DAY NINE AND TEN: ROME, ITALY

Rome. We made it. Veni Vidi Veci. We came, we saw we conquered. Here are the pictures.

Took the Metro in. More graf on the trains than anywhere in the states.

The Roman subway is worst than the NYC subway. Crowded, frantic, cray. Dudes were fighting getting on and off.

The Colleseo stop is where our hotel, Hotel de Rome, is. As soon as you emerge from cray metro land, you are instantly a Gladiator.

A storm is brewing is Rome Which means we have to run with our luggage to the hotel!

Kris taught me how to use a bidet .My first time...Very refreshing but seems like a waste of space,water and appliance.

As we check in the downpour begins but we’re starving. Luckily bomb pizza is at every corner, much like Kebab in Greece. We walked next door to this spot.

Ahhh my first authentic Italian pizza, salad and wine. Delicioso.

Then we walked and got lost. REALLY LOST. If you want to get lost in Europe…go to Rome. No grid, changing street names, no street signs, circles, twists and turns. An after dinner “walk” ends up putting us miles away from the hotel. We walked back, got Gelato (we deserved it) and hit the hay. Full day tomorrow!

DAY 10

Bright and early we hit up the Colosseum. No line (bought ticket in superstar location---ask me!)! Climbed to the top and took it all in.

Grand.

 The under bowels. (lol)

I couldn’t help to be in a perpetual gasp the whole time. So much violence…so much blood spilled. The spirits are palpable. They put an exhibit within the Coliseum with artifacts and libraries. It’s really incredible.

Next, we visited he Circus Maximus where all the chariot races were held. It was closed for renovations….so was the Trevi Fountain. Boo. So we walked through the Forum (the ancient social/shopping grounds).

And then we got lost. Really lost. Like the worst lost ever. We’re young, right? Wrong. Rome is not for the weak. Get on a hop on/hop off, grab a tour. BUT NOOOOO….Not Paige and Kris…WE WALKED EVERYWHERE….THROUGH EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ….TO EVERY  SITE. Now this should have taken an hour but it takes several when you get lost.

Piazza Venezia

 Teatro Di Marcello

We ended up at the Roman Pantheon.

Mass inside.

Piazza di Spagna or Spanish Steps

WALKED to the nearest Metro (And in case you’re wondering, the Metro doesn’t go THROUGH town…only around it… hence all of our walking) and took the train to Vatican City.

Vatican City was  a bit of a let down. Maybe because we had been walking since 8am (it’s now 2pm), it was so hot and the Vatican is uber stuffy. It’s sacred. We get it. Insert a gajillion rules including a dress code, lines with no explanations, no signs and rude guards and officers. We saw the main courtyard and the super long line for St. Peter’s Basilica.

We walked through the Vatican museum, which is an art history/ art lover’s dream. It also goes to show how insanely rich the Catholic Church is. Whoa. The wealth and power is unbelievable. Ps- Remind me to tell you about Catholicism and the Coliseum.

We really could have spent a week in the Museum. But unfortunately, Kris and I were toast. Clothes were soaking wet (90 degree days), legs felt like noodles, hungry, tired, blisters on my feet and I could sense my blood sugar dipping. We got through the whole museum in a little over an hour.

We couldn’t take pictures (or talk, or blink or a guard will shout at you) in the Sistine Chapel. But I’m glad we got to see it

NOW ITS TIME TO WALK HOME. LORDY JEBBUS HELP US. We charged up on a light snack, rested our feet and then hit the Metro.

Got home. Passed out and headed back out for dinner. We had to head out for dinner early with a 4:30am lobby call for tomorrow’s flight.

I found Al Tre Scalini on Trip Advisor and it was the perfect way to end our time in Rome.

This is a young, hip, urban wine bar with authentic local atmosphere and amazing fresh pasta. I got cannelloni with broccoli and Kris got Lasagna. This is also some of the best wine  and strawberry cheesecake that I have ever had!

On a side note: we had an awful experience with Romans and racism. I won’t get into it here but it was awful…each day, numerous occasions. It’s a terrible feeling and the harassment felt more direct than in the states. And for that reason (more than any other city), we were ready to go! Rome is off the bucket list but never again. I can only hope that other cities in Italy aren’t the same. I’m in no rush to find out. Arrivederci Rome! PEACE THE PLUCK OUT!

Germany Tomorrow!