Rome and The Vatican

My last travel update ended in Naples from where we then headed the next morning to Rome. Headed with bags in tow over to the main train station and once again stood awaiting a platform number, train arrived, on we jumped into our respective carriage and seats and away we went again. There’s always a ‘little man’ somewhere who makes his living from helping tourists with their bags so we made use of one and he dragged our big suitcases up onto the train and into the luggage holders for us – gave him 5 Euros ($7.50) but then clicked his fingers and wanted the same again for the extra bags – what the heck – he saved our backs!!! Sometimes it’s just easier to pay for a bit of help than tug and heave ourselves.

Hint: travel with a smaller case when using trains in Europe!!

Made it into Rome in just under 2 hours – the trains are great – they run exactly to the minute and using the 1st class system provides for clean and comfortable seating – may cost a little more but certainly worth it. Hopped off the train fully expecting to be swamped like we were in Naples with people hassling to help us with bags and us not knowing where to go and what to do. Purchased a detailed Rome map at the newsagent where Trish spotted an All Blacks jumper on some guy and promptly took up conversation. He and his mates were on the way out of Rome and had a really good little map which they gave to us and basically pointed us in the right direction. So off we headed, rather easily finding our way out and immediately feeling better with Rome being a much cleaner and far less intimidating city than Naples. So as much as it was a drag to pull our bags along and find our hotel we were each happier than we were after arriving in Naples.

Found our hotel, a cute little one but like all rooms so far, small but very comfortable here. Found a small restaurant across the road and got ourselves some lunch then wandered off to the Spanish Steps, a VERY busy meeting place seemingly for every young couple and every tourist in Rome. If this is winter – what on earth must the place be like in summer???

HINT: Visit Rome in the off season!

Wandered from the Spanish Steps and down to the Trevi Fountain. I had visions of the Trevi Fountain being in a large open square but it is tucked within a small square in amongst the surrounding buildings and once again a VERY busy place.

HINT AGAIN: Visit in the off-season!

Took the compulsory photos and wandered back to the hotel. We only had the afternoon today to roam around (no pun intended!) so decided that was it for the day. Once again I can only get internet access in the lobby so headed down there, Marg soon ‘found’ me, called Trish down also, we grabbed a half bottle each of red and white and did some online catching up over a drink. By then it was 8.30pm so headed out for a feed – Saturday night now so the first restaurant was fully booked, across the road to the next, looked a bit dodgy and we were bundled downstairs wondering where we were going but found a heap more seating. When we had eventually eaten and appeared ‘topside’ the place was PACKED!!!! Couldn’t believe it!! Everyone here eats late – we just want to go to bed!

Next morning Trish was due to leave so we walked her over to the station, did some ticket changing to get her up to the mountains. As much as we told our travel agent where we were going, there happened to be 2 ‘Colfosco’s’ in Italy and it had taken a bit of working out the day before but I discovered on internet searching that all our travel plans had been directed to the wrong one!!!!
Trish now had an 8 hr journey with 2 station changes before arriving up in the mountains where the boys all are. Anyway got tickets changed okay – Marg and I have to do the same on Wednesday.

We then headed off to find a Rome Sightseeing bus which we did a 2 hour round trip on, checked out which spots we wanted to re-visit then did the half loop again and stopped off and one of Romes many amazing spots and did some meandering up side streets (sorry you missed those shops Trish!). Hauled ourselves up the hill to our hotel again (beer and Coke on the way). This evening we managed to get a table at the restaurant we wanted last night – EVER so pleased we did – it was the best meal we have had since being away (sorry Trish – you missed out again!!) Marg had the best Veal Scallopine she’s had and I ordered some salted fish dish that I was not sure about but a full fish came out on a big platter, fully baked in a casing of slat which the chef then made a huge presentation of scraping off the salt, removing the skin from the fish and gently placing the delightful fillets onto my plate. All very much a presentation thing I guess but it was wonderful fresh seafood. Had to finish off with a white chocolate mousse cake ‘thingie’ as well!!

Next morning we had pre-booked a half day tour of the Vatican which we have now returned from. Started off in the Vatican Museums, 30 minutes of solitude within the Sistine Chapel view the ceiling which Michaelangelo took 5 years to paint followed by the end wall which he painted over the next 4 years – 9 years over the age of 70 painting the most beautiful works on a ceiling and magnificent wall. No photos inside the Sistine Chapel though. Next we headed downstairs and into the Vatican Grotto which houses all tombs of the past Popes – a very moving place to be. From there up into St Peters Church, the largest Christian Church in the world – a truly beautiful church even for we non Christians! The church itself took 170 year to build, paint and finish mosaics and marble works. Absolutely magnificent. From there out into St Peters Square – one large enough to hold 70,000 people at a time. We were shown the window the Pope appears from every Sunday to bless his people and the balcony he stand on for ceremonies. Also shown to us was the small window from which a chimney is placed whenever a new Pope is elected. There is no permanent chimney from the Sistine Chapel – it is put up and taken down as required at the time of electing the new Pope.

From all that it was back for some lunch and an afternoon rest – something we have not done for 10 days!!