Day 4 [through 6] – November 3rd
First full day in Rome… interesting to say the least. I’ve been on alert as I’ve heard stories of robberies and pickpockets. Seen a couple candidates but we’ve been left alone so far.
Went up to the Vatican and St. Peter’s Square/Basilica. Afreakingmazing. A lot of money ran through that place. We made the mistake of doing St. Peter’s first, because we went to the Vatican museum afterwards and after waiting in line for over an hour we found they’d stopped admitting people for the day. So so so disappointing.
Took the Metro back to the hotel, ate at La Brushetta and had a good cheeseless maranara pizza.
Saw Pope John Paul II’s tomb as well, that was neat and unexpected. The best part of St. Peter’s was the pure magnitude of everything. Not one thing in there isn’t priceless, the statues, the alters, everything. Didn’t find the spot where all the columns line up, maybe tomorrow.
Saw the Spanish Steps as well, so-so. Too tired to really look around so maybe they’re better from the top or something [Post honeymoon note: They’re not.] Tried to find a restaurant recommended by a friend of mine, Adam, didn’t. Rome is so confusing.
Slightly less disappointing afternoon. Went down to the Coloseum/Forums , which were closed at sunset, but you can still walk around them. Very cool and very old. Also saw the Piazza del Popolo, by far my favorite piazza so far. Huge space and…. Benches!!! Only Drawback was the Egyptian pillar was covered to protect it from the elements. It’s a wonder they haven’t closed Rome.
Done a ton of walking, feets are tired. Sticking close to the hotel tonight for dinner, planning on eating on Via Veneto in an outdoor caffé. They have glass-enclosed ones which are pricey but we’re going to splurge.
Ate at Il Peperone, I had a Caesar sales [con anchovie] and a steak, very tasty. Jill had patate fritte [fries] but wasn’t feeling well.
Day 5 – November 4th
Got up early and did the Vatican museums. Waited in line for 2 hours but actually got in this time. Most impressive for the both of us was the map room. It’s a long hallway with medieval maps on the walls, a various works of art on the ceilings. The Sistine Chapel is impressive in the sense that one guy did the whole thing. We made the mistake of hitting that and then trying to go back to a room we missed. It was worth it to see the Raphael Rooms, but it was crowded and bottlenecked the entire way as they file everyone in the same direction. We saw the Sistine Chapel twice, hehe.
Walked over to the Castel Sant’Angelo, which is featured prominently in the Dan Brown book “Angels & Demons.” It serves as a fortress for the Pope and it afforded our best view of the city of Rome thus far. We are TIRED, but it was a good day. Will try to see the Trevi Fountain tonight. Saw the Spanish Steps again, still only semi-impressive, but they’ve got a ton of shopping down there. Got to the Trevi Fountain as well which is very nice at night, if you can avoid the rose sellers and whatnot. After that we walked back to “our” neighborhood and ate at a place our hotel manager recommended, Il Pomodorino. Inexpensive and quite good. We both had veal, Jill said it was melt in your mouth, and I think I’m becoming a wine drinker, Jill says I was already a wino.
Day 6 – November 5th
Out last Day in Rome. Kind of sad but we’re ready to come home. We’ve had a wonderful and memorable time with ups and downs, beautiful landscapes and unfortunate closings, long lines and pleasant surprises.
We spent today SHOPPING!!! Woo! I bought a sweet leather jacket for E165, and we got a bunch of souveniry-type things for gifts. Ate at the Hard Rock for lunch and I had a much needed burger and a beer, hehe. Ate at San Marco for dinner, the first meal I couldn’t finish. Fettuccini with porcini, Jill had steak and her first real taste of eggplant [she loved it].
Like I said we’re ready to come home. We didn’t get robbed and we didn’t get accosted by gypsies. If you come to Rome, don’t drive in it, hit the Vatican museum first thing in the morning and make sure you have a map and see everything the first time around, be cautious and alert about your valuables but not paranoid (it’s tiring), if you see a small church in your wanderings please stop in, they’re all beautiful. Tuscany is worth every penny and should be a vacation all its own. There are so many beautiful towns and they’re all worth seeing. If we come back, I think a good itinery is Florence and some small Tuscan towns, much like we did this trip.
Ciao ciao from Roma.
PS: What I wouldn’t give for a Sports Bar with a football game.
Post Honeymoon Tip: If you have a shop ship something back to the States, make sure you know how much the shipping charges are before you decide to purchase something. We ended up paying $244 for the shipping of two ceramic plates.
First full day in Rome… interesting to say the least. I’ve been on alert as I’ve heard stories of robberies and pickpockets. Seen a couple candidates but we’ve been left alone so far.
Went up to the Vatican and St. Peter’s Square/Basilica. Afreakingmazing. A lot of money ran through that place. We made the mistake of doing St. Peter’s first, because we went to the Vatican museum afterwards and after waiting in line for over an hour we found they’d stopped admitting people for the day. So so so disappointing.
Took the Metro back to the hotel, ate at La Brushetta and had a good cheeseless maranara pizza.
Saw Pope John Paul II’s tomb as well, that was neat and unexpected. The best part of St. Peter’s was the pure magnitude of everything. Not one thing in there isn’t priceless, the statues, the alters, everything. Didn’t find the spot where all the columns line up, maybe tomorrow.
Saw the Spanish Steps as well, so-so. Too tired to really look around so maybe they’re better from the top or something [Post honeymoon note: They’re not.] Tried to find a restaurant recommended by a friend of mine, Adam, didn’t. Rome is so confusing.
Slightly less disappointing afternoon. Went down to the Coloseum/Forums , which were closed at sunset, but you can still walk around them. Very cool and very old. Also saw the Piazza del Popolo, by far my favorite piazza so far. Huge space and…. Benches!!! Only Drawback was the Egyptian pillar was covered to protect it from the elements. It’s a wonder they haven’t closed Rome.
Done a ton of walking, feets are tired. Sticking close to the hotel tonight for dinner, planning on eating on Via Veneto in an outdoor caffé. They have glass-enclosed ones which are pricey but we’re going to splurge.
Ate at Il Peperone, I had a Caesar sales [con anchovie] and a steak, very tasty. Jill had patate fritte [fries] but wasn’t feeling well.
Day 5 – November 4th
Got up early and did the Vatican museums. Waited in line for 2 hours but actually got in this time. Most impressive for the both of us was the map room. It’s a long hallway with medieval maps on the walls, a various works of art on the ceilings. The Sistine Chapel is impressive in the sense that one guy did the whole thing. We made the mistake of hitting that and then trying to go back to a room we missed. It was worth it to see the Raphael Rooms, but it was crowded and bottlenecked the entire way as they file everyone in the same direction. We saw the Sistine Chapel twice, hehe.
Walked over to the Castel Sant’Angelo, which is featured prominently in the Dan Brown book “Angels & Demons.” It serves as a fortress for the Pope and it afforded our best view of the city of Rome thus far. We are TIRED, but it was a good day. Will try to see the Trevi Fountain tonight. Saw the Spanish Steps again, still only semi-impressive, but they’ve got a ton of shopping down there. Got to the Trevi Fountain as well which is very nice at night, if you can avoid the rose sellers and whatnot. After that we walked back to “our” neighborhood and ate at a place our hotel manager recommended, Il Pomodorino. Inexpensive and quite good. We both had veal, Jill said it was melt in your mouth, and I think I’m becoming a wine drinker, Jill says I was already a wino.
Day 6 – November 5th
Out last Day in Rome. Kind of sad but we’re ready to come home. We’ve had a wonderful and memorable time with ups and downs, beautiful landscapes and unfortunate closings, long lines and pleasant surprises.
We spent today SHOPPING!!! Woo! I bought a sweet leather jacket for E165, and we got a bunch of souveniry-type things for gifts. Ate at the Hard Rock for lunch and I had a much needed burger and a beer, hehe. Ate at San Marco for dinner, the first meal I couldn’t finish. Fettuccini with porcini, Jill had steak and her first real taste of eggplant [she loved it].
Like I said we’re ready to come home. We didn’t get robbed and we didn’t get accosted by gypsies. If you come to Rome, don’t drive in it, hit the Vatican museum first thing in the morning and make sure you have a map and see everything the first time around, be cautious and alert about your valuables but not paranoid (it’s tiring), if you see a small church in your wanderings please stop in, they’re all beautiful. Tuscany is worth every penny and should be a vacation all its own. There are so many beautiful towns and they’re all worth seeing. If we come back, I think a good itinery is Florence and some small Tuscan towns, much like we did this trip.
Ciao ciao from Roma.
PS: What I wouldn’t give for a Sports Bar with a football game.
Post Honeymoon Tip: If you have a shop ship something back to the States, make sure you know how much the shipping charges are before you decide to purchase something. We ended up paying $244 for the shipping of two ceramic plates.
Labels: Honeymoon Italy Rome
posted by Moose @ 5:12 AM
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