Rome - Another Day, Another Gellato Flavor
Rome was a very enchanting city. With quite a history, there was lots to see and do, and by the third day of exploring the city, we were pooped. To start from the beginning, we departed Florence in the afternoon, and enjoyed the short trip to Rome. We got to see a bit more of the Italian countryside, which looks a lot like southern California. It is covered with red tile buildings, vineyards, and olive groves though, with of course, the occasional castle. No more mountains though...we left those in northern Italy. That night, we had arranged to stay in a small private bed and breakfast. The owner was late though, so Laura ran out for some pizza and coke. Turned out to be some of the best pizza of the trip. No tomato sauce, just cheese spinach, sausage and dough. So good though. Eric caught up with the bed and breakfast owner, and we were led inside to a place with marble floors and antique furnishings. They provided Espresso every morning and croissants, but no internet. There was a really nice and talkative Italian lady who would clean and make b-fast every morning while chain smoking. She would talk to us so much, but we don't speak Italian, so we did not understand anything of what she was saying....
We will try to post some videos of the pope's audience and Rome soon on the youtube account.
Well we are next on to Pompeii, and then Venice. See you next time!
Eric and Laura
The first day in Rome, we headed straight for the ruins. We saw the Roman forum, the palatine hill area, Constantine's arch, and the Colosseum. Walking among the ruined temples and houses, it was easy to imagine the place as a roman city, filled with all sorts of ancient peoples. It was also sad, that so many wonderful buildings were left to rot and ruin, and to be plundered as a quarry for other buildings. Still each was an impressive sight, and well worth the visit. The audio guide was kind of crap though. Things were not well marked and it was hard to understand. We would recommend a guided tour of the forum and palatine hill, and then making your own way through the Colosseum. Later that day, we stopped at what was left of the Circus Maximus, and then the medieval church with the "Moment of Truth" stone, made famous in the film "Roman Holiday" with Audrey Hepburn, one of Laura's favorites.
The next day we walked around town, and explored, having a nice lunch of bread, cheese, sausage and olive oil in front of the Trevi Fountain. We also stopped by the spanish steps and the Pantheon, which was incredible.
The third day of Rome, we went to see a papal audience for the public, which was neat. We had supergood tickets, because we were newlyweds and booked early. We were seated up on the platform, right in front of Saint Peter's Basilica, and right next to the awning covering the pope. While we were out in the hot sun for three hours, we got to see and hear the pope speak, and then he drove by in his pope-mobile. He couldn't have been more than 5 or 10 feet away at one point. Afterward, we toured the Vatican museums, Sistine chapel, and St. Peters Basilica, including the papal grotto's where many of the former popes, including St. Peter and John Paul II, are buried. Everything in the Vatican was quite an amazing sight, including the papal apartments.
We will try to post some videos of the pope's audience and Rome soon on the youtube account.
Well we are next on to Pompeii, and then Venice. See you next time!
Eric and Laura
Nur making us Crepes for breakfast. Nutella (chocolate and hazlenut spread) and bananas is the best!
Laura at the Roman Forum
Eric filling up his waterbottle. We found these small fountains all over Italy. They are great. Nice, cool water flows all day and night. You can wash your hands and face, wet your hair, and drink up. They really cool you down, especially after walking all day in the hot sun. Notice the roman bathtub type thing it is emptying into.
Eric at the roman forum, outside the ruins of the temple of the vestal virgins.
Laura in front of Palatine hill, in the ruins of the temple of the vestal virgins.
Eric in front of Hadrian's arch, commemmorating his victory over Judea.
Eric and some giant statue heads.
Laura on the way to the Colosseum.
Eric at the entrance to the Colosseum.
Laura in front of the Colosseum.
Eric and Laura in the Colosseum.
Eric and Laura in the Colosseum.
Laura in the Colosseum.
Eric and Laura at the Trevi Fountain.
Eric and Laura on the Spanish Steps.
Eric on the Spanish steps.
The police in Rome are just a lost as the tourists...I guess.
Eric in front of the Palazoo Nuevo. Apparently, Musselini used to give speeches here back in the 20's and 30's.
Eric in front of the Pantheon. What an amazing building.
Eric inside the pantheon. Yes, the interior is original.
Apparently, laying down is not allowed in the Pantheon.
Eric and Laura below the hole in the ceiling of the Pantheon.
Gelato is awsome. So similar to ice cream, but so not. We have a different flavor every day, and you need it here to stay cool. But its also fun to eat ice cream everyday.
Eric in front of the Vatican. 
Eric and Laura and the pope, on the steps of Saint Peter's Basillica.
Laura in the Vatican Museums. Lots of roman, egyptian, greek, etruscan, and Renaissance pieces, and sumptuously decorated apartments, including some decorated predominantly by Raphael.
Eric in front of the Bridge of Angels, next to Hadrian's tomb.
Eric and Laura outside the Collesium at night.
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