Blog entry July 14:
Some more differences:
• No butter or oil served with bread—you must ask if want
some.
• Coins start at one cent and go to two Euros • Paper money
starts with five Euros, but each denomination is a different
size so that the blind can distinguish between them.
We stopped to throw coins in Trevi Fountain on the way back to our hotel, sad to be leaving Rome, but anxious to experience Cinque Terre. We loved every city we were in and were sure it was going to be hard to beat, but we were never disappointed at our next destination. It’s hard to believe how much we've seen and done on this tour. So far, it’s everything we could have hoped for.
Our time in Rome was packed with activities, but we always had time for a little fun (Well, actually, it was loads of fun!). It was such a joy for Dottie and me to make this trip with our daughters. We cherished every moment.
Andrew, Jennifer and the four of us shared a great meal on our last night in Rome.
Wonder where the phrase “Greek god” comes from? Romans artists portrayed their subjects as they really looked whereas the Greeks made them more handsome than they were in real life.
I always wondered why Roman statues have little holes in their eyes where the pupils should be. Now I know. It’s because they were made out of colored marble (as in this statue), and this too was taken to adorn the churches built during the Renaissance
Robin suffers from cell phone withdrawal.
We saw some amazing works of art at the Vatican Museum. And look at those ceilings! How did they do that?
No photos were allowed in the Sistine Chapel, so postcards had to do. Below is Michelangelo’s Pieta from St. Peter’s.
St. Peter's Square is huge!
The water in this fountain is blessed, and people are welcome to fill their water bottles. We were actually able to fill our water bottles at ancient fountains all throughout the city. The water in Rome is excellent.
The Swiss Guards are all 25 years old. They can only serve for one year.
At left is the Piazza del Campedaglio which was designed by Michelangelo. On the back of this building are two other layers of civilization.
One of my biggest unexpected surprises in Rome was the Pantheon. As we approached it from the behind, I wasn’t expecting much at all. Quite honestly, the back of the building reminded of a rusty old water tower. The front looked better, but I just wasn’t prepared for what was inside.
Incredible! This structure was built in 120 AD!
It’s a huge round building, and the only light source is an oculus at the top of the dome. When you walk in, it’s very dark and you can’t see much at all. As your eyes slowly become accustomed to the darkness, it’s like special effects in a movie—little by little you begin to see the gorgeous interior of this huge basilica—the walls, the floor and the dome are covered with the most beautiful colored marble. Now, for the first time, I really could imagine what ancient Rome might have looked like.
There are seven layers of civilization in Rome. In the building on the left, you can see the green door high above the steps. At one time, it was at ground level. The Romans are unable expand their subway system because every time they try to dig, something else of importance is discovered.
One piece of information that totally surprised me: I had always assumed that these ancient Roman buildings were white, just as I’d always seen them in books. Not so! They were originally covered with beautiful, colorful marble—even the Colosseum. Not a problem, though—you can still see all that marble here in Rome. It was removed and used in the building of all of those beautiful churches during the Renaissance!
Blog entry July 14:
We had a fantastic local guide in Rome. Francesca is Italian, but speaks perfect English (her mother is American). She asked us to put ourselves back in time and imagine ourselves in the Colosseum during the time of the ancient Romans, and she told us how the activities were used for “crowd control.” In the morning, wild and exotic animals were killed (impressing the crowd with the power of the crown to capture these animals). In the afternoon, public executions were held (to deter anyone from breaking laws). Later, for further entertainment, gladiators battled in the arena. Each one only fought about three times a year; and, of course, they only lived to be about 30 years of age. Meals were provided for the spectators throughout the day—what else would Roman citizens need?
We had a full eight days in Italy, and we certainly needed it. There is so much to see! And Rome is truly an amazing city. The first big surprise was to get out of the subway station and see the Colosseum across the street. There it was next to the busy street!
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