It's been a while since this actually happened, but we've been so busy that I've had very little time to actually sit down and write about our latest vacation to Rome. But here it finally is...
On the flight over to Rome we met Valentina, a lovely Italian girl. She gave us a list of things to do, places to go, and shops to visit and also promised us that it never snows in Rome - and she should know, having lived there her whole life. Rome itself would indeed provide us with things to do, places to go, and shops to visit but decided to greet us with a white blanket of snow over the busy streets and the Vatican's monuments.
The Romans were going crazy over the snow, and we decided that since we were in Rome we needed to do as the Romans do. This basically meant that every now and then I would either break into a flurry of fluent Italian ramblings ("Tutti frutti rigattone tortellini!") or would imagine myself in Monty Python's Life of Brian and start speaking with an appropriate speech impediment ("When in Wome do as the Womans").
We took a guided tour through the Vatican during which our guide, Christiano (or should I say Biggus Duffus), never failed to remind us of just how knowledgeable and superior he was.
We walked through the treasure filled rooms of the Vatican museums and wondered just what wonders they have hidden in their basements and storerooms. Our visit there also made me think again about why people question the right of a Jewish state to exist but not the right of a Catholic state to exist.
The following day we were back to the business of being tourists and as such we went to visit Rome's premier tourist attraction - the Colosseum. This would, at first sight, seem to be easier said than done: the lines that were waiting for us outside the monument were ridiculous.
We had just purchased our
Roma PASS which "offers you Transport and 2 Museums free of charge as well as Reductions for all other museums and major events" so we figured we'd at least try to figure out how this "free of charge" thing worked. We walked up to the head of the line (which was looooong) and discovered that while most people were standing in line to buy tickets we could just go over to the left, flash our Roma PASS cards, and just walk inside. Score!
We explored the Colosseum, the Palatino, and the surrounding area, and eventually found ourselves outside the Capitoline museums, where our way was blocked by the Roman riot police.
As luck would have it the Romans decided this was a good time for a carnival () and again we joined the crowds and had some fun.
We kept walking the streets of Rome and ended up in the Torre Argentina area where archaeologists are excavating a series of ancient temples, in the very center of urban Rome. We walked around the ruins and spotted a cat. Then we saw another. And then another, and another... It was quite the meowsoleum. Further exploration revealed that some cat ladies had taken over a cave near the ruins and over the years had turned it into a
cat shelter for many of Rome's injured and abandoned cats.
We had several other adventures there - Rome has many things to offer (we already miss the gelato...) - I guess you'll just have to talk to us to find out about the rest...
True wonder, wouldn't trade it for any other!
Almost unreal experience
Not only have we been "down under", but also under water. The photographer made me do the ridiculous hand sign, because every one's supposed to do that. Sorry :(
38. Sistine Chapel, Vatican
No pictures allowed inside, but the entrance is right here.
53. Prague Old Town, Czech Republic
No pictures inside, but this is right around the corner.
69. Kremlin, Russia
