Having written the 2nd post under 'Travel Tales' I feel compelled to at least write something about Rome - one of our more extensive travels!
We spent 4 days in this grand Italian capital - and I must confess, this short write up is neither going to cover it all chronologically nor possibly will describe the experience in great detail. But what I endeavour to do is to present an essence of our trip here.
Rome was not our first choice for this holiday - we were looking at Turkey for a couple of weeks when someone suggested Venice and Italy became another country to look at. Though still quite confident about Turkey, we started reading about various Italian cities. The more we read about it, the more we felt attracted towards it. S & I were looking for a budget holiday so there was also an economics element in picking up Rome. The flights were reasonable, and we found a very nice hotel at bargain rates! The visa process took about 2 weeks and then a month of excited wait :)
We arrived in Rome on flight nearly missed from Paris at 11 PM! Outside the Ciampino Airport, it felt a bit unsafe and strange when no taxis came for about 20 minutes. My mind started thinking of the infamous Italian Mafia :D We checked in at about midnight. The hotel was decent (feels even better on thinking back!) Tired, we slept almost instantly.
Next morning, Rome gave us a hearty welcome with bright sun and clear skies. We had a nice breakfast and left for the city centre. First day in Rome was allocated for the Vatican City. And this tiny country deserves a full day of your attention. The Vatican Museums are one of the largest campuses I have set foot on.The Sistine Chapel is divine! (pun intended) The paintings, the altar, the ambiance all make you feel so spiritual. St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica are awe inspiring.
Had a lovely time street shopping and enjoyed Italian coffee. Satisfied with our day we had a good night's rest.
Had a lovely time street shopping and enjoyed Italian coffee. Satisfied with our day we had a good night's rest.
Second day in Rome was for city sight seeing - Castel de St. Angelo, The Pantheon, Piaza de Venezia, Piaza de Popolo and a scrumptious Italian dinner. These ancient monuments in Rome (except Piaza de Venezia which is 19th Century) are treasures of human stories. Each place has a special tale to tell and a special place in this eternal city.
In the evenings, while waiting for our train back to the hotel, we would map out our next day's routes. For the 3rd day we had - The Roman Forum, The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Piaza Navona. The Roman Forum is a 'city centre' of the modern day. It housed temples, shops, community halls and memorials. Looking at it, one realises that the human mind has worked along the same lines for centuries. And that the current social set up is probably not easy to get rid off! The Colosseum - it is truly a marvel of human ambition. The sheer structure, the mechanics and the design is mind boggling. To think of constructing something of it's stature without any electrical or mechanical aid gives me goose bumps. It was one of the best sites in Rome for me.
We also visited Trevi Fountain that day - another one of sclupting geniuses in Rome - it was one of S's favourite from the trip :)
Piaza Navona was a delight too - a haven for artists it was full of painters and sketchers. We got a caricature done too (still to find a frame for it!!)
On the last day we covered all the remaining sites - The Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese, Capitol Museum, The Zoological Park and a visit back to the Trevi Fountain.
We also spent some time roaming around the various Piazas and street markets shopping for souvenirs. Enjoyed a very delicious lunch and made our way to the airport!
Rome didn't let us down in any way - the local transport was good, people were warm, food was tasty and weather was kind :) We were really glad that we chose it to be a part of our first European holiday!
