Roma
Trip Start
May 02, 2005
1
21
47
Trip End
Dec 21, 2005
Roma,
Italy
Saturday, July 9, 2005
After an incredible, fun, crazy, tiring and unforgettable week in Rome I think it's fair to say you haven't really been to Europe until you have been to Rome. The city really started europe as we know it (sure the greeks invented democracy and philosophy). From Rome came London, Barcelona and many other great cities (yes.. i cant think of them atm!)
As has been said many times, Rome is a living museum - and unlike some other cities I have visited the Living part should be emphasised. Despite its glorious past and over 2,500 years of history Rome is the most lively city I have visited - not resting on its past greatness.
Everwhere you walk you are confronted by the history and amazed at what was achieved so long ago
Memorial
. Stadiums that could hold 80,000 people, bath complexes as big as shopping centres, and the Pantheon which was the largest dome for around 2,000 years (my favorite building in Rome. I arrived in Rome fairly late from the Cinque Terra after stopping by in Pisa for 2 hours. Yes I saw the Tower. Yes it leans. Maybe Melbourne should stuff up construction of a sky scraper and have the largest leaning tower?
I was a bit worried about finding somewhere to stay, as I had originally planned to stay in Pisa overnight. But after seeing the tower of the leaning variety I decided id rather get to Rome that day. Walked around the station a bit looking very lost some guy came up and asked if i was interested in a pub crawl (in never interested in 10 euro pub crawls...) I pretended I was, took his card and asked if he knew of a hostel.. he directed me to Guy's Paradise Hostel.
All good, they booked me in, only to find the bed was actually taken. Which meant I got to stay in a nicer room because they stuffed up :)
Next day I found another hostel
Pantheon
. And wandered roamed Rome. I strolled past the colleseum, wandered through the Forum and past the huge and breath taking unification monument - which looks like a huge white pillared mouseleum.Oh, yeah at the Chinque Terra I got a blocked ear after swimming .. so from here on imagine all converstations I have are with my head turned to one side so I can hear (now I know how mum and dad feel!).
I was feeling pretty crappy - tired and not being able to hear properly so sat at the bar with a glass of water. I started talking to a new yorker and it turned out be both loved Spain (but who doesnt) another Melbournian introduced himself as Ba! and next thing there were about 10 of us heading off to a nearby restaurant. Little food but much wine was drunk.. when in Rome...
to cut a story I dont remember short we had a great night but it ended with us carrying one lass up 4 flights of stairs...
Next day I changed hostels again because "the palace" was booked... so to the Yellow Hostel i went. I met up with some of the people I went out with the night before and walked to the Vatican - via the Panteon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Novonna and a zillion ruins..
Restaurant in Rome
. The Vatican is Huge, Golden, over the top and pretty disgusting. Its the biggest Cathedral I have ever seen, more over the top than Hussan II Mosque in Casablanca (itself the 3rd largest religious building in the world) and all I could think was how many people could have been helped if the Popes had just built SIMPLE GIGANTIC Cathedral.. I wondered if all the gold, marble and bronze was really needed - that and they pulled apart most of the Forum, Colleseum, Pantheon etc to build the thing.
I wont go into detail about every sight I saw in Rome, but it was basically like the British Museum had come to life. With famous colums, obelisks, statues, paintings all over the place.
My second last day was spent at the Vatican Museum, which includes the Sistine Chapel.
Simply Amazing. I stayed in there gazing at the roof until we were ushered out....
Once interesting thing that did happen on my last day was me seeing a guy walking very quickly with a handbag and bumbag
Rome's gay scene?
. I followed him because It looked a bit strange. He hopped in a car, put the bags out of sight and drove off... bit strange thinks Guy. I wrote down his number plate and went off to find police. I found some inforation shop and told them what had happened. The guy with the best english (after they laughed a bit) suggested that maybe I just forget that it happened - there is lots of theft in Rome..........so I did...Oh yes, when in Rome.. dress up in Togas and drink lots of Cinzano - you'll feel great in the morning! ;)
Maybe I'll add more later but probably not.
