...not New England!
Our trip to Italy was confirmed on October 2, and we left for Rome October 5, arriving in Rome October 6. We settled into a hotel near the Coliseum. The first day was spent sleeping; one of the consequences of no direct flights is the extra two to four hours of layovers, so that arriving without debilitating jet lag is unlikely.
Since we had so little notice, we had done almost no preparation for the trip. So on Tuesday we got a late start with lunch at the Campo del Fiori. The folks nest to us were also Americans from SF. They were on a walking tour across the city while their cruise ship was stopped for the day. We went with them to the Pantheon, then looked for gelati (unsuccessfully), and ended up at the Vatican. It was late in the day, and the lines were not exceptional, so we decided to make a trip to the Basilica. After about a half hour in line (and it was hot), we made it inside, and made the rounds of the ground floor, then took the elevator to the dome, and walked up to the top of the cupola. By then we were pooped – and took a taxi back to the hotel.
Wednesday we started with the obvious – the Forum and Palatine Hill, using the handy-dandy Rick Steves ipod tours. The city is hot and humid, and crawling with tourists – it turns out that October is the most popular month for Americans since it is less hot than the summer months. But it is plenty hot. And forget trying to blend in as we do in France – here the tourists seem to outnumber the locals 5 to one, so keep that camera out and ready.
That evening we walked across town to the Trevi Fountain, and then the Spanish steps beore making our way back to the hotel.
Thursday we went to the Coliseum, and made our way back to the Vatican for the Museum and the Sistine Chapel. The Louvre is 8 miles, and takes several days to complete. The Vatican Museum is 4 miles, and even though some of it is closed, it took a good hour and a half to get through it to the piece de resistance – the Sistine Chapel (no photos!). Again we used the Rick Steves ipod tour, and spent about 40 minutes in the Chapel. I have never thought it particularly beautiful, but is it magnificent.
Friday we visited the Borgese Gallery (no interior photos, drat), by far the best site of this trip. On the way back via the Spanish Steps in daytime we stopped at Piazza Navona for lunch and “death by Chocolate” ice cream, and stopped again at the Pantheon. After a brief siesta, we found Michelangelo's Moses at the church of St. Peter's in Chains, which is quite nearby -- we had walked by it at least three times in the last few days.
Saturday it will be leisurely start for Florence, and settling into our apartment for the next two or three weeks.
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