Twins Romulus and Remus adopted by a she-wolf founded Rome (after Romulus killed Remus).
Well folks, it seems that I have the formidable task of catching you up on our Roman Holiday. Rome is a wonderfully grandiose city, where it seems that around every corner you are stumbling across a statue, or fountain, or church, or staircase, or coliseum that has some sort historical significance. It was truly awe inspiring walking around the metropolis that held the seat of power for over half the civilized world all those centuries ago.
1/1000th of the views in Rome.
To see the ruins of the roman forum and Palatine Hill and imagine Julius Caesar’s ascension to emperor, or what the Rome looked like after it was burned to the ground only to be rebuilt…or to even try to picture what the city must have looked like back then from the ruins that remain today is almost impossible. And Vatican City was a site to behold in itself…but let’s not jump ahead of ourselves.
St. Peter's Basilica - largest in the world!
Hello...we are standing in a ruined palace.
We we’re in Rome for 3.5 days. But we are not counting the half day because all we did was to arrive from Florence and find our camp site. All that we learned that day was Roman buses crowded and the schedules for them have no bearing in the realm of time and space. The plus side of that day is that we could relax for half a day and not worry about having to see stuff…plus Liz got to shop in a mega-mart called Panorama (think baby Super Target), so she was happy. Sorry no pictures from this day, but we made up for it on the following days. (I think that we took a total of around 1200 pictures in Rome, and that’s with Liz forgetting her camera for the Vatican visit.)
Day 1: Conquering Rome
It's big and it's old...and a lot of stuff died here.
This was the day when we covered the most ground. After a restful evening, we started off bright and early with the Coliseum. We got ourselves a Roma pass which gave us unlimited public transportation for three days and free entry to 3 sites without having to stand in ticket lines (quite a deal). The Coliseum is big, and it is old. Fortunately, we got there before the crowds showed, because even something that big fills up fast. They have tried to restore some parts of it so that one can get an idea of how it actually looked, but I think it might be better just to watch of movie ‘Gladiator’ just because I was having trouble imagining it in all of it’s grandeur.
A floor fiedishly clever in all it's intricacies.
Liz is 'Colossally' strong!
Used to be a place of emperors and caesars...
After the Coliseum we went to Palatine hill (where all the emperors and dignitaries lived), which is adjacent to the Roman Forum (where everything happened). It was beautiful, and one could feel the history and majesty trickling through the eons when looking at the ruins of the once massive palaces and temples. Alas, now there are only surviving remnants of a once epic civilization.
A real fix-er up-er with great views.
Friends, Romans, countrymen...lend me your ears
How the mighty have fallen
Conspicously hidden in the middle of Rome.
After that, we started walking around the area only to stumble across a massive gleaming white building which turned out to be the Complesso del Vittoriano. It is a palatial, statue-laden building which now serves as a sort of historical center, as well as, tomb of the unknown soldier. With all of the white marble and intricate statues, it’s what I think ancient Rome would have looked like, back then…only on a much larger scale.
Italian tomb of the unknown soldier.
Nuns on Roman holiday!
Yet another huge church in a city of huge churches.
Hiding behind the Complesso was yet another massive and free building, the Basilica of St. Mary of Aracoeli. By this time we realized why Rome was so big...it had all these buildings to fit inside it.
Lazy saints...
Make a wish...
After this was the Trevi Fountain, where one is supposed to throw a coin or two to ensure there return to Rome. A hand full of loose change says we are coming back!
I wish all these people weren't here...I guess they'll be back to Rome too.
Pinocchio didn't want me to sit down.
On our way to the Pantheon we stumbled upon Gippetto/Pinocchio’s workshop.
Predates Christianity...perfect proportions...largest nonreinforced concrete dome in the world...
Then we arrived at the Pantheon. By this time we were getting pretty tired…as I am of writing this post. So if you would like to learn more about the Pantheon and it’s history please consult your local library, or talk to a really old person.
which served as a church for some time...
Oh yeah, there's a hole in the top.
After the Pantheon, we made one last stop at the Spanish stairs. We were not in any shape to actually climb the stairs so we decided to save that for another day and went back to camp. That was day 1…two more to go. Exhausting isn't it?
Day 2:
We are wired for sound in st. peter's square waiting for our massive group to join up...sigh
On the second day we went to Vatican City to see the Pope. Unfortunately, he takes summers off and goes on vacation so he wasn’t there. But we decided to take a stroll around his house anyway…nice house! On our way we were confronted by a tour guide expounding the benefits of having a guided tour (no lines, in-depth explanations, more access, etc.) we were sold…thinking that it was going to be a small group. It was at first, until we started combining with other groups, by the end we were around 50 people being herded through already packed corridors in a perpetual hurry; whenever we weren't waiting for other people to catch up. Never again will we take a guide unless it is one on one...it was supremely frustrating and one of the worst choices of my entire life:). We had to go through the entire museum a second time just to see what we missed…better to get a guide book instead and peruse at one’s leisure. That’s what we learned that day…here are some pictures. By the way the art and museums were amazing...rivalling even the Louvre...simply astounding. Of course I can't show even 0.2% of what was actually there, but I did take a lot of photos that day. I will try to get them on the Flicker account before we leave Jerusalem tomorrow. Be patient, or better yet...go see them for yourselves.
Our guide on the phone... SIGH!
Okay I'm done...on with the art.
Give 'em a hand folks...
Liz misses Cosmo.
Every ceiling is covered with some sort of painting on ornate lattice...it's astounding.
Hall of maps of the various regions of Italy. Painted and surveyed prior to anything arial.
Raphael is a master.
Hall of tapestries.
This pine cone fountain is over 2200 years old.
One of dozens of halls just full of statues or sculptures.
Dali's in the Vatican.
I snuck a photo of the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel.
As well as the Last Judgement of Christ - Michaelangelo is a master's master
Swiss guard...the Pope's secret service.
We ran out of battery by St. Peter’s Basilica, so we decided to come back the next day and record the spectacle for posterity. So we just walked around in the warm evening past more palaces and piazzas. We actually spent an hour in line for this famous gelato…it was pretty good. We returned home late that evening to sleep and start in all over again the next day.
Day 3: The Remnants
Borghese Gallery
We started out our day by going to the post office to mail back a big box of souvenirs which we have accumulated over the course of the past two + months. Unfortunately, we forgot that it was Sunday and had to take the package all the way back to camp before exploring…sigh. Then we had to hurry to our reservation at the “second best museum in Rome”, the Galleria Borghese. Photography wasn’t allowed, but just as well…compared to the Vatican this museum was like walking into a kindergarten class. Don’t get me wrong, there was some amazing art there, it just wasn’t worth the trouble.
Then we took a nap in the park…followed by a walk in the park.
Isn't she just lovely.
This time from the top.
A walk which led to the Spanish Stairs again…
Back on bottom...
Looking at Rome through St. Peter's square from the Basilica
And ultimately back to St. Peter’s Basilica (this time with two cameras and plenty of battery power).
Thus ending our Roman Holidaze.
Thus ending our Roman Holidaze.
God loves this place...
Michaelangelo's Pieta in Michaelangelo's Basilica
The center alter...magnificent. Pictures do not the this place justice.
St. Peter of course. Notice how worn his feet are from people touching them over the centuries.
That's a lot of Popes.
Farewell Italy...it's been real.
Now we are having a great time travelling around Israel and Jordan…but that is another post. Stay tuned. Pace in the Middle Acest!
Tomorrow the Dead Sea...
Don't forget to wish Liz a Happy Birthday!
Tomorrow the Dead Sea...
Don't forget to wish Liz a Happy Birthday!
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