Monday, May 19, 2014

Day 1 - Our flight from Dallas to Rome
It was a long plane ride over!!! We left Dallas at 4:10 p.m. and flew up over Montreal, Canada, to get to Frankfurt, Germany (we arrived in Frankfurt around 1:30 a.m. Dallas time! Not much sleep!) We had a very hard time in the Frankfurt airport trying to find our connecting gate - good thing we had a two hour layover there! :) But, we were now on the last leg of our trip to Rome! It was very exciting to see the Swiss Alps from the plane window when we flew high above them!!! I loved that special surprise! Then, in the Rome airport we got kinda' "lost" -- we got in a "secured area" and we could not get OUT!!! We couldn't figure out how to get to the baggage claim area -- long story, but it was a mess and we couldn't find anyone to help us! Finally, we got to baggage claim and our luggage was there!!! Good news! Then, we were worried about trying to find the driver who was going to be at the airport to meet us and take us to our VRBO (apartment), but not only was there one driver there holding our name up . . . there were TWO!!! So, we had to spend about 30 minutes listening to them argue about who was going to take us!!! :( Lots of confusion for the day -- especially when you are so tired!!!) But, we were excited to see our friends waiting for us here in Rome (friends from our RV park in California):  



 Dinner with Kay, Joe, Ted, and Karen!!! Ravioli with spinach, bread, wine, and the best tiramisu ever!!!

 These are the Spanish Steps. So many people gather here - a very busy location, and only a short distance from our apartment.


Day 2 Tour of the Colosseum, Palatino, and Roman Forum


After a good night's sleep, we were excited about our first day of touring Rome! So much to see, but SO many miles to walk as well! We rode the Metro (subway) over to the Colosseum, Rome's most iconic monument! The Colosseum, built over 2,000 years ago, is a massive arena which was used for violent entertainment. Many gladiators and animals were killed here during that time. It was amazing how many people were there touring, it draws thousands of visitors to it each day.

Titus (reigned 79-81 AD) inaugurated the complex with games that lasted 100 days and nights during which some 5,000 animals were slaughtered! :(

50,000 seat arena

May 18,2014

Joe, Ted, and Bob

Gladiators


Day 3 St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel

We arrived at 8:15 to meet our tour guide, Giorgia. The sky was cloudy, but the crowds had not yet arrived at St. Peter's Basilica.

 One of the side entrances with a Swiss guard standing watch at the door.

The Sistine Chapel cannot be seen much except from this view. No picture taking is allowed inside and no talking, but it was PACKED with people when we were in there!!!

 Atop the roof of the basilica with Joe and Kay, Ted and Karen, and Bob and me.

 The famous sculpture, Pieta, by Michelangelo. It sits behind bullet-proof glass. It's the only work he ever signed and sculpted when he was a little-known 25 year old!

 The piazza is crowded with so many people waiting in line to go through security before entering the church.


One of the halls inside the Vatican Museum.

No comments: