Arivederci Roma

Think that would work as a song title? I doubt it. Just doesn't have that necessary ring to it, does it?

Anyway, I'm now in Firenze. Arrived this afternoon. Took a later train than I originally planned. More on that later. Here is an update on Saturday and Sunday in Rome.

Saturday turned out to be pretty fair weather. At the start. I went to the Trevi fountain first. Another song title comes to mind that also probably won't make it, "Three Coins in the Fountain". What do you think? The fountain is really nice. The biggest and most elaborate I can remember ever seeing. I did toss coins over my shoulder, the first so I'd come back to Rome, the second as a wish. At least that's what I'm told the order should be.

From there, I went to the Piazza San Estuchio (sp?) for a coffee in the cafe of the same name. I'd been told the best coffee in Rome could be had there. The owner disagreed. He said it was the best in the world. I had a Gran Cappucino, not my regular coffee, so I can't comment on quality, except to say that I enjoyed it.

Then on for a walk along the Tiber river. I had a somewhat risque story I was going to tell, but discretion being ..., I won't. The Tiber was --- the Tiber. Can't say much for or agin' it.

Then on by the Circus Maximus, which is a big open area for jogging, exercising dogs, etc. It was much more in the early Roman days, I guess, but not much is said about it now. The real reason for going there was that it was on the way to the Forum.

The Forum is something to see. Probably at least 1/2 mile long and 1/4 wide, with all kinds of ruins from ancient Roma. Quite a feeling to wander through it, and realize how much history took place as a result of decisions made there. Not quite the same feeling as I had in Athens at the Acropolis, but along the same line.

On the way back to the hotel, I passed in front of "St. Paul at the Wall" Anglican Church. I mention the name only because it strikes me as a strange name for a church. Moving on. Outside they were selling tickets to the Opera "La Traviata" to be performed there latter that evening. I'd intended to see it, so went ahead and got my ticket. As it started to rain. And continued, hard, for the rest of the night.

Decided it started too early to eat beforehand, so I made a dinner reservation for later. I'd heard that Italians eat late, but wasn't sure, so I had a conversation, if that's what it can be called,between a head waiter who didn't speak any better English than I do Italian, but we agreed I'd show up at 11 PM. I wasn't certain they'd still be open. They were, and busy as could be when I got there.

Back to the Opera, La Traviata. I did enjoy it, but I must say that a church is not the venue for an opera. The orchestra is between the barely raised stage and the audience, so the conductor masked everything that went on center stage. And the lady in front of me, the archetype for a bobble head, took care of the rest of the view. La Traviata isn't easy to follow, even with the program which did outline the story. I think Don Giovanni tells a better visual story for the novice.

So on to Sunday. Decided to get cash from the ATM. First two I tried told me something I think meant that the phone lines were down. The third one worked perfectly, except that id didn't give me any cash. A receipt saying it did, but no cash. I called the 800 number and, one I got past the recording, someone told me to call my own bank as soon as they realized I didn't speak Italian. SO I had the hotel receptionist, who also didn't speak English, to call them and make them listen to me. Got someone who spoke English, and he said to go to the bank when they opened in the morning. It was their problem.

My plans were to leave for Florence Monday at 10:55. I didn't know if I could resolve it in the amount of time available, so I changed my reservation. That was a pleasant surprise. Stood in a line of about 15 people, and was at the window in less than 10 minutes. The clerk just wrote me a new ticket for the train I wanted, no charge, and sent me on my way.

As fate would have it, the bank opened at 8:30 on Monday, and it took me all of 5 minutes to get a credit back into my account. All's well that ends well, but this is another of those funny later on, but not while it's happening things.

Back to Sunday. I went to the Diocletian Baths, one of the sites listed as not to miss in all the literature. Saw the museum, one section with the contents of a large burial site somewhere near Rome. The second was on epigraphy, or the various writings of ancient times. Neither thrilled me. Then a courtyard with some statues around the periphery. Where were the baths? Closed for the last year and a half, never to open again. All the artifacts have been moved to other museums or stored.

So on to the the main museum in Rome, name of which I can't remember. That was pretty interesting. There was a very nice display of tapestries, which I didn't think I'd care too much about, but did. Then a number of paintings by Italian masters. What I liked most was the statuary. I guess I'm a 3D kind of person when it comes to art.

And that about did it for Rome, in the time I had. Sure is a lot to come back to, as I know I missed a lot.

The train ride here was nice. Pretty scenery, when we weren't in a tunnel. Lots of rain recently. Some of the farmland was really flooded. I'm in a hotel near the train station. Walked to the city center to look around, had dinner, and now it's time to close and turn in for the nite.