Roma

So yesterday, we saw most of what the heart of Rome has to offer.

We started fairly early (still adjusting to the time difference) with a walk south from our hotel down the Via Veneto. As we passed the US embassy, we banked left towards the Santa Maria della Vittoria Church, home of Bernini's St. Teresa in Ecstacy. There were lots of visitors, but most people were very quiet, which was nice. After reading the narrative of St. Teresa, and seeing the sculpture, one can understand why the Vatican moved it to a small church across town! (look it up!) From there we headed up to the Metro stop, but saw what looked like a church within some old ruins. It ended up being this enormous basilica, called the Santa Maria degli Angeli, which was partly design by Michelangelo. The outside is decieving because the inside was cavernous. It was on the Piazza della Republica, which is where we got on the Metro.



From there it was to the Colosseo, where the metro stop through us practically into the line to get in. Thankfully, the Roma passes we purchased the day before let us skip the (at least) hour long line and head right in. (WORTH IT) So we popped in our Rick Steves' Podacast tour of the Colosseum and got started. We got a little lost, but once we found our way it was great. It's great to be able to hear the history behind the ruins as we walk around. We also did that at St. Peter's on the first day, and later on in the Roman Forum. They also don't give you any maps, so it really helps to have points of reference. It's still amazing to us of how advanced the early Romans were. Needless to say, the it was incredible.

When we finished our walking tour inside, we strolled around it to get some photos of it. While strolling we spotted a Trafalgar bus, and knowing that our friends Jamer and Brooke were on a Trafalgar Tour and scheduled to be in Rome that same day, we got a little nosy and started checking out every bus to see if it was thiers....but no luck.



We entered the Roman Forum at the base of Palatine Hill. It's a good thing we had the book with the map and audioguide, because there is no information at all. But we found our way into the Forum. The most amazing thing about it was that when Rome fell, and was abandonded for 500 or so years, the old roman streets were buried by yers of dirt and silt accumulation. So Modern Rome is a good 30 feet higher than ancient Rome. Kind of creepy. It was cool to think we were walking the same streets that Julius Ceasar walked, right down to the stone.



From there we started north to Pantheon Again where we were meeting my HS friend Greg and his girlfriend Nicole, who were in Rome for the weekend. Along the way we saw the Campodoglio, the home of Rome's City Government. There was a free concert that night it seemed, because we enjoyed some Operetic Sound Checks. We found a small pizzeria, which was really tasty, and we enjoyed some Peroni while the girls had some red wine. We had some fun interactions with Italians that didn't speak much english, but we seemed to do OK. The fact that they all though Greg looked like British Pop Star Robbie Williams may have helped. We took a long walk from there to through the main shopping district to the Spanish Steps, where we relaxed with some Gelato. We took another Siesta after that back at our hotel and all shared a bottle of wine before heading south for dinner.



Greg found some restaurants in the Michelin Guide, but they couldn't seat us so we ended up at a very nice Trattoria across the street where we sat outside, enjoyed plenty more wine, and two courses of an excellent meal, followed by some Crema Brulee and Espresso. We walked to the colesseum area for some night photos and left Greg and Nicole there. Once we realized the Metro line we needed was closed for the evening, the long walk started. Thankfully we had that Espresso and were in no need to had to bed. We walked towards to Victor Emmanual Monument, which Romans not-so-afftionetly, refer to as the "Typewriter" or the "Giant Wedding Cake." From there our desitnation was the Trevi Fountain. We were able sit an relax here for a while, and act like tourists by throwing the traditional coin over our shoulder to ensure our return to Rome. It was a long walk back to the hotel, and late, which is why we are starting a little late today.



Today is our last full day in Rome, so we hope to just enjoy it!