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Published: February 3rd 2009
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Hello All,
While in Disney, my friend Erin and I planned on meeting in Rome. It is a place we both wanted to see, and the prices seemed to be right. I went ahead and booked my airfare. Erin had to wait to sort a few things out. As it turns out, Erin had a large project due the day after we planned on returning from Rome. She had to therefore back out. I was left with airfare and no place to stay. Its alright though. I have become such a seasoned traveller that I was happy to be able to go, and figured I would make the best of it.
One thing I will say about travelling on your own in a strange city: the nights are boring. This probably would not have been the case if I had stayed at a hostel, however, I stayed in a hotel because of its great location. With hindsight, I am happy with my choice. I was a 5 minute walk from Trevi Fountain, 10 from the Pantheon, and 5 from the Spanish steps. It was a 5 minute walk to the Metro, so I was able to get around just
Agrippa's Pantheon
This was my first view of it fine.
I left on a Thursday morning. We landed with no problem whatsoever and I journeyed into Rome on the Leonardo Express. I figured my first day would be one just to get myself acclimated to the city. I checked in, freshened up, and headed out with my camera. I decided to just walk in the general direction of the Trevi Fountain. People say the best thing to do in Rome is to get lost. I found my way to the Trevi fountain. It was really different than I expected, however, it really was spectacular. Its size is enormous, and the detail in the sculptures is intricate. I really enjoyed it. I walked on and ran into the Pantheon. It looks so ancient from the outside, however, it really was pristine on the inside. The artist Raphael is buried there, so it was really a neat experience to go in. It was converted into a Catholic church years ago. It was very different to see a Catholic church be so Pagan. As I continued to walk, I came across capital hill, Trajan’s Column (Amanda’s Favorite), the forum, and of course the Coliseum. The Coliseum itself was worth the plane
ticket. A lot of people tend to be disappointed in it (not unlike the Mona Lisa). I thought it was a true sign of civilization. Not the events that occurred inside, rather, the desire of spectators to come together to be entertained. The United States and Europe are filled with football, soccer, and baseball stadiums and hockey and basketball arenas. It is a shame that so much of the Coliseum’s marble was pilfered by craftsman for other projects. I can only imagine how impressive it could have been. On the inside I was able to learn a lot about it, so it was a great experience.
On Friday, I went to the Vatican. Before I got on the metro, I made a stop at this little church where there is a crypt where the remains of Capuchin Monks are kept. It consists of 6 alcoves filled with decorated human bones. The decorations are provided to house mummified monks. I am going to take a picture from the net and post it because you have to see an example to understand when I say it was creepy and impressive all at once. After viewing the bones of my fellow man,
The Trevi Fountain
I chose the night picture over the day picture travelled to Vatican City; the smallest State in the world. I am going to say that Saint Peter’s Basilica is the most impressive religious building I have ever walked in. As Catholic, this IS the pilgrimage. The gold leaf work on the ceilings, the sculptures (including Michelangelo’s Pieta), and the tradition was all very impressive. All you could do is stand there and say ‘Wow.’ I also went up to the top of the Dome at Saint Peter’s and took some great shots of the square and city. For those who received post cards, I wrote them out on the top of basilica. I also went down into the papal crypt. I saw Pope John Paul II’s tomb and got a better look at where Saint Peter’s remains are located. I made my way to the Vatican museum. This was an amazing collection, where the highlight is supposed to be Sistine Chapel. I thought it was very cool, and the colors where beautiful. It was, however, smaller and less impressive that I had hoped it to be. I wasn’t disappointed that I went to see it, just had hoped for a bit more.
Day three was rainy. I spent
it by going to the ruins and the Forum. After watching Rome the series, it was a neat experience to be able to visualize life in Rome. The Palantine Hill, where Augustus had his home, was positioned in a way where the ruler could see all of his city. It’s a shame that the Roman Empire came to an end, as so much was lost when we entered the Dark Ages. That evening I went to the National Museum of Rome to check out the best examples of Roman frescos and sculpture. It houses the most impressive sculpture of Augustus. It also has one of the finest Roman coin collections in the world. While rainy, Saturday proved to be a fruitful experience and time well spent.
My final day was Sunday. I had at this point seen every highlight I had wanted to. I decided I would go back to Saint Peter’s for mass. It was in Latin, so it wasn’t easy to understand. I could tell at which point we were at in Mass, just not what was being said. After Mass, I walked around the basilica again because I wasn’t sure if I would ever be back.
The Pieta
I am particularly proud of this one because it was behind bulletproof glass Finally, I left the church and as I walked out, I heard this massive cheer. Of course it wasn’t for; it was for the Pope. He just had come out to address all the Catholic Pilgrims in Saint Peter’s Square. It was an amazing chance to see the leader of the church. It was amazing despite the controversial activities immediately occurring after my visit. It was a great way to end my trip to Rome. That night, I hopped back into the air and landed in London.
The next scheduled trip is at the end of February. The destination? Istanbul Turkey.
Ciao,
Aaron
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Moo
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Sweet
Bestic these are great to read. I completely envy your travel confidence. I am clueless about that. I get all worked up just flying to Boston. Also please remove or move the giant globe thing I want to see your posts when I check in not that thing. U rock! Compliment sandwhich.