We are off to a slower start this morning with no place we have to be. I was too tired to write the blog the day before and so I am spending time this morning. I need to write it while I have a wifi connection.
Today is getting to know Rome Day. We catch the train to the main station to catch a Hop On-Hop Off bus. We want to get a feel for the city and tour the main attractions.
Our first stop is the Colosseum. It is so rewarding to be standing in it's shadows looking up at it. The crowds are enormously long and while we have a ticket we learn we have to wait in line for the security check. We are approached by three different men selling tickets for groups. I am interested but Scotti says that Rick Steves says beware. I tell this story because poor Scotti has been so nervous with all the street people coming up to us asking for money or trying to sell us something. It is pretty constant. The fourth guy comes up and says we don't have to wait in line, Scotti says ok with no hesitation. I smile! Fear seems to have left her with the thought of that long line. She is further reinforced for this decision when the tour guide calls her out for attention and asks her to spell Roma backwards. It's amore.
After the Colosseum we move on to the Forum. Here are the archeological remains of Ancient Rome. We walk the Via Sacra. Rick Steves says it is probably the oldest road you will ever walk with the original Roman stones. Julius Caesar walked that road. Here we also see the Senate building, the Arch of Titus and an ancient Basilica of Constantine as well as many other remains of Roman civilization. Roman engineering is incredible.
Next stop is the Pantheon. On the long walk to it we linger and drink in the gorgeous capital building of Rome resplendent with Renaissance sculptures, continuos burning fires, lovely landscaping and vigilant guards. To the left of the building are about 100 police officers with police vans. That was a little unnerving.
The walk to the Pantheon was much longer than expected and difficult to find. We had to hurry so that we could make the last bus. Upon arrival we find a square with a fountain at the center. A man is singing opera. It feels like the Rome we see in the movies. Unfortunately we cannot enter the Pantheon because there is a service being held inside but the outside of the building with its 40 feet single piece marble columns, round walls and artful dome built by Emperor Hadian in 120 AD is incredible.
Breathlessly we arrive back at the bus with just enough time to ride the rest of the route so that we can see the other major sites of the city. By now we are tired and hungry. We have not eaten since breakfast and my Fitbit says we have walked 18,000 steps today. We take the train back to our hotel and stop at a Italian restaurant near our hotel for dinner at the appropriate Roman time for dinner at about 8:30. The food and wine are delicioso!
Lesson Learned:
The potential, capacity and creativity of human beings is awe inspiring.
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