Blogs from Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe - page 277

Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica, St Peter’s Square A 5am start!!!!! Can you believe it? As it’s a special day at the Vatican today the local guide advises us to start our Vatican tour early to beat the crowds. What a struggle to get up! I must say once we arrive at the Vatican it’s all worth it. Our local guide Patricia leads us through the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and St Peter’s Square over a couple of hours. Heaps of walking and heaps of information. The Sistine Chapel was a definite highlight. The paintings alone are amazing, but imagining Michael Angelo painting it onto the ceiling is mind blowing. There are heaps of people in the chapel and they are continually being told to not talk. You’re not allowed to ... read more

I think 'relaxed traveller' pretty much sums up my attitude to travelling, and believe me, Si can back me up. I'm fairly sure that leaving your passport under the couch in your old flat is probably not what my mother would consider a 'safe place'. So after the slightly chaotic night and early morning trekking half way across London to retrieve it, and a days work, we set off for Roma. I had never been to Rome before, and to arrive at night was spectacular. As we were staying on the other side of the city from the airport so we got driven though the centre of town. After a good nights sleep we decided to walk into town and discover Rome by foot. Rome is surprisingly small and most of the things to see and ... read more

This final segment of my spring break excursion is loooong overdue, but, finally, it's here. In Italy, it was just me, Andy, and Derrick. Three guys on an Italian adventure...We went to Rome, Venice, and Florence, and then back to Rome to fly back. After a delayed flight, we got into Rome from Prague around 8 o'clock and made it to the Alessandro Palace Hostel. It was really nice, and we were in an 8-bed room. There were two others when we got there, one of them was Australian. I love Aussies. They're just so friendly. That evening, we walked around and found a pizzeria. Our chairs were on a slight slope, so somehow I ended up falling backwards in my chair. It was so embarrassing; I don't even know how it happened. A nice Italian ... read more

hey everyone!! i am sorry it has been so very long since i have written! i have not had access to a computer since tuesday...ahhh!!! but i should be able to get some more time with them today!! so i hope everyone is doing well because i miss you all so much! Rome has been great, but it has also been extremely hard being away from everyone with people i don't know, and it has taken some time to get use to it and find a group of people to hang out with, but i think i finally got the hang of things!! plus, there are 18 people on this trip, and there are 5 couples so more than half of the group only hang out with their significant others. but anyway, wednesday was a busy ... read more

Yesterday we arrived in Rome after taking a sleeper train all the way from CH ( 11 hrs ). The train stations are still a bit confusing, but I think we are getting the hang of it. We found a great little hotel in downtown, right next to the station so we can easily travel. We viewed the Colloseum and ancient city today- all we can say is WOW! It is truly beautiful. Most of the buidings, monuments, and ruins are between 1000 and 2000 years old! We walked the via sacre where Caesar, Augustus, etc strolled so long ago. We learned in the 6th century b.c. the Romans built their sewer drains and natural aquaduct ( water supply ) that they still use today! All over the city are these little sinks on the side ... read more