It all seems like a blur now that we are back in North America amongst old friends. Craig's photos have been ready for days, but Lynda has been procrastinating and the write up hasn't gotten done. So here goes.... .jpg)
Rome = 2 thumbs up. Its historical and cultural significance is immense. Everything is so impressive. The Colosseum, the Vatican, the Pantheon, the piazzas, the fountains, the statues, the restaurants, the transportation, the shopping. We could go on and on, but in truth we only saw a fraction of it and we were there for six nights. Rome is definitely worth a visit and then a return visit. We spent our first three nights at a bed and breakfast (Maison Genevois 3) in Prati and the last three nights at an apartment (VRBO # 220827) in Trastevere. We were very happy with both of them, but it is always nice when you can have more privacy and space.
Rome is a popular European destination, but it wasn't obnoxiously busy. It seems they have some experience dealing with tourists and the system runs smoothly and efficiently. In many cases, you can book tickets in advance online or pick up a.jpg)
tour on site. It was oppressively hot the day we went to the Spanish Steps and there were a lot of people milling around, but down the road, it wasn't impossible to find a spot to throw our coins into the Trevi Fountain and make a wish. We always got on the bus or the Metro, and we had no trouble finding a place to eat. Even the toilet line-ups at the Vatican moved quickly.
It is impossible to talk about Rome and not mention churches. They are everywhere, and they range in size and grandeur. One of our favourites was the Chiesa di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva located near the Pantheon. Not only does it have paintings by Filippino Lippi and Fra Angelico and a lesser known sculpture of Michelangelo's, but it also has the tombs of St. Catherine of Siena (minus her head) and two Medici popes. As we wandered around the dimly lit church in awe, we
were treated to the magical sounds of a choir in practise for an evening concert. This only enhanced our experience. None of these churches compares to St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. It seems that many great artists left their mark here - Michelangelo, Bernini, and Raphael to name a few. It is over 15,000 sq meters in size and can hold up to 60,000 people. You could walk around inside for hours and not see everything. Then there is the Vatican Museum. We bought our tickets online so we were able to walk right in, but the line-up for general admission was at least a mile long. We were stunned by the wealth of the Vatican. We are sure that if they sold all their holdings (tapestries, paintings, statues, religious icons etc.), they could eradicate world poverty.
.jpg)
The time has come for us to return to North America. We have two flights to take to reach our destination of Dallas, Texas. For those of you who can't fathom why we would stop there, it is the home of the Bebb family. For years we have promised to visit them. Now it is time to make good on the promise. We have eight nights to recuperate from jet lag, acclimatize to North America and catch-up with good friends. So, bye for now, y'all!
View More Photos
.jpg)
Rome = 2 thumbs up. Its historical and cultural significance is immense. Everything is so impressive. The Colosseum, the Vatican, the Pantheon, the piazzas, the fountains, the statues, the restaurants, the transportation, the shopping. We could go on and on, but in truth we only saw a fraction of it and we were there for six nights. Rome is definitely worth a visit and then a return visit. We spent our first three nights at a bed and breakfast (Maison Genevois 3) in Prati and the last three nights at an apartment (VRBO # 220827) in Trastevere. We were very happy with both of them, but it is always nice when you can have more privacy and space.
Rome is a popular European destination, but it wasn't obnoxiously busy. It seems they have some experience dealing with tourists and the system runs smoothly and efficiently. In many cases, you can book tickets in advance online or pick up a
.jpg)
tour on site. It was oppressively hot the day we went to the Spanish Steps and there were a lot of people milling around, but down the road, it wasn't impossible to find a spot to throw our coins into the Trevi Fountain and make a wish. We always got on the bus or the Metro, and we had no trouble finding a place to eat. Even the toilet line-ups at the Vatican moved quickly.It is impossible to talk about Rome and not mention churches. They are everywhere, and they range in size and grandeur. One of our favourites was the Chiesa di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva located near the Pantheon. Not only does it have paintings by Filippino Lippi and Fra Angelico and a lesser known sculpture of Michelangelo's, but it also has the tombs of St. Catherine of Siena (minus her head) and two Medici popes. As we wandered around the dimly lit church in awe, we
were treated to the magical sounds of a choir in practise for an evening concert. This only enhanced our experience. None of these churches compares to St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. It seems that many great artists left their mark here - Michelangelo, Bernini, and Raphael to name a few. It is over 15,000 sq meters in size and can hold up to 60,000 people. You could walk around inside for hours and not see everything. Then there is the Vatican Museum. We bought our tickets online so we were able to walk right in, but the line-up for general admission was at least a mile long. We were stunned by the wealth of the Vatican. We are sure that if they sold all their holdings (tapestries, paintings, statues, religious icons etc.), they could eradicate world poverty..jpg)
The time has come for us to return to North America. We have two flights to take to reach our destination of Dallas, Texas. For those of you who can't fathom why we would stop there, it is the home of the Bebb family. For years we have promised to visit them. Now it is time to make good on the promise. We have eight nights to recuperate from jet lag, acclimatize to North America and catch-up with good friends. So, bye for now, y'all!View More Photos
No comments:
Post a Comment