All in a Roman day......

There are three sites in a row that we regard as "our spot" in Rome because we "found them" ( they are huge buildings/areas) during our first walk in Rome last year.

The first is the huge  Victor Emmanuel II white marble monument that dominates Piazza Venezia   It was built as a tribute to the first king of a united Italy, Victor Emmanuel II.  It is a new Roman building as construction commenced in 1885. At the front of the building is the tomb of the unknown soldier.  At the top of the building you get fantastic views all over Rome. This year we didn't climb it.

Santa Maria D'Aracoeli is next to it and is a beautiful church that we visited last year when a wedding was on.  You may cross over to it after you have climbed the many steps from the former building or walk up the hundred or more steps to the front door. 

Next door is the beautiful square that we wanted to explore more but still we didn't have time to go into the museums.

The steps leading up - to suit horses riding into the square or Piazza

 Beautiful statues 

  The she wolf statue with Romulus and Remus - the symbol of Rome

And where ever you look there are the remains of old Rome to see

In the evening we met up with the tour group for the final dinner, which was at a restaurant just near the Piazza Navona

The dinner was lovely and a major surprise was the entertainment.  Wonderful opera singing by this young lady.

Farewell to Rome

We were sad to leave to leave Rome. Such a beautiful city.  We had our first major hiccup leaving.  There was a general transport strike in Rome and our flight to Paris ( in fact all flights to Paris by our airline) were cancelled.  We were able to get tickets on another airline at 14 times he original cost.  I will freak ou t if our travel insurance does not cover this.  I will be visiting more churches and praying!

St Paul's outside the Gates of Rome

In Rome we went out to the 'burbs on the Metro for some ridiculously low cost of €1.50 to St Paul outside the gates or

It was quite a serene experience inside ( and it was free! - just after I had said to J "Of course we'll have to pay.  Catholics always charge!") I'll have to wash my mouth out with soap.  It was so quiet and peaceful.  It really felt like a place where everyone could find an inner peace.  A bit like Fatima and quite the opposite to the Vatican.  It is a massive place and, amongst other things has images of every Pope displayed high up near the ceiling.

 Everything is massive

Some of the popes in the circular images above the arches.

Current and former pope

St Paul's Tomb.

A very peaceful and serene place.

Just in the last few years, next to the huge St Paul's they've discovered the remains of a monastery built around 600 and they are starting to excavate......

Outside in the 'burbs near St Paul's 

You know you are in the 'burbs. 

They didn't even stand up for a nun on the train!  I would even stand up for Sr. Albertus - even though she was a horrible nasty woman.

Jonathan did notice they were getting some good concerts in the neighbourhood regardless.

We went to the local Big M to use free WiFi - and I ordered a burger that reminded me ( in name) of salmonella.  While there, a young worker came over to warn me against using my iPhone as the place was known to be frequented by young gypsies who often stole phones.  We didn't stay too long after that and headed back into the centre of Roma / Rome - known for its many pick pocketers.

Castel Sant'Angelo Rome

For some unknown reason, we had the best accommodation of the whole Tour for our last two nights which were in a Rome.  The hotel was near to the Vatican but we opted not to go there or to the Colessum as we had visited these on a previous Group tour.

As soon as the coach arrived in Rome, we set off on visiting what we wanted to see.

On the first night we walked to Castel Sant'Angelo that is close to the Vatican and on the banks of the Tiber.  

To quote the website 

"Castel Sant' Angelo

This Fortress was built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian (AD130-139), but it has also been a prison and a papal residence. It was used by former Popes who absconded there for protection in times of danger. There has been a covered passageway which still connects Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vatican. 

The National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo inside retraces its history. The castle has various exhibits ranging from Renaissance paintings and pottery to antique military weapons. A huge spiral ramp ascends upwards the Castel Sant Angelo for about 400 feet. " - and we did walk it - up and down - because you all know how much I love walking- no fear, no pain.  ( That's what I tell my knees)

View of Vatican from top of Castel Sant' Angel

Just a few hundred steps here and there

 And then a few hundred more......

And some of the old trinkets or furnishings that didn't quite fit/ make their way to the new residences:

And then downstairs, there's the bridge of the Angels built around 1666 across the Tiber - 12 massive statues of angels to watch over everyone.

We felt very happy to be in Rome.

FINAL DAY IN ROME

JOHN'S FINAL DAY IN ROME, ARRIVAL IN PARIS.

They say that you are never a seasoned traveler, until your flight has been cancelled. "They," ... also say that you should look for the positives in life. Been there done that.

Because of a city wide general strike, our flight from Rome was cancelled and we had to spend the day trying to get a ticket (which we did) on another airline, then spend the rest of the day waiting for it to depart, which it did after more delay. So positive one, at least we flew out of the place on the same day. 

Positive two. When we arrived in Paris exhausted, stressed, and as Shakespeare once wrote after a day where,

"The world is too much with us,"

It was lovely to have Emma and her friend Carla spoil us with wine, cheese, and lots of T.L.C. As I wrote in a postcard today I really love being in Paris. I think it is because my French isn't too bad, and I know my way around the district we are living in a bit, that I really feel quite at home here. Even better, because Emma and I walked round to what is only after my second trip here, a place that already feels like my "local" bar.

Because we always include some photos with each entry, I'll close with two. The first one being what our plane SHOULD have looked like! The second one being a shot of the lovely view we get from our apartment.

John's Full Day In Rome.

John's Full Day In Rome. 

We left the tour group after breakfast and didn't rejoin them again until the celebration/ break up/departure dinner in the evening. This was because we had seen all the things that were set down in their programme. Our day was covered by four events, trips to see: The Abbazia di San Paulo Fuori Le Mura. (In English the murals at The Tomb of St Paul). Going back to look at the Vittorio Emmanuel building, (which is also known as the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier). Revisiting a piazza called The piazza del Campidoglio, and the break up dinner. 

THE TOMB OF ST. PAUL.

As you know by now I am not a "churchie" person, so Julie really had her work cut out in trying to persuade me to visit another one which meant taking a metro out into the suburbs. I'm so glad she did for a couple of reasons. 

First, we learnt a new skill in mastering the Roman metro system, which compared to others, is a piece of cake. There are only two lines, A and B, coloured red and blue. I heard somewhere along the way that the Romans wanted more metro lines, but whenever they start to dig into the ground, they uncover more spectacular ruins. 

Second was the church itself. Whereas The Vatican is all hype, push and shove and merchandising, St Paul's is the opposite. It is calm, quiet, and a place with an ambience that can cause a "heathen" (as Julie calls me) like me to be moved and sit and reflect. 

The interior is awe inspiring in its magnificence and meaning. It has a mural which even I found moving and thought provoking. It shows Paul as a Roman soldier carrying out his orders to round up the Christians and give them a hard time. In the same mural it shows Jesus appearing to Paul and converting him. 

When you see the actual dungeon and chains that the Romans used to inprison Paul and humiliate him, you realise how much he had to go through for preaching Christianity, and "defecting to the enemy." 

If I had to advise a tourist to a Rome, who is not particularly religious like me, but still wants to try see and understand what all this religious power is all about, I would advise them to go to The Vatican and take some exterior photos (yeah, been there, down that!)  then go out to St Paul's. 

THE VITTORIO EMMANUEL BUILDING.

Which Julie and I refer to as "our building" which we found by chance on our last trip when we were just walking around by ourselves, overwhelmed by the glory that as/is Rome. We wanted to revisit again for a couple of reasons. First just to see it again and enjoy our former discovery. Second to take a look at the Piazza (English place or square) that is next door called 

THE PIZZA DEL CAMPIDOGLIO.

A square which Julie climbed dozens of stairs last time to see but I didn't. This time I did. The Square itself I think was designed by Michalangelo so it has historical significance. As you can see by the photos it is the paving stones which give it is unique character.

I was curious about some of the flags that were flying there, so I got to have a bit of a chat with two of Rome's finest.

By the time all this was done it was getting close to time for the celebration dinner, so we decided to get a taxi home. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!! If you think Sydney and Parisian taxi drivers are crazy, THE ROMAN ONES ARE INSANE! Our guide told us that only in Rome does a two lane road become six, and road signs, traffic lights and crossings are just there for decoration. He was right. All space was judged down to the thinnest coat of paint, and the best way to treat traffic lights and crossing pedestrians is  .... well ... just to ignore them. I think it is the only time I have ever sat in the front seat of a cab biting my lip. However, the  cabbie told me that to him it was "situation normal," and all in a day's work!

THE CELEBRATION DEPARTURE DINNER.

As a special treat we had a short concert of Italian Opera Favourites live. The singing was beautiful, and I think I have a new favourite song, "I will always be with you." Although I have heard the song hundreds of times, I have never had the words explained to me before. What a perfect way to end a wonderful time in Rome.

As the wine and the beautiful music were weaving their spell, I started to think how do you try to capture essence of this city that hasn't been done a thousand times before? Perhaps it can be done by considering the ancient, the modern and the timeless in Rome.

 

The Ancient

The Modern. 

and all the things that are timeless, such as

Politics

The Chaos.

The crazy traffic and parking.

And of course being a Rome, Amore