Monuments of Rome
Trip Start
Aug 09, 2008
1
15
34
Trip End
Sep 16, 2008
Rome,
Italy
Saturday, August 23, 2008
It's a fine morning, and already quite hot. Looks like it will be scorcher. I get to the Office of the Tour Company about 30 mins later and already sweating. When I talked to one of the reps inside, she says I'm too late, tour gone. Thankfully, she says I can just rebook the tour for tomorrow. Sweat, I'll have to change my entire itinery around but great. So today, I'll do the Open tour on the hop on hop off bus today, Vatican tomorrow, Pompeii on Sunday.
The Open Tour bus goes past the Coliseum, so that's my first visit
Rome
. I had seen it last night in the taxi, when it was all lit up, but in the daylight it looks much bigger. It must have been extremely impressive when it was first built nearly 1500 years ago. And I thought I was old LOL.I join the long queue to get in and buy a ticket. It could be a while it's 10 euros just to look around. While in line, there are people who are asking if people wanted an English speaking tour. It meant not waiting in line, and getting a bit of history about this magnificent structure, and entry into the Palatino and Roman Forum. At another 11 euros, sure I'm in and it meant I was not waiting in the heat. A bit of advice for everyone. You can buy bottles of water that are frozen. You'll need it in this heat, to cool down, and rest in the shade. It helps with the heat.
After, about 10 mins we, tickets are assigned and we start. The tour guide was great. He took us in, and at particular spots, would give a detailed oration about various features of the coliseum. The tour takes approx 45mins to an hour, and then we have about 30 mins before the next tour of the Palatino, and Roman Forum that is across the road. Despite the damage that has occurred over the years, it is still quite incredible structure. Did you know it took approx 8-9 years to build the Coliseum?
The tour of the Palatino was just as good
1-Rome
. We went around the ruins and although we have to use a bit of imagination, it wasn't hard to realize, it was huge. There was even a private circus for the emperor. The Circus Maximo, was the public arena, that could hold 300,000 people, and would stage the chariot races. Palatino is also the first of the 7 hills of Rome. Essentially, it is where Rome was founded by Romulus all those years ago. The tour ended there, and we were told to wander around the Roman Forum. More ruins of a long dead empire. Still, it makes one think that once, long ago, it was thriving.Back on the bus, and onto another stop for a boat cruise on the Tiber. It starts at Castel Sant'Anglo, where there is this grand fortress, and cruises for about an hour up and down the Tiber finishing at the same spot. It was very cruisey indeed. I'm sure that I must have nodded off a few times because I was so relaxed. I wasn't bored at all. In fact, I haven't been bored once on my entire trip so far. The cruise was just relaxing.
The next stop on my agenda, The Spanish steps. I have to walk for about 10 mins from Barberini. I see now why people like to visit it. It looks very grand and on a hot day, the fountain at the bottom of the steps is very inviting. There are lots of people sitting by the fountain around it cooling off
2-Rome
. Too many actually, so I move on to the Trevi Fountain, which is another 15 mins walk, and is near Via Veneto or shopping district of central Rome (I read that somewhere). The Trevi Fountain is all you have seen and heard about. An impressive fountain indeed, which is nestled in this little square. There are hundreds of people here, mostly tourists, to see the fountain and get their picture taken. An American lady takes my picture, and in return I do the same for her and her friends. I couldn't get near the fountain itself. Just too many people around. I must check it out at night time.Again, I've done a 12 hour stint, visiting major attractions. Time for something to eat and some sleep. I'm not sleeping in again. The hotel has a roof top garden bar and restaurant. It's a pleasant evening for veal. Nice meal, Nice ambience.
