Thursday 12 September 2019

Italy 2019 - Rome

So the flight(s) went pretty well. We are definitely at the spoiled stage of our lives and long flights in economy class are rough. Oh well. Suck it up right? No customs issues which we were a bit worried about after our last international trip.....yaayyyy! ..we had decided to walk from the train terminal to the hotel.....that was a pretty fun experience - - street signs are not a priority in Rome....my god are we ever anal in Canada - I mean basically we put signs everywhere.....we don't want anyone to get lost I guess.......that is not a Roman concern.....marking of streets is, at best, done randomly......oh yah, it was pretty hot!....we got there and thats what counts!!!
Overview - Rome is incredibly busy between the millions of residents and the never ending flow of visitors it is a zoo....I miss Sechelt bliss already!!...there is amazing food everywhere, like really good! So much for keto.....We are going to take in as many sights as we can....

DAY 1 - after the trip from the airport and getting checked in to the hotel, we dragged our tired carcasses up to the Campo Fiore for a bit of home made pasta at Osteria Fortunata.....well worth it...home made gnocchi and sciavatelli amatriciana...so good....but that is basically the way here - most of the food is incredible...pick a spot with what look like (or sounds like) Italians and the food should be great!....

Linda - On Top of Old Gnocchi - -



Bridge by our hotel at night....


DAY 2 - Slept in then headed up into Piazza Navona, Pantheon (could not get in because the crowds were Sunday crazy), Trevi (could not get near because the crowds were Sunday crazy), Spanish Steps (could not......kidding!) then a walk through Piazza Poppolo, past Castel Sant Angelo to Saint Peter's Square....Sunday in Rome is probably the most challenging - Italians love Rome too!....


Piazza Navona and the Bernini fountain sculptures are great!



Long War plug!!



Another Long War plug!

Bernini's Neptune (I think he used morning rush hour for inspiration)

Linda is looking for a notepad so I photographed the "pit" beside the store - yet to be explained other than "very ancient"


Pantheon exterior - the lineup was an hour so we passed!

Random building - that is Rome. Everywhere you look there is something unique!!

This is in front of the prime minister's house - if he messes up - well, I think you can figure out the rest!!!

they can put these up but do thing that they could spring for a street sign!!

a corner of Trevi Fountain that we could squeeze into!! and a Long War plug!

Small crowd at Trevi Fountain...

What! This is Spanish Steps? I thought we were going to take Flamenco lessons - I flew all this way!!!

More Long War plug!!



At 3 Euros a bottle, makes sense to fill the jug up any way you can!

The door stays open....really hard to shut!

This building is 3 stories high and where most of us would be happy with a wind vain or flag, these guys prefer the 3 tonne bronze statue complete with 4 horse chariot!!......Oh Rome you crazy kid!!

ROME DAY 3 - So today we went to the Vatican. Monday, school is in.....we hoped for smaller crowds - no chance! It is not about the crowds but the time clock when you visit the Sistine Chapel....I mean we were "moved along" in quite a few places in the museum but you hope for a little more than 15 minutes under Michaelangelo's work but - and I get it - 15 minutes it is....Still worth the effort.....Lets face it, old Mike knew how to connect with us and 15 minutes works!....no pictures in the Sistine though - copyright issues???

One of the terraces in the Vatican with St. Peter's dome in the background..

Ceasar gets some love at the Vatican??

 Hall of maps and tapestries.....hard to believe (and photograph)!

One of several incredible Raphael's....

This is the piece that launched a 24 year old unknown Michaelangelo to stardom!

A lot of shots of Bernini's St. Peters Cathedral - just mind blowing!







One of the Vatican City guards - a bit more festive than military khaki - then again, talk about standing out in a crowd!!....I think I dig it!

that line of people that you see stretching from the obelisk right to the north entrance is the one hour wait if you don't have "skip the line" tickets.....yaaaayyyyy us!

we went back to the Pantheon and got in....such an incredible place...





my little pins are killing me!!!

maybe a little pizza in the square....molto buona!!....Viva Italia!!


DAY 4 - Headed to ancient Rome - the forum and colosseum area -  and some other stuff including Trevi....last day of long walks for a while and we are ready for a break...

 "this place needs renovating but the location is great!"





There are actual apartments above this 100BC theater...no worries about the foundation...pretty cool!

the coronado where victorious generals would parade up to on their stallions - redesigned by Michelangelo....

Bigger than life - and the horse is pretty cool too!!



Romulus and Remus having their morning cappuccino......

these pine trees are everywhere...


this is Roman Centurion Transformer - aka N Octave Higher......



came upon these newlyweds walking to the forum - surveying the classic battleground that marriage plays out on.....or maybe just going for the photo op!!


a couple of historical pieces...

wondering when the windows are going to be installed......

more shameless Long War promotion!

Mega Fan!

Orange tree!



Palatine Hill......

the big chariot racing track - Ben Hur - Circus Maximus.....

some random Spanish church....

 they were playing Coltrane, Wes Montgomery & Keith Jarrett....

the wine was pretty dam good too!


Back to the Trevi Fountain and a couple of coin tosses...you can see me in the water back there - I had a hard time letting go of the coin......


1 comment:

  1. best commentary everrrr. love the long war plugs too. so glad to see your trip is off to such a great start! look forward to more! xo

    j, p, s, & p

    ReplyDelete