Rome, or maybe Roma is more appropriate

Yep, here I am in Roma. Arrived on schedule on Monday evening. I was really congratulating myself on what a great job I was doing of getting around successfully. Took the metro to the airport in Athens, and after pestering the poor security lady a number of times about whether this was the train to the airport,it finally was. Of course she was right all along. Just be patient and have faith.

At the airport,, check in was a breeze. Also no passport control. Had a seat to myself on the flight to Rome, and just relaxed. When we arrived, I found there was no passport control either, so no Italian stamp as yet. I guess EU country to EU country doesn't require it. Although that wasn't the case in some other EU border crossings. Who knows?

I only had a five minute wait for the metro into Rome. By now I was feeling pretty good about my navigational abilities. Never let your faith in yourself take control. I left the train station and started the walk (5 or 6 blocks) to the hotel. Had trouble locating street signs, but that's OK, I can count intersections.

Didn't take long to realize I was hopelessly lost. Finally (tough to do, since I'm a guy) I asked directions. Of course, he couldn't speak English. But eventually I got back to the train station, and asked again. Turns out I left by the south exit, and should have left by the north exit. So an hour late, I checked into the hotel.

The next day, Tuesday, was the usual walk around and get the bearings. Turned out I saw a number of the sights I'd hoped to see while here. Of course, I'll go back for more, as this was just get acquainted time. But for starters, I saw Piazza Venezia, the Coliseum, the Pantheon, and St. Peter's Square and Basilica. And many lesser sights between these. All very impressive. In a different way, which I can't define, than the effect Athens had on me.

While at the Vatican, I took the trip up to the dome. I didn't realize that the sign at the base meant 320 steps IN ADDITION to the elevator ride in order to get to the cupola. I thought it meant 320 steps OR the elevator. That just gets you to the base of the dome. Which is a ways up in itself.

The 320 steps don't give you the option of turning around, either. There isn't room for that on the narrowest circular stairway I've ever been on. But once you are there, you have a marvelous view of Rome! I was there right about sunset, so I hope I have some pretty nice photos. Once again, I was deleting earlier shots, to make room for more.

After the cupola and dome, I walked around inside the base of the Basilica. I'm really going to have to go back there. It was almost 5:00 PM, ans the evening mass started, so I stayed for mass. 1st time I've been on this trip, sad to say. But at least I did it at a memorable place.
By then, it was time to head back to the hotel. Decided I'd done enough walking for the day, a lot more than I'd planned on. So I took the metro back. Same station, but I knew north from south, so I got out all right. As it turns out, the west exit is best.

On the way to the hotel, I decided on a pizza for supper. The salads are still huge, by the way, but no cucs here. And I learned something about Italian pizza. If the menu doesn't say pomadoro (tomato, I think) then there won't be any pomodoro on the pizza. I prefer the Americanized version, where you can always count on tomato and cheese unless you specifically tell them you don' want it. Live and learn. From now on it'll be pasta. Wish me luck.

While at the Vatican, I found out that the Pope has an audience every Wednesday at 10:00 AM. So I ate breakfast as early as they open at the hotel, and rode the metro back to the Vatican. That in itself was an experience, as it was rush hour. I've seen pictures of subway crushes, but this was my first experience. With what's happened on this trip, I kept one hand on my wallet at all times, and my camera was in an inside, zipped pocket (as was my wallet). Some crowd on the metro!

But I arrived in time. Turns out you need a ticket to get into the seating area, but I arrived early enough to get in the first row behind the barrier, so I had as good a spot as possible, sans ticket.

The Cardinals came out promptly at ten, and by then, I felt pretty good about getting there when I did. The crowd behind me was quite large. The Pope actually came out at about 10:20 or so, in the Popemobile. But with no protective screen. I was much to far away to get a view of him then, but they had monitors around.

He gave a sermon in Italian (I think). Then all the groups who were in attendance were recognized by him with a short speech in their language, or at least in French, English, German, Italian and Spanish. There was one group there from Stanley, ND.

After the formal ceremony, while the crowd dispersed, he greeted some special groups in person. I was able to move into the reserved seating area for this, and eventually got to within probably 30 or 40 yards of him. I did record his English language speech, so if anyone wants a copy, let me know, and I'll make you one when I get home.


After that, I walked to the Piazza Spagna, and looked for a charming little restaurant for lunch. Didn't find the charming part, but I did have lunch. Another area to go back to before I leave. Turns out the poet John Keats spent the last months of his life living in an apartment in the Piazza Spagna. There is a museum there dedicated to him and John Shelley.

So that's about it for tonite. Time to go and find a charming little restaurant for dinner.