Rome, Transit Strikes, Early Closings and Rain

In spite of all that, I still like the place. To get you past wondering what I'm talking about, I'll talk about it. Today was the day for the Vatican Museum. So I decided on the metro to get there. Turns out there was a 4 hour transit strike today, starting as I was about to go down to the metro. So walk it was. (Italian Keyboard, so forgive my errors in punctuation).

I got to the museum just before noon, so I figured I had the rest of the day there. Decided the Sistine Chapel was the most talked about, so I went that way. Just as I felt I'd seen enough of it and was about to move on to the rest of the museum, the security folks started herding everyone out. Turns out that from Nov. thru Mar, they close at 1:45 PM. I can understand a bit earlier in winter, but 1:45? So I'll have to try again either tomorrow or Sunday, if I don't find something I'd rather see.

Since I was in the area, I decided to re-do St. Peter's Basilica. Ate lunch in an outdoor cafe, and sure enough, it started to rain, and has been ever since. Into each life...... But the Basilica was really nice. I went around the circuit three times.

They wouldn't let me in at the security checkpoint because of my pocket knife. At the museum, (and other places on this trip) they let me check it, but the guard told me to throw it in a trash can if I wanted to get in. I found a convenient niche in one of the marble columns and hid it there instead.

So that's today in a nutshell, except for the ATM that scared me. It wouldn't let me have any money, and said to contact my bank. Before I panicked too badly, I found another ATM that worked fine. Don't scare me like that, please. I've been without plastic before on this trip, and it' not fun.

I do have to say that I was really impressed with the Sistine Chapel. Quite something to behold, even with the stiff neck from looking up so much of the time. Being a novice, I didn't know that the frescoes on the walls weren't the work of Michelangelo. I thought he did the entire Chapel. Of course, I don't remember the artists who did the rest. When I first entered, I thought there were draperies along the walls. Turns out they are painted on the walls. Some realism! Photos allowed in all the exhibit rooms leading to the Chapel, but not in it. Guess I'll have to buy a postcard.

Back to yesterday, Thanksgiving. I decided since it was nice and sunny, it would be a good day to walk around and see some of the more memorable churches. First was Santa Maria Maggiore, which was nice. But then I got to St. Giovanni de Laterano. That was really something to behold! Not as large, but I almost think it rivals St. Peter's. Somewhat different in style, but really wonderful. I lit candles for all those I've lost in my adult life, starting with Shirley and ending with Stefan. Of course, the candles are electric bulbs that turn on when you drop a coin in the slot, but the intent was there.

The next two churches on my list were closed for refurbishment, and I found myself at the Colosseum, so that took care of the rest of the day. Again, I'm at a loss for descriptive words, so I'll just have to repeat myself and say it really is impressive. And I learned one thing I had no idea about. The floor that the gladiators fought on was made of wood, with sand spread over it. And the wood was the roof for a number of chambers underneath. They were the dressing rooms, as it were, for the gladiators, and storage, etc. Also, the gladiators trained on a field some ways away form the Colosseum. They got to the Colosseum through tunnels that ended in these chambers. I probably saw/learned all of that in Spartacus, The Gladiator, or Mr. ??? (help me classmates) History class, but sure did forget it.

I do have to say something about being a tourist in Rome. You can turn down just about any street and find something of interest. There isn't any one specific historic area, and no area that seems dedicated to just modern times. They all simply blend together. Have to say I like it. The city isn't as intimidating as you might think from looking at a map, either. A 30 to 45 minute walk can get you from the center to just about any point of interest, in my opinion. Of course, the map reading takes more than a little work.

I'm certain there are a number of places I'll have thought about seeing and not had time when I leave. And innumerable ones I hadn't thought of.

One criticism of Rome's tourism services. They don't have much in the way of general info available beyond a map with places of interest identified (in Italian) but nothing on what they are about, just a name. There are many pamphlets that get very detailed about certain places. But nothing in between. The best I've seen, at least meeting my needs, was the info map provided in Athens.

Trivia time. I talked to lady from Minnesota at the hotel. She's touring Italy with her daughters. Turns out she is from Faribault, MN, which is the home town of my father, and residence of one of my three surviving aunts. Small world.
I think I passed through a time/space warp, or whatever you Sci-Fi buffs call it, on the flight from Athens to Rome. I haven't met a single Aussie here in 4 plus days. That's virtually unbelievable.

Lastly, and this is a good thing, from my perspective. No stray dogs or cats, or at least not in numbers enough to be counted. I like that.

So that's it for tonight.