Rome, if you want to...

Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Because of the heavy traffic on the way to Positano, we decide to leave a little early to get to the train station. Great idea, except we really didn't need the time and we got to the station 1.5 hours before our train was scheduled to leave. I guess flying has scarred us. NOTE: 20 minutes tops is all you need to be there early if you have your tickets. All you do is get on the train with your luggage and sit in your seat; just like the ferries in Greece, except less luggage storage space. Anyways, we now know every nook in the Napoli train station by heart. And there is a shortage of seats in the place so it was a juggling act to find places for us all. Nice train ride to Rome, very easy no hassle at all. After a short cab ride to our hotel, we're ready to start exploring Rome. Off we go with a hotel supplied mad and a good sense of direction.

Without really trying, we find the Spanish Steps . Kinda cool. lots of churches. Really, who'd 've thought? The Trevi Fountain. Bigger than I thought. But our neatest discovery was Iggy's Place. Ok, really it's The Church of St. Ignazio di Loyola, which is why we called it Iggy's Place. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant'Ignazio In, my opinion, this place was better than any other place we went. Bright, lots of beautiful art and an incredible ceiling!!! I know,I know... the Vatican, Sistine Chapel...nope, not as nice as Iggy's. The coolest part is the Dome from the inside.... there isn't any, it's a painting! Very, Very cool.

The next day we head off to do the Vatican. Yes we did a tour, but its wasn't bad and we avoided long lines. Lots of art to the point of being overwhelming. Granted, I'm not a big art person but I was on overload! St. Peter's Basicilla was pretty darn awesome though St. Peter's Basilica  Michalangelo's Pietà is pretty cool too. We have to mail a postcard to Paul from here so once outside, we had to hunt down a store with Pope Cards and a box so it was mailed from the Vatican not Rome . Easier said than done with the construction and limited number of post boxes. After a quick bite, we hopped on an open air bus that took us around the big sites. We got on at stop # 8 and got off at #7. Not a lot of net distance change but we covered the city. And more importantly, it dropped us by the pantheon Piazza Navona. Pantheon, Rome    Piazza Navona After a last swing by Iggy's we walk back again.

Today's tour, the Forum and Colosseum, isn't until the afternoon so since we are staying so close to the Villa Borghese gardens  we decide to spend the morning there. By now, you've figure out I walk the feet off my family. Today, we splurge... we rented a tandem bike. This way we covered everything in the park. Paige and I,being so short in the leg, weren't much help to we just pulled up our legs and went along for the ride. We had the same tour guide as the day before which was great. She was an art/ history major so she was very knowledgeable. Sites just awesome but best part of the day was the bus ride back . The driver didn't speak anything but Italian and there are two families left. Us and a family from Spain. Neither of us are hiving much luck telling the driver where to bring us. Finally, we get Paige up to translate to English, me with the map and Ryan with his basic Italian directions. Eh, whatever works for you.

Our last morning is leisurely eating and strolling through the neighborhood before heading to the train station. Chris' friend Todd is joining us today so they are heading off on their motorcycle portion of the trip. There would have been 10 minutes for Todd and Chris to catch the same train as the kids and I so we put them on the next train. If I had made the reservations, his flight would have been delayed or something. As it was, he was early and they could have made it. Ah well. Not a big deal. We head to Florance without them and I am glad Ryan's nickname is Moose! Lots of baggage and two small females- funky combo. We get to Florance and get a cab to our next Hotel without issue.
 
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