interesting fact is that most old coffins were used first as coffins, then second as fountains around the city and then put into museums on display. Most of the ones we saw today had drainage holes on either end…showing that they used to have water in them for fountains!
I have one photo of two Swiss Guards. They have been chosen to guard the Pope and his grounds since the 15th century, I believe. There was an assination attempt and a Swiss guard saved the Pope’s life…..so he then began to especially want men from Switzerland to patrol for him. You have to be a man, you have to be Swiss and you have to be Catholic – to get in to the Vatican guard. And it’s quite an honor. I think they stay for 2 years here in service. They have to have served in the Swiss Army first. Then, when they are chosen to come here…they have to renounce their allegiance to the Swiss while they serve at the Vatican. And when they are finished….they go home to very good jobs because it is quite an honor to be chosen to serve at the Vatican. Very prestigious!
Okay….on to St. Peter’s Basilica. Here’s where I will plug in photos….because there are just no words to describe it. Thomas told us that 148 out of the 265 Popes are buried at St. Peter’s. I do show you a picture of Pope Pius the 10th…lying entombed now in St. Peters. He died 100 years ago.
Our guide gave us a recommend of a small little restaurant that he likes in another neighborhood tonight. Authentic Italian food, of course!
Tomorrow, we have hired Thomas again………to take us to the old Imperial Rome area. We’ll see the Colosseum, etc… Should be a good day.
Ciao!
We had disembarkation from the ship this morning at 10 a.m. in Civitavecchia. Found our driver easily. Loaded luggage easily. Drove 1 hour and 15 min. to Rome.
Checked in to our hotel….The Exedra. Beautiful!
Talked to concierge right after check in. Let’s face it – we’re only here 3 days and there is MUCH to see….so we felt we needed to “move and shake.” He lined us up with Thomas on a private, walking tour of the Vatican for the afternoon. We went to our room, unpacked, walked around a bit and then it was time for Thomas’ tour.
We had a lovely afternoon. Ended up spending 4 hours with Thomas! We took the subway to Vatican City.
This photo is of the Vatican walls. Once you pass through them…you are no longer in Italy!
The Vatican is its own country with its own government, post office, passports, radio station, television station, newspaper, police, etc….
The Basilica and St. Peter's Square can hold 600,000 people!!!
The Basilica is 700 feet long, has 11 chapels, 45 alters and 8 additional chapels.
And, remember to dress properly....or you won't get in! Your shoulders must be covered and no short shorts, etc....
The Vatican Museum takes at least 1 week to see it properly....but who has that much tiime?!
There is no place to sit.......anywhere. It's far too busy a place.
The Vatican architect.....Bernini.
The Sistine Chapel....do not speak in here or the priests will go BONKERS.
It encompasses 100 acres with under 1000 residents which makes it the smallest country in the world!!!
***And, it’s the only country in the world with a birthrate of ZERO!!! HA!
The amount of art, history and its sheer size make the Vatican impossible to write about or even photograph! You really have to come here to experience it.
My poor camera was on steroids today. I think I took 201 pictures at the Vatican alone! So….I will talk about a few things…….but mainly, you will simply have to enjoy some photos today.
We really enjoyed the map room.
I have a picture of one of the huge maps painted on the wall………and there were about 20 of these grand maps painted in one room. Awesome!
I also took a photo of a coffin. It was so interesting to me because first – they are marble and very ornately carved and fantastically gorgeous! But also because, if you look closely…you will see that one of the faces/heads in the carvings is blank. They did this to wait and see who it was that passed away and then would carve the appropriate face on it at that time. Customization at its finest!!! Another interesting fact is that most old coffins were used first as coffins, then second as fountains around the city and then put into museums on display. Most of the ones we saw today had drainage holes on either end…showing that they used to have water in them for fountains!
I have one photo of two Swiss Guards. They have been chosen to guard the Pope and his grounds since the 15th century, I believe. There was an assination attempt and a Swiss guard saved the Pope’s life…..so he then began to especially want men from Switzerland to patrol for him. You have to be a man, you have to be Swiss and you have to be Catholic – to get in to the Vatican guard. And it’s quite an honor. I think they stay for 2 years here in service. They have to have served in the Swiss Army first. Then, when they are chosen to come here…they have to renounce their allegiance to the Swiss while they serve at the Vatican. And when they are finished….they go home to very good jobs because it is quite an honor to be chosen to serve at the Vatican. Very prestigious!
Okay….on to St. Peter’s Basilica. Here’s where I will plug in photos….because there are just no words to describe it. Thomas told us that 148 out of the 265 Popes are buried at St. Peter’s. I do show you a picture of Pope Pius the 10th…lying entombed now in St. Peters. He died 100 years ago.
Our guide gave us a recommend of a small little restaurant that he likes in another neighborhood tonight. Authentic Italian food, of course!
Tomorrow, we have hired Thomas again………to take us to the old Imperial Rome area. We’ll see the Colosseum, etc… Should be a good day.
Ciao!
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