Finding our way around and getting ripped off by Grandma
Rain
We realized why so many people had hung their laundry out to dry. It wasn't raining. We had planned to see some of the outside sites on Monday as most of the museums were closed. The minute we walked outside, we knew we wanted to go someplace warm and dry. The weather is a lot like Seattle, the forecasted temperature is a bit higher. However, we don't typically walk around in it for hours so it feels colder here.
Here is Keri at the Piazza Nationale which was a block from our hotel.
We met some Seattlites at breakfast that were planning on going to St. Peter's Basilica. As soon as we stepped outside we knew that was where we wanted to go.
Public Buses
We had a fairly good idea of how to get to the Vatican. We're close to the metro, but for some reason we decided to take the bus. I think it was the time of day, and the route that we chose, but the busses were packed. The first one we tried to get on left the last few stragglers on the street. We waited for another one and decided to get a bit more pushy. We were the last two on the bus and Keri thought the door might crush her.
Not knowing the customs, I think we started an argument when some people wanted to get off the bus.
The bus stopped and we were standing in the door not wanting to lose our coveted last place position. I realized that no one could get by me so I finally stepped down off the bus, but at least held onto the handle so I could fight my way back on. That's when some of the locals started talking angrily at each other. It's nice not understanding the language sometimes.
Vatican City
Bus 64 dropped us off right by the side of the Vatican. We got there fairly early, around 9, so the lines weren't that long (about 100 yards).
We met a nice older Dutch couple in line that kept us occupied on something other than the cold so the line went quickly.
We just followed the crowd and ended up finding the audio guide place. At 5E a pop it seemed like an easy way to get a tour. Rick Steves doesn't recommend the audio guides but we got two anyway.
The Dome
Once inside, you can take the path up to the dome, or the path to the floor. We decided to take the path to the dome first. Mistake. Beautiful and recommended, but a mistake to do it first. 300 steps to the inner rim, and then another 300 steps to the outside rim.
The inner rim was fantastic. The paintings were made with bits and pieces of colored stone about the size of a pea. Here was one of the pictures on the inside of the dome. Close up, all of that was done with little rocks.
Getting to the outside rim was an adventure. You have to walk through these pathways that are 3ft wide and 6ft tall and angled depending on where you're at in the dome. One set of stairs were so tight that they had a rope that you had to hold on to. I got some good pictures of the angled walkway.
It was an experience. We finally made it to the top. Beautiful. 360 degrees of Rome. You get a feel for how big the city is when you can see it that way.
And here is a picture from the top of the dome. One of my favorites.
The Basilica
Our legs didn't start to get wobbly until the walk down from the dome. We had to sit for a bit once we got on the floor. Everywhere you looked was something beautiful. Too much to describe here. My favorite was a statue of one of the Popes sitting on a flowing marble blanket.
Another favorite was St. Peter's Tomb with the 70 foot high bronze canopy.
We plan to go back one more time because we didn't realize that we had missed the Vatican Museum. Rick Steves rates it as one of the top three in Europe. Maybe we'll go today.
Rummy
Once we got out of the Museum we were cold, tired and hungry and decided to check out one of the restaurants next the Vatican. Mistake #1. Don't choose any restaurant next to a popular place. We found a small restaurant about a block away and the menu looked ok. We were the only ones there. Mistake #2. Only go to the crowded restaurants where people appear to enjoy the food. We sat down and a little old lady started to talk to us in broken English, "You want spaghetti, meatballa, mushrooma?". We told her what we wanted, Gnochi, Lasagna, salad and water. She brought us meatballs and mushrooms too. Mistake #3. Ask if it is included with the meal.
The meal was nice, nothing to remember. She came back with the bill of 78E, and that didn't include the service. I looked at the bill and asked her to explain why it was so much. Apparently the meatballas and mushroomas where just as much as a full dish, each! She hovered over me while I got my credit card out like she was afraid we were going to dash.
I read that you aren't supposed to leave a tip anyway. Small consolation as we walked out of there in a hurry, leaving no tip, but much wiser as to how we would do things in the future.
I want to go back to take a picture of the place. I'm sure it will get funnier the older it gets.
Lost
We had a good idea of how to get to the metro from our restaurant. We walked north for a couple of blocks to the Ottaviano stop. The stop was closed and seeing all of the people around huddling under their umbrellas talking on the their cell phones, we didn't ask why. We just kept walking, and walking. The next stop Lepanto, was closed too. Something about it being cleaned. At that point we were both cold and tired and decided to take any bus that would take us back. By luck, we happened to take a bus that was going in the right direction. It was much easier to get our bearings once we were on the bus. Finally made it back to the hotel where we slept and thawed out.
Public Fountains
There are big and little fountains all over the town. More than once I've seen a local take a drink from a fountain. Keri got a picture of me taking a drink. It totally grosses her out. Fun.
Trevi Fountain
We made it out to the Trevi Fountain that night. Truly a beautiful sight. Not too crowded, and very romantic.
Tomorrow
Vatican, Pantheon, Capitol Hill and maybe the Forum walk. Depends on how cold it is.
We realized why so many people had hung their laundry out to dry. It wasn't raining. We had planned to see some of the outside sites on Monday as most of the museums were closed. The minute we walked outside, we knew we wanted to go someplace warm and dry. The weather is a lot like Seattle, the forecasted temperature is a bit higher. However, we don't typically walk around in it for hours so it feels colder here.
Here is Keri at the Piazza Nationale which was a block from our hotel.
We met some Seattlites at breakfast that were planning on going to St. Peter's Basilica. As soon as we stepped outside we knew that was where we wanted to go.
Public Buses
We had a fairly good idea of how to get to the Vatican. We're close to the metro, but for some reason we decided to take the bus. I think it was the time of day, and the route that we chose, but the busses were packed. The first one we tried to get on left the last few stragglers on the street. We waited for another one and decided to get a bit more pushy. We were the last two on the bus and Keri thought the door might crush her.
Not knowing the customs, I think we started an argument when some people wanted to get off the bus.
The bus stopped and we were standing in the door not wanting to lose our coveted last place position. I realized that no one could get by me so I finally stepped down off the bus, but at least held onto the handle so I could fight my way back on. That's when some of the locals started talking angrily at each other. It's nice not understanding the language sometimes.
Vatican City
Bus 64 dropped us off right by the side of the Vatican. We got there fairly early, around 9, so the lines weren't that long (about 100 yards).
We met a nice older Dutch couple in line that kept us occupied on something other than the cold so the line went quickly.
We just followed the crowd and ended up finding the audio guide place. At 5E a pop it seemed like an easy way to get a tour. Rick Steves doesn't recommend the audio guides but we got two anyway.
The Dome
Once inside, you can take the path up to the dome, or the path to the floor. We decided to take the path to the dome first. Mistake. Beautiful and recommended, but a mistake to do it first. 300 steps to the inner rim, and then another 300 steps to the outside rim.
The inner rim was fantastic. The paintings were made with bits and pieces of colored stone about the size of a pea. Here was one of the pictures on the inside of the dome. Close up, all of that was done with little rocks.
Getting to the outside rim was an adventure. You have to walk through these pathways that are 3ft wide and 6ft tall and angled depending on where you're at in the dome. One set of stairs were so tight that they had a rope that you had to hold on to. I got some good pictures of the angled walkway.
It was an experience. We finally made it to the top. Beautiful. 360 degrees of Rome. You get a feel for how big the city is when you can see it that way.
And here is a picture from the top of the dome. One of my favorites.
The Basilica
Our legs didn't start to get wobbly until the walk down from the dome. We had to sit for a bit once we got on the floor. Everywhere you looked was something beautiful. Too much to describe here. My favorite was a statue of one of the Popes sitting on a flowing marble blanket.
Another favorite was St. Peter's Tomb with the 70 foot high bronze canopy.
We plan to go back one more time because we didn't realize that we had missed the Vatican Museum. Rick Steves rates it as one of the top three in Europe. Maybe we'll go today.
Rummy
Once we got out of the Museum we were cold, tired and hungry and decided to check out one of the restaurants next the Vatican. Mistake #1. Don't choose any restaurant next to a popular place. We found a small restaurant about a block away and the menu looked ok. We were the only ones there. Mistake #2. Only go to the crowded restaurants where people appear to enjoy the food. We sat down and a little old lady started to talk to us in broken English, "You want spaghetti, meatballa, mushrooma?". We told her what we wanted, Gnochi, Lasagna, salad and water. She brought us meatballs and mushrooms too. Mistake #3. Ask if it is included with the meal.
The meal was nice, nothing to remember. She came back with the bill of 78E, and that didn't include the service. I looked at the bill and asked her to explain why it was so much. Apparently the meatballas and mushroomas where just as much as a full dish, each! She hovered over me while I got my credit card out like she was afraid we were going to dash.
I read that you aren't supposed to leave a tip anyway. Small consolation as we walked out of there in a hurry, leaving no tip, but much wiser as to how we would do things in the future.
I want to go back to take a picture of the place. I'm sure it will get funnier the older it gets.
Lost
We had a good idea of how to get to the metro from our restaurant. We walked north for a couple of blocks to the Ottaviano stop. The stop was closed and seeing all of the people around huddling under their umbrellas talking on the their cell phones, we didn't ask why. We just kept walking, and walking. The next stop Lepanto, was closed too. Something about it being cleaned. At that point we were both cold and tired and decided to take any bus that would take us back. By luck, we happened to take a bus that was going in the right direction. It was much easier to get our bearings once we were on the bus. Finally made it back to the hotel where we slept and thawed out.
Public Fountains
There are big and little fountains all over the town. More than once I've seen a local take a drink from a fountain. Keri got a picture of me taking a drink. It totally grosses her out. Fun.
Trevi Fountain
We made it out to the Trevi Fountain that night. Truly a beautiful sight. Not too crowded, and very romantic.
Tomorrow
Vatican, Pantheon, Capitol Hill and maybe the Forum walk. Depends on how cold it is.
posted by Alex at 8:23 PM
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