( Overview
/ The World Trip (well a short one)
Trevi Fountain
Leave 16:05 Split OU380 1h 00m A320 Arrive 17:05 Rome
Arrived on time into Rome and found it was quite simple to catch the train into the central station. After check in we wanted to get out and stretch our legs again so we decided to check our location in relation to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, and it was very good but oh the crowds!! A tasty 3 course set dinner, on the cheap, with a glass of birra then bed (seemed like we were reverting to childhood with these early nights).
Tuesday saw us walking till we dropped. We started again at the Trevi (crowds already by 10am) then headed east with the goal of reaching the Vatican. Along the way we saw the Pantheon, many fountains and piazzas, had lunch then stumbled across the Tiber.
What a mess that river is, we both agreed that the Italians need to do something about it and learn from the English (Thames) and the French (Seine) and clean it up and maximise its tourist potential. Stagnant and green from algae we didn't wander its banks!!!
Crossing the Ponte St Angelo (love the statues!) we marched on towards St Peters. Even though we had both seen it before it still stops you when you reach the piazza.
Even without the religious aspect St Peters Basilica and the piazza are majestic, aged and steeped in history. And inside is the same. But the crowds make you stop and think. Irrespective of religion (again) St Peters is a church and thus a place of reverence, but half the people are jockeying for rights to have their photo taken in a certain place and the Christian spirit is sadly, noticeably missing. But on the cheery side what a sight the place is (just don't think about the ostentatious wealth).
With weary feet and bruised soles we were forced to walk home (well you can see more when walking can't you!!). So after 9-10kms and 7-8hrs walking we decided that a nice meal was the reward. We choose a nice looking place and then were served the most basic green salad (2 types of lettuce only, no tomatoes or anything else) and the most fishy tasting fish (you know that fishy smell!!! Well that was the taste) and roast pork (3 slices from a pre-packaged oven roast meal). And well, wasn't the waitress confused when we said 'very average' to the customary "how was your meal?".
Wednesday 19th was the day we headed south. Looping around our hotel we headed via Repubblica-Teato dell'Opera (and lots of shops) to the coliseum.
Getting inside took no time at all (touts for guided tours stated it would be 40 minutes) and the handheld voice guide contained an adequate detail of information to keep us there 2 hours.
Leaving we walked through the Roman Forum, via the Piazza Venezia and back uptowards the pantheon and a supermarket we had spotted. Buying some supplies we headed home for dinner on our balcony. After the miles we decided it was time to sleep again.
Thursday was departure day but we were up early and out before breakfast. We had clued into the fact that most tourists were only out after breakfast so unsurprisingly we were the first at both the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps that morning. Fantastic to actually see them without the herds of cattle (I mean tourists).
If you want to know about any of the above look at the below site, I think it's great
www.italyguides.it/us/roma/rom...
Arrived on time into Rome and found it was quite simple to catch the train into the central station. After check in we wanted to get out and stretch our legs again so we decided to check our location in relation to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, and it was very good but oh the crowds!! A tasty 3 course set dinner, on the cheap, with a glass of birra then bed (seemed like we were reverting to childhood with these early nights).
Tuesday saw us walking till we dropped. We started again at the Trevi (crowds already by 10am) then headed east with the goal of reaching the Vatican. Along the way we saw the Pantheon, many fountains and piazzas, had lunch then stumbled across the Tiber.
What a mess that river is, we both agreed that the Italians need to do something about it and learn from the English (Thames) and the French (Seine) and clean it up and maximise its tourist potential. Stagnant and green from algae we didn't wander its banks!!!
Crossing the Ponte St Angelo (love the statues!) we marched on towards St Peters. Even though we had both seen it before it still stops you when you reach the piazza.
Even without the religious aspect St Peters Basilica and the piazza are majestic, aged and steeped in history. And inside is the same. But the crowds make you stop and think. Irrespective of religion (again) St Peters is a church and thus a place of reverence, but half the people are jockeying for rights to have their photo taken in a certain place and the Christian spirit is sadly, noticeably missing. But on the cheery side what a sight the place is (just don't think about the ostentatious wealth).
With weary feet and bruised soles we were forced to walk home (well you can see more when walking can't you!!). So after 9-10kms and 7-8hrs walking we decided that a nice meal was the reward. We choose a nice looking place and then were served the most basic green salad (2 types of lettuce only, no tomatoes or anything else) and the most fishy tasting fish (you know that fishy smell!!! Well that was the taste) and roast pork (3 slices from a pre-packaged oven roast meal). And well, wasn't the waitress confused when we said 'very average' to the customary "how was your meal?".
Wednesday 19th was the day we headed south. Looping around our hotel we headed via Repubblica-Teato dell'Opera (and lots of shops) to the coliseum.
Getting inside took no time at all (touts for guided tours stated it would be 40 minutes) and the handheld voice guide contained an adequate detail of information to keep us there 2 hours.
Leaving we walked through the Roman Forum, via the Piazza Venezia and back uptowards the pantheon and a supermarket we had spotted. Buying some supplies we headed home for dinner on our balcony. After the miles we decided it was time to sleep again.
Thursday was departure day but we were up early and out before breakfast. We had clued into the fact that most tourists were only out after breakfast so unsurprisingly we were the first at both the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps that morning. Fantastic to actually see them without the herds of cattle (I mean tourists).
If you want to know about any of the above look at the below site, I think it's great
www.italyguides.it/us/roma/rom...
The Pantheon
statue on Ponte St Angelo
St Peters
inside St Peters
the Coliseum
Inside the Coliseum
Inside the Coliseum
The Arch of Constantine
Trevi Fountain at night
Trevi Fountain in the morning
Spanish Steps
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