Rome - Domes & Ruins

Rome - we're here!

 

It's fountains, steps, ruins, domes, chapels, Vaticans .... and Colosseums ... and Americans and little Japanese people with video cameras....

We had to get the train into Rome and it looked like something out the blitz!

Off to see the Pope

First stop in Rome - St Peter's Square in Vatican City - it is so much bigger than we thought! You can imagine the people waiting for the new Pope to be announced in the Square and down the streets behind - cool! There was a huge queue to get into the Vatican as it's free but we joined and it went down quicker than we thought - 30 mins - Mogs had read you need to cover your shoulders in there and other churches so had brought a T-shirt to cover strappy top.  BUT got to the bit where they check what you're wearing and you need knees covered too!! Oops Mogs in shorts - stripped off to bra in the big queue - T shirt on and strappy top became a sort of skirt - looked very odd but let M in!!! Vatican was stunning - lots of gold!

 

St Peters Square

 

 

 

Mogs in the vest top that became a skirt!

 

 

 

Inside the Vatican

The Pope's Balcony - can you see him?!

 

 

Beer outside the Vatican - Waiting for the Pope

 

We asked for large beers expecting pint size - oops! VERY large - are we in Germany?!  And Dave is looking a bit like a German with his golden brown sun-bleached hair!!

 

 

On the walk back to the train station we passed the following sights:

 

Artists square - Piazza Romana

 

 

Spanish Steps

 

 

A Fountain round every corner

 

 

View from the Pincian Hill above Rome

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rome is an awesome city full of pretty cobbled back streets in the old part of the city and stunning architecture everywhere.

 

 

 

Gladiator

 

Day 2 in Rome and we headed off to the Colosseum

 

 The Colosseum - off the Metro and there it is! The Ancient Roman Wembley Stadium!

Gladiator Games!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wild animals and Gladiators were underground before going up for the Games - the floor would have been right above this

 

 

We came back to the site and Dave wanted to watch 'Gladiator' film that night!! Luckily we had it in our Vannie film library!

 

The Colosseum is surrounded by Roman ruins

 

 

 

 

When trying to find our way out of the Colosseum area Mogs got us totally lost and on the wrong road - there were dodgy sellers with water and paintings and stuff. Police turned up and they were legging it up the road, shoving gear in vans and binning all the water - funny. Dave asked for some water and they said 'we'll be back 'Buffalo Bill'! Must have been his hat!

 

We then went down a lane that M thought was the right way and ended up by a church - popped in to have a look - D went to the back of the church and disappeared down some steps - M followed!! EEK - at the bottom was a tomb with a skeleton in a case and the skeleton still had his shoes on!!! Was the saint of that church - very spooky and all candlelit - D headed away up the winding stairs and M was just waiting for him to shout 'boooooo' round the corner on the way up!!! Really good to see if a bit spooky and something we wouldn't have found on the usual tourist route - sometimes it's good to get lost!!

 

Big Palace with Horses - we weren't sure what it was but very impressive

 

 

 

Street Crossing in Rome

Crossing the street in Rome is a very dodgy business - you just step out - you go in gaggles as they won't run over 20 of you. It's the centre of Rome and the cars and buses and taxis are flying along and you have to just walk out to cross the road - we got the hang of it in the end!!  Got a video but it won't upload - will keep trying as Dave's commentary is funny!

 

 

Pantheon Chapel - we have had a few religious moments - the churches and cathedrals in Rome are awesome with stunning paintings - here's a ceiling painting in the Pantheon

 

 





Trevi Fountain

 

 

 

 

Visited the Trevi Fountain where legend has it that if you throw a coin over your shoulder into the fountain you are guaranteed to return to Rome one day- If you throw 2 coins then you make a wish as well! They reckon over 3000 euros are thrown in the fountain each day!!! We can believe this as the place was packed with people throwing in coins but we did the same as you do and it was a lovely fountain and cool to see the place even if it is very touristy.

 

 

By the end of the 2 days we have decided we are all ruined out - we could have probably done another day as Mogs wanted to climb to the top of the Vatican Dome and maybe do a bit of shopping!!  Another time...

 

We have loved seeing Rome but it was busy - need chilling time now so off to Tuscany - hills, vineyards, medieval towns and olive trees ........