Thursday, November 28, 2013

Rome, Italy October 2013

Big finale post for our Italy vacation. It's a lot of pictures - it was hard to cut the post down but hopefully I kept the best pics. Be sure to hit the comment box at the end and say hi.

For now - away we go... 

**Reminder** Click on pictures to enlarge. (And, I think there is a video or two in this group.)

Best thing we did was purchase the Vatican and Rome City passes. This was a combo pass provided by Opera Romano Pellegrinagi and included not only entry but also line jumping for St. Peters, the Vatican, the Coliseum, museums, etc etc etc. It also included a pass to ride the hop on/hop off bus which was so awesome. 

St. Peter's was set up because the Pope was scheduled to appear. There is a red drape at the entrance to notify all that the Pope will be speaking. And, I guess because it looks good on TV.

Our photos from St. Peter's Basilica & The Vatican:






























































Getting through the Sistine Chapel was crazy. And, I might have appreciated it more if I could have actually looked up and took it all in, but they squish you like sardines and force you through it. I couldn't even stop and look up without getting shoved. So, majestic? Maybe. How would I know? I took a picture holding my camera upside down- and I know. I know, we're not supposed to do that - but I wouldn't have even seen it otherwise. I thought there'd be benches or somewhere to sit, but nope... in/out/move on. Blah. I might have been a little cranky stuck in the crowds and not able to even see it after coming this far, ya know? 

The hop on, hop off bus was really fun. It drives all around Rome and you can get your bearings. Below are some pictures we took from the open top, upper deck of the bus:


Castel Sant'Angelo (the mausoleum of Hadrian).






Still on the bus tour - Capitol Hill from Piazza Venezia.


Going to go here for sure. A shot from the bus of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. (Home to the mouth of truth... aka - fun scene from Roman Holiday).



Castel Sant'Angelo again...

Capitol Hill again from the bus - a good shot of the stairs that most people think are where Caesar was murdered... they're not, but they are truly the steps that senators would climb everyday. It's exactly as I pictured it. Hee.

It took me three rides around on the bus before I was able to time this shot perfectly. LOL. I'm telling you the truth. I rode the bus around three times just so I could get this shot of this soldier.


The next collection of photos are from our day at the Coliseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum.
Or, the day Mike was in heaven.

We paid for a tour guide and it was so worth it. Our Rome pass got us in and we skipped lines, but also paid for an accredited archeologist to give us a tour of the Coliseum and Palatine Hill. It was super good and I highly recommend tours if/when you ever go there.


The Arch of Constantine outside the entrance.

Oh hey, Mike. GLAAAAAADIATOR.



As we're getting ready to start our tour, I lean over to Mike and say, "Man, I wish your sister - the lovely Crystal - was here."

And... POOF!!!
Just like that, Kris appears.


The picture above is not that clear, but trust me. Mike and I were freaking out. This beautiful woman looked so much like Kris that Mike almost walked up to her. I was like, "Um, if it were Kris, you would know she was here. Also, she would recognize you and not look at us like we were crazy people thinking of kidnapping her. Quit staring!!" ha ha ha ha

Back to our tour:





The now-traditional shot I take of Mike taking a shot.









Palatine Hill and Roman Forum shots:














Mike at the Roman Forum:







Mike left me to rest at the hotel and he headed out to do some exploring.




Video of Mike attending a service at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore:


He also did a little bit of night exploring and took some excellent shots.
The Pantheon.

A shot of Piazza Navona from a hotel rooftop/cafe:



Trevi Fountain at night:



The Spanish steps at night:




Final shot of the Pantheon at night:


Aaaand, in the morning I have rejuvenated and am ready to see the Trevi Fountain, too!!!







And, a day shot of the Pantheon:

Inside the Pantheon...

A quick interior video of the Pantheon. Can we just mention that this building opened in 126AD. That's not a typo. 126 A. D. Holy moly.



Daytime at the Spanish Steps:

Back at the Piazza Navona:


And some more shots around town:



Mike went out to the Borghese Gardens. I hopped back on the bus and listened to the guided tour. My feets were tired and I don't want to hear any lip about it. It was a long a vacation and I needed a rest!!!







The Pyramid of Cestius - under construction/renovation. It was built in 12 BC.
TWELVE B. C. It is OVER 2000 years old. I just can not wrap my head around that. And it's just sitting here in Rome a couple of blocks over from Palatine Hill and the Circus Maximus. No big deal.

The Baths of Caracalla - also just right in the city. Since 212 AD.



On the final day, Mike hit the Castel and a few other spots while I walked to the tattoo parlor. The dude didn't open on time so I sat on a little side street having a cappuccino and pastry behind the Vatican in the cutest little neighborhood full of old people. No tattoo this trip. But I'll get one when we go to Vegas in March.








Another short video clip of the view above the Castel Sant'Angelo


Oh, yeah. A shot I took of some excavating at the Cat Temple.

A shot down the street by our hotel. That is the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore at the top there.



And back at Bocca della Verita.




That is the end of our Roman Holiday.

Meanwhile, back at home...



Thanks for checking out our pics. Italy was amazing. If I ever go back, I want to hit all the small little teeny tiny towns/cities that wouldn't be regular tourist spots. But I would love to go back to a few spots too.

Until next time (Our next vacation is 02-05March in Vegas).
xoxo Mike and Denise