DAY 9 EUROPE TRIP - ROME- CIVITAVECCHA – EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE

25 May 2009

DAY 9 EUROPE TRIP
ROME- CIVITAVECCHA – EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE

Another lovely hot sunny morning today. We had a slow start today. Eventually we made our way to Pizza Tuscola to catch a can to Tuscolana Railway Station. We bought our tickets for Civitavecchia and went to platform 2 to wait for the train. It cost 4.50 euros per person to travel the approximately 70 km to Civitavecchia. The first train was due at 9.15am - didn’t arrive. The 2nd train was due at 10.15am - didn’t arrive. The third train due at 10.45 am did come. It was a fast modern train. In the carriage we could see the speed at which the train was travelling. It ranged anywhere between 90 and 157km per hour. It took just over an hour to get to Civitavecchia.

The port town was nice.

We walked along the main road to the actual port where we caught a shuttle to the ship.

Our ship is Celebrity’s new ship “Solstice”. It was launched in 2008. It is like a floating hotel. It is the largest cruise ship ever built. It is huge! It carries 2,850 people and has 15 decks. It has lot the feel of a ship but is more like a resort. It is very modern and stylish and has lovely art woks in all public places and in the staterooms.


We are on the bottom deck - Level 3 but our stateroom is lovely with a big window. Out on deck we took in the views around Civitavecchia

And the port.




We familiarised ourselves with the ship and soon settled into cruise mode as the ship sailed away in the early evening. It is a very relaxing way of travelling.

However, the prices on board for drinks have given us a big shock. I don’t think we will be indulging too much in that regard.

At dinnertime we met the people we will be sharing a table with for the duration of the cruise. I think we will have good company for dinner. We were surprised that we were not sitting together with hubby’s sister and husband. After dinner the first show was good. We really enjoyed the A Cappella group Soul’D Out. Their singing was brilliant. The violinist Greg Scott also wowed us.

A lovely first day on board the Solstice.

DAY 8 EUROPE TRIP - ROME

24 May 2009

DAY 8 EUROPE TRIP
ROME

Today is our final day in Rome before embarking on a Mediterranean cruise. After a slow start we went to Villa Lituania for mass. My brother and his wife met us there. At the villa there used to be an old walnut tree 31 years ago in the yard. We used to park our motorhome next to it. So we peaked into the yard and there it was.

After mass we went to the yard in the Lithuanian Seminary to see a sculpture of St Casimir before going back to my brother’s place.

The men caught the metro whilst my brother drove us women to their place via a short tour and stop at a famous bakery.

We spent a very pleasant day talking, eating, sipping wine and liquors. The time just flew. Before we knew it was time to make our way back. The men decided we needed to experience the metro so we walked around the wall of the Vatican. Hubby decided it was a mistake after I stopped and bought a lovely bag for 5 euros. We got on the train to then be quickly evacuated off it. Don’t know why. So we caught the next train and it was crowded. When we alighted it was nice and cool for our walk back. Now it is time to repack for the next stage of our trip.

DAY 7 EUROPE TRIP - ROME

23 May 2009


DAY 7 EUROPE TRIP
ROME

Our feet have been getting a good work out in Rome. It is hard walking through uneven cobbled pathways. Each day they are getting tired that little quicker. The hot weather is not helping either. We have been walking around with bottles of water refilling them at each water fountain as we come across them.

Today we decided to focus on central Rome. It was interesting to observe the meshing of various civilisations, of various architectural periods and the blending of the old with the new.

We are very comfortable in getting around on buses. After getting out at Teatro Argentina we explored the streets as we made our way to the Pantheon. It was amazing to see the number of shops selling church vestments and clothing for nuns and monks. Some of the vestments were works of art. The woven panels on some looked absolutely beautiful.

We continued on past squares with interesting monuments

via the Basilica S Maria Sopra Minerva.

The stained glass windows were just beautiful. No crowds here so we were able to absorb the ambience of our environment.

Then onto the Pantheon –

an awe inspiring building 142 feet high and 142 feet wide – the perfect hemisphere resting in a cylinder with a 9 metre opening at the top to capture the light at different angles at different times of the year.

The walls are 25 feet thick. What a building! Roman gods once ringed it. Now an altar takes central stage.

Raphel, Vittorio Emanuale, King of Italy and his successor Umberto 1 are buried here.

Men dressed as gladiators mill around the crowds.

Then onto Piazza Navona we went to admire and soak in the baroque architecture and the atmosphere of a Saturday morning in the piazza. A jazz band was playing near Bernini’s Fontana del Moro.

We admired Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi and then the 19th century restored Fontana di Nettuno.

We wandered through the various artists’ stands and then a band came marching along filling the square with more music.

So we stopped at café to enjoy the music, the atmosphere and get some refreshments. We all received surprises with our orders. The iced coffee was nothing like the ones at home. It was served in a cocktail glass and was of a very thick consistency – like homemade ice cream before it is frozen. A bruschetta with 4 cheeses was a small very thin slice of bread with cheese spread on it. I thought I ordered a soft drink and ended up with chilled lemon liquor. What a joke! So there is me sipping liquor at 11.00 am in the morning. We will never forget it. By the way it was very nice.

Slowly we made our way to the Trevi Fountain. It was crowded here and very little shade around. Hubby and I threw a coin into the fountain to ensure we would return to Rome.

On the way to Trevi Fountain we passed an amazing column – Colona Ditraiano depicting stories of a particular battle.

It was so intricately carved that you could have spent hours examining it.

Slowly we wound our way around to the Spanish Steps.

At the base of the Spanish Steps there was the Keats-Shelley house. We were hoping to find somewhere to sit in the shade but there was nothing here. So we slowly made our way back towards the Altare Della Patria. We stopped at a café, as our feet were so tired and indulged in some refreshments. My sister-in-law and her hubby shared a small 4 slice pizza and had and a coffee each. My hubby had a sandwich and a coffee, whilst I indulged in a gelato. In Australia a sandwich usually consists of 2 pieces of bread. Here it is one piece of bread cut in half. Anyway we paid 30 euros or $60 Australian dollars for this refreshment stop. Our two refreshments stops together cost $100 Aussie dollars. What a shock. After a decent rest we continued on to the Altare Della Patria

and then onto the Colosseum for some postcards of gladiators. However, we couldn’t get to the shop that had them without going into the Colosseum so we finally headed home after another fabulous day.

DAY 6 EUROPE TRIP - VATICAN

22 May 2009


DAY 6 EUROPE TRIP
ROME – Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

A special day today – it is hubby’s birthday. Our daughter rang and her daughter sang happy birthday over the phone to him. Seconds later our son rang to wish him a happy birthday and his son got on the phone to make sure hubby had seen the gladiators.


We took our time this morning and it was very hot by the time we set out for the Vatican Museum. Once we reached the Vatican it was quite a distance to walk before we hit the cue for the museum. On the way I bought a hat, as it was so hot. We cued for over a half an hour. It was annoying that the authorities were not stopping people from jumping the cue at several vulnerable points as we snaked towards the entrance. An accordionist serenaded the crowd at one point in the line.

Finally we were in and really looking forward to exploring the museum. We walked along the spiral ramp to get to the top and what a disappointment. We were herded like sheep through the museum. We couldn’t choose the path we wanted to take to get to the Sistine Chapel. When we reached the first exhibition hall we were constantly told to keep moving. The crowd just took you along. There was no way one could stop and examine an artefact, or read a caption. The crowds forced you to move. Through the crowds one could see the ceilings and things that were high on either side.

We made our way through the picture gallery with wonderful tapestries that one did not have time to absorb. Then on through the map gallery went. We walked through Pio CLementino Museum, the Borgia apartments and Raphael Rooms. Finally we got to the Sistine Chapel to stand in an extremely crowded room whilst some attendant kept shouting to tell us to keep quite, not to stand in one spot but to keep moving. Michelangelo’s painting dominates the chapel. However, we couldn’t take it all in as we were soon moved out to continue our walk through the museum. We felt ripped off. There was no way of being able to back track and revisit areas. We payed 14 euros each for the privilege of being herded through a museum. What a disappointing experience. On top of that the fold up hat I had bought disappeared from my handbag somewhere during our time in the museum.

Very tired and hot we made our way home. After a rest we enjoyed a lovely birthday dinner. My brother and his wife joined us. Thirty one years ago, whilst in Rome we had veal marsala for the first time and loved it. It has been amongst hubby’s favourite dishes every since. So I made veal marsala for all of us followed by a bought local roman speciality for desert. We toasted my hubby and my brother whose birthday will be tomorrow. Another wonderful evening.

DAY 5 EUROPE TRIP - ROME< VATICAN

21 May 2009

DAY 5 EUROPE TRIP
ROME – VATICAN

Another beautiful and another hot day today. We decided to spend most of the day around the Vatican. First stop was the Vatican Radio as that is where my brother works. We got to see the set up and some wonderful sights from the building.

Then with my brother as a guide we went into the Vatican. St Peter’s Square was awash with people. We admired the Egyptian obelisk. Then on past the majestic Doric pillared colonnade we walked to a different entrance into the basilica. We didn’t have to cue as he took us through another way. We were very privileged to see the German cemetery at Campo Santo Teutonico. It is beautifully maintained.

St Peter’s Basilica is just so imposing.

The sacred door was well a truly sealed.

We wandered past the various chapels as my brother acted as a tourist guide and shared a wealth of interesting information on the various popes and people whose bodies are interned at the basilica. We could not have had a better guide. We went to the Vatican Grotto to see the tomb of the late Pope John Paul the second. Whilst there we are able to get permission to slip around the corner into one of the underground corridors to visit the Lithuanian Chapel.

In this area we saw the remains of the old basilica that were discovered at the time this chapel was being built as seen behind the Rupintojėlis statue.

It was then time for my brother to go back to work. So after a quick lunch we walked across to explore Castel Sant’Angelo. Hubby and I got in for free as we had our European passports. It is an unusual castle, more like a fortress, built in the 2nd century as a tomb for the Emperor Hadrian. It is linked to the papal apartments by an old carriage way.

At one stage it was the papal residency. Now it is an interesting museum revealing the history of the various stages of its evolution.

The views from the top were clear and very panoramic.



Eventually we headed back to the Vatican Radio to check our emails and then headed to my brother’s place for dinner. Along the way my brother –in-law picked up a picture of the Pope with his autograph on the back. My brother lives in a beautiful spot across the road from the Vatican wall. Here we caught up with his wife and son and spent a wonderful evening chatting, drinking local wine and grappa before finally setting out for home by bus. Catching a bus at midnight was quite an experience. The buses were crowded. At the Argentina bus stop there were crowds milling about waiting for buses that were arriving one after another. When we got off the bus we were waiting at the lights when someone called out to us. It was a colleague of my brother’s from the Vatican Radio. What a small world. We knew my brother would hear in the morning that we got home safe and sound. As we walked to the apartment we couldn’t help ourselves from commenting on the parking arrangements in place. Yes, and the red car stayed there all night.

DAY 4 EUROPE TRIP - ROME – ANCIENT ROME – COLOSSEUM, ROMAN FORUM

20 May 2009


DAY 4 EUROPE TRIP
ROME – ANCIENT ROME – COLOSSEUM,  ROMAN FORUM

We saw so much today. So many impressions, so many thoughts and very tired feet.

We woke up this morning to the sound of birds. We really enjoyed the view from the apartment.

After breakfast we set off to find an Information Centre. According to our map there was one not far from the Colosseum. My brother had left us with directions of what bus to catch where. So we set off for Fori Imperali. We couldn’t get over the way the traffic moves and the way little scooters zip in and out of the traffic. It was quite amusing to watch the traffic from the safety of the bus.

Before long we had our first glimpses of ancient Rome as we drove past the old city wall. We got off at the right bus stop but didn’t check in which direction we had to go. So of we walked admiring the views of the Fori Imperali but no Information Centre.

However, we had reached a fascinating building – monument - the Altare Della Patria. We climbed the stairs to see the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the eternal flame burning and being guarded by guard of honours.

The views of Piazza Venezia from here were very spectacular.

So we retraced our steps and just past the bus stop in the other direction we found the place. The information Centre was in no way like anything we have in Australia. Very limited information was provided. A free map was the only information that was given out. So off we headed for ancient Rome. Even though it was my third trip to Rome the ruins of Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Colosseum were still an awesome sight. The last time I visited the ruins entry was free. This time we had to cue to pay. Had hubby had his European passport with him he would have got in at a concession price as a pensioner. We now know that we need to carry our European passports with us all the time.

We entered the Roman Forum first and were immediately immersed in the history of ancient times. We walked along ancient pathways strewn with fragments, ruins, and columns soaring into the air.

As we wandered through I kept thinking of how people lived here, of what life must have been like. Temple ruins, broken fragments of walls, and columns, stately arches – what stories could they tell.

I tried to imagine Julius Caesar and others pacing along these paths whilst it was all in its glory.
What a mixture of ancient temples and early Christian buildings.
As I walked past what had once been the House of the Vestal Virgins I was reminded of what I had read recently read in a novel “Anthony and Cleopatra”. It is hard to comprehend that the columns, arches have survived for so very very long.

It was very hot and dusty as we wandered along the well trodden paths. In places it felt very barren now with just a few blades of grass growing.

And then there was like a little oasis – lush plants, water, and fish. It would have looked so grand at the height of the power of the Roman Empire.

We were very fortunate that we were able to visit the House of Augustus and see some rooms where the frescoes have survived.

We wandered why they would have painted columns on the walls, as there were so many intricate columns outside.

Beautifully carved fragments were everywhere as one strolled along the various pathways.

It was surprising to see the colour in these tiles just before Circus Maximus.

The stadium was impressive.

And finally we reached the colosseum - a wonderful architectural legacy for all times.

The museum on the top level presented a wonderful overview of some facets of ancient times. The terra cotta lamps from 1st century AD were so delicate and had survived for so long.

The bone sewing needles from between the second half of 1st century AD to first half of 3rd century AD were obviously well worn.

As we wandered through the Colosseum we tried to imagine the noise, the crowds, the smells that may have been around at the time as well as the type of events that were staged here.

Looking down into the levels below the main floor of the amphitheatre the intricate design elements of the building are very evident.

By late afternoon we made our way out to collapse on the sidewalk with a gelato to cool down.

After returning home we relaxed and tried to cool down. It must have been at least 30 degrees today. Soon my brother arrived and we chatted away into the night.