Well we have baked for three days in Rome at 30 C and up to 60% humidity – with the humidity being the biggest killer.
On Monday we started off by heading down to St John in the Lattern by metro to pick up our Omnia and Roma cards.
Back onto the metro and one change later out at the Colloseum, where the queues to get in were long, but moving – andthis was just for the pre-purchased tickets. The “buy now” line outside was short and moving, but once inside was long and not moving. In the end it took us maybe 15 minutes to get in, then the Roma pass gad it’s own express turnstile which was really short and fast queue 🙂 .
Up the stairs and damn it is a big place. Not as well kept as Nimes, but Nimes in toto would fit in the center, maybe scraping the first rows of seats.
After wandering around for about an hour, keeping to the interior and shade as much as possible, we exited and headed just across the path and into the Palantine Hill and Forum area – which for being beside the Colloseum had no queues and was relatively quiet.
We had a small wander around here, but it was getting seriously hot and sweaty in the humid heat and Nerida and Dana were starting to really flake (I wasn;t far behind) — so we headed back to our hotel and cool showers to refresh, then after a short break and some food, back out to find the hop on / hop off bus we have access to for the net 3 days. Took a little hunting at the nearest stop to us as they are not sign posted, but once on we enjoyed the breeze and did a full lap out to the Vatican, then back to the metro termini and then back to our hotel to realx and dinner round the corner at a recommended resturant.
Tuesday was our “Catholic” day, to be spent at the Vatican. And earlyish start to get there for our 10am booking to go ino the mesuem and the Sistine chapel. Was really worth having the pre-purchased tickets as we walked past the ticket queue that the road side group spruickers were already saying was at least 2-3 hours “long”. We though were inside and had our tickets within 5 minutes, including passing security.
All I can really say about the Vatican museums is that it was a long hour and a walk past many treasures that effectively formed a long queue to get into the Sistine Chapel. I’m sure there weren’t better things the church could have spent that money on over the centuries.
However the end goal of the Sistine Chapel was worth the long wait and is just too hard to describe in words how amazing it is, especially seeing that in both Venice and Florence all we heard was how much Michealangelo hated to paint – he loved to sculpt. For someone who didn’t like doing it he sure was damn good at it.
Once out and wending through yet more corridors of artifacts, found the cafeteria and stopped for lunch and a leg relax. Then back on our feet and the short walk round to Saint Peters and find the Omnia office and check in for our priority access. While entry to St Peters is free, the public queue is again hours long and in the sun. With the booked entry you go straight in no waiting.
Having all been sensible for the day wearing covered shoulders and pants (or skirt) below the knee’s (and I’d already taken my hat off) we were waved straight through security – unlike some of the Omnia group who were told they couldn’t enter with their short shorts, or thin strap tops without further coverings.
Once inside it is a seriously big place, the biggest cathedral in the world – so we have now down all of the top 3, St Pauls in London at number 2 and the Duoma in Florenece and number 3. The sheer opulence and size of it is mind bending. We wandered for about an hour, and then debated (briefly) about paying for the additional tour to walk up the dome, but all having hot and tired feet decided better of it.
Back on the bus and round to termini, then metro back to hotel and showers to cool down. A coffee in the bar and feeling much better, but just relaxed until dinner which was round the corner again – they are really good.
Wednesday was our “walking” day, so no pressure to start too early, but out to find the hop on bus about 10am and round to the Vatican stop as our starting point.
A short walk and across the Tiber at Castle Angelo, and attempt to follow suggested walking guides we had picked out for the day.
Made it too the Piazza Navone about midday and stopped for a light lunch looking at the 3 fountains in the square. Then back on our feet and off to find the Pantheon. So yes there was another church today but no where near as impressive as St Peters. Then attempting to get back onto our walking route, got stopped by police blockades near some government buildings due to a protest that as far as I coud tell was dairy farmers trying to stop “foreign” yogurt coming into Italy – though I may be wrong as my Itallian is very sketchy.
Some back streets later and back onto the route which is now through the main shopping centre of Rome. Thence a short walk to the Spanish Steps – and gee a staircase can be really exciting….
So back down the road to find the Trevi Fountain, Which we have decided is the highlight of our Rome stay (not). It was in amazing condition – empty and covered in scaffolding and tarpolines with workers cleaning / restoring it. Such great timing. The sounds of disappointment from people walking around the corners to find it in such a state almost made it worth it, was quite commical. Some nice gelato later and onto the Piazza Venezia and on to the bus for once again Termini and back to the hotel.
Will try a different resturant down the road for dinner tonight, and maybe a wander to the Colloseum to see it light up at night.
Flight to London tomorrow afternoon – which could be a fun day, with Rome airport still in chaos from the fire back in May, and the London tube being shut down on strike for the first time in 13 years. At least the Heathrow express to Paddington we want to use is not (directly) affected, though it may have more use as the regular Heathrow trains are out, we will wait and see. At least the tube is meant to be back working for Friday and the weekend when we want it.