Today got off to a slow start as Geoff and I both slept in..not a good thing to do when you are trying to get over jet lag! Ah well! Making plans to meet Caterina at San Giovanni de Laeterano Basilica at noon, we arrive to find a huge Mass going on and a cathedral full of dignitaries and armed service folks (mostly Navy) and many firefighters in bunker type outfits as members of the audience. Come to find out it is the Feast of St. Barbara, the patron saint of Navy folks and firefighters. We were treated to a full orchestra singing Handel's Messiah Hallelujah chorus as well as archbishops and clergy galore concelebrating a Mass. It was quite moving. I learned from Caterina that the Basiloca was the original church ofnthe Popes prior to the building of the current Basilica of St. Peter. The doors were the original doors of the ancient Curia in the Roman Forum. All in all, quite an impressive place.
After speeding some time with Caterina at our hotel, we set off to find the Trevi Fountain, a tourist trap if ever there were one! Getting there was another adventure as Geoff and I got separated on the subway when the door slammed shut in my face. LOL! I figured I would just head to Barberini station and call Geoff if he wasn't there. ( At that point I had no idea if that was where he was going.) thankfully he was standing there hoping I was on the next train! We finished the afternoon wandering up the Quirinal to the palace and an exhibit on modern Italian history. This is a brand new exhibit geared for Italians. The palaceis impressive.
Showing posts with label Rome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rome. Show all posts
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Ah..those Spanish Steps!
Took a wild taxi ride this morning to the Galleria Borghese which is definitely a wonderful place to see some of the best art in the world in a small space! We screeched down back roads and one way streets like the proverbial bat in hell. I was damned gladI had a seat belt for that ride. I knew Romans drove like crazy people, but this was truly amazing!
After the gallery and a lazy lunch, we poked along the park behind the gallery, making our way to the top of the Spanish steps through some pretty swanky neighborhoods. While perched at the top of the stairs enjoying a place to sit and the sun in our faces, I noticed a group of unsavory types who were plying the tourists with babies and children in hand. One of the artists at the top of the hill finally came over to them and started yelling that he was sick of them and he was calling the carabinieri and they better get lost! All of this at the top of his lungs in true Italian style. Off they slunk to a lower portion of the steps.
Well, about ten minutes later, Geoff and I began to descend the stairs. The ladies began to follow and realizing I was having none of it and had a purse that was secured underneath my cape they began to buzz all over Geoff in hopes of picking his pocket of his phone which was in hand, or his wallet which was in the front pocket covered by the camera case. Anyone who knows Geoff knows he has a voice that can be heard all across the Atlantic Ocean. Fast as they thought they could distract him and pick the old pocket, Geoff booms out, "Get your hands out of my fu#*$ing pockets you bitches" whereupon the whole square seemed to stop and look as the crazy pickpockets knew they had the wrong mark and skeedadled away. I was ready to clock one of them. Good thing they don't allow those of us with concealed weapons permits to carry in Rome..........
With that little adventure, we proceeded to the Vatican where we toured for a bit before
catching two busses and returning to the hotel. We are getting really good at that now!
After the gallery and a lazy lunch, we poked along the park behind the gallery, making our way to the top of the Spanish steps through some pretty swanky neighborhoods. While perched at the top of the stairs enjoying a place to sit and the sun in our faces, I noticed a group of unsavory types who were plying the tourists with babies and children in hand. One of the artists at the top of the hill finally came over to them and started yelling that he was sick of them and he was calling the carabinieri and they better get lost! All of this at the top of his lungs in true Italian style. Off they slunk to a lower portion of the steps.
Well, about ten minutes later, Geoff and I began to descend the stairs. The ladies began to follow and realizing I was having none of it and had a purse that was secured underneath my cape they began to buzz all over Geoff in hopes of picking his pocket of his phone which was in hand, or his wallet which was in the front pocket covered by the camera case. Anyone who knows Geoff knows he has a voice that can be heard all across the Atlantic Ocean. Fast as they thought they could distract him and pick the old pocket, Geoff booms out, "Get your hands out of my fu#*$ing pockets you bitches" whereupon the whole square seemed to stop and look as the crazy pickpockets knew they had the wrong mark and skeedadled away. I was ready to clock one of them. Good thing they don't allow those of us with concealed weapons permits to carry in Rome..........
With that little adventure, we proceeded to the Vatican where we toured for a bit before
catching two busses and returning to the hotel. We are getting really good at that now!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday morning in Rome!
It is 7:30 am and the sun is rising over the ancient city of Rome. Church bells are ringing out over the city, not sure why at this hour. It may be that there is Mass as the Lateran Basiloca, nearly next door. Today we plan to do the Colosseum, Palatine, and Fora this morning, then the Fountains and Spanish Steps this afternoon. While we were graced by Caterina's presence yesterday, she has finals and final partying this afternoon, so won't see her until tomorrow.
I was dead tired last night. And couldn't even write my entry without starting to doze off. Our flight to Rome was uneventful, the airplane a typical Alitalia one, a little worn around the edges but with great food, and funny Italian movies. We caught maybe two hours of sleep on the plane, so grabbed a quick hour of a cat nap at the hotel before meeting Caterina at the Pantheon at one. She took us in tow and we bought panini and ate at the Argentine Square after touring the Pantheon. From there we took the ATAC to Trastevere where we walked up 306 stairs- yes, I thought I would die, before reaching Ctaerina's apartment where we walked up 5 more flights to her abode! That was definitely the exercise part of the program!
At the apartment we met her delightful roommates and spent a pleasant hour or so learning more about their semester and how they are all very sad to be leaving this beautiful place. From there Caterina brought us to the Janiculum where we gazed upon the vista o f the city below and caut the sunset. She showed us where to catch the bus to the Colosseum where we were supposed to find a connection to our hotel. 30 minutes of waiting and no bus later, Geoff and I made the long traipse back to the hotel to catch some free, cold pizza in the lounge with a glass of red wine then off to a total collapse and long sleep at 8:30 pm. It is now 8 am and sleeping beauty continues to snore! It is time to get up and get going as it is a sunny, warm (66 degree) day here in the eternal city!
Will post later today! Ciao.
I was dead tired last night. And couldn't even write my entry without starting to doze off. Our flight to Rome was uneventful, the airplane a typical Alitalia one, a little worn around the edges but with great food, and funny Italian movies. We caught maybe two hours of sleep on the plane, so grabbed a quick hour of a cat nap at the hotel before meeting Caterina at the Pantheon at one. She took us in tow and we bought panini and ate at the Argentine Square after touring the Pantheon. From there we took the ATAC to Trastevere where we walked up 306 stairs- yes, I thought I would die, before reaching Ctaerina's apartment where we walked up 5 more flights to her abode! That was definitely the exercise part of the program!
At the apartment we met her delightful roommates and spent a pleasant hour or so learning more about their semester and how they are all very sad to be leaving this beautiful place. From there Caterina brought us to the Janiculum where we gazed upon the vista o f the city below and caut the sunset. She showed us where to catch the bus to the Colosseum where we were supposed to find a connection to our hotel. 30 minutes of waiting and no bus later, Geoff and I made the long traipse back to the hotel to catch some free, cold pizza in the lounge with a glass of red wine then off to a total collapse and long sleep at 8:30 pm. It is now 8 am and sleeping beauty continues to snore! It is time to get up and get going as it is a sunny, warm (66 degree) day here in the eternal city!
Will post later today! Ciao.
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