Rain and Ruins in Rome

Hi all, We arrived in Rome on Sunday afternoon when it was sunny and hot....but by last night the rain came. Love those guys on the street who sell umbrellas!

On Sunday, we walked from Trastevere (the left bank of Rome where we are staying in a rather dingy, but very quiet, room) across the river stopping at various famous piazzas with lovely fountains, including the famous Trevi Fountain (so much smaller than it looks in La Dolce Vita, but we did throw a coin in over our shoulder to make sure we return to Rome someday, as the superstition goes...). We also toured the Pantheon (very impressive inside and out) and found the famous Spanish Steps which were crowded with very drunk American students (it was probably 4pm). Keats'House/Museum was closed, but we hope to get back there tomorrow....

We also found an Irish pub where we had Guinness on tap--for 5 euros, which is horridly expensive, but it tasted so good after the long, hot walk.

Yesterday was our Caesar Shuffle day (Rick Steves' phrase) where we visited the Coliseum and the Roman Forum and the Palentine Hill where Augustus and Livia lived (among other caesars). The sites were crowded, but not so bad since each site is so large and spread out. The Coliseum is the "least" ruined and thus the most obviously impressive, but we enjoyed the other sites, too. We also managed to figure out the subway system so we could get to the church with the Bernini statue I so wanted to see, Teresa in Ecstasy. An amazing church, full of gold and angels....

Had our first tiramisu at a restaurant near the Coliseum--very yummy! We returned to Trastevere late, so did not have dinner till around 9pm. We sat outside at first (almost all restaurants have tables outside) but then it began to rain and we were moved inside to one of the LAST tables in a fairly large restaurant. Soon after there was a long line of people waiting to eat dinner at 9:30pm. The restaurants are packed at that time of night (even on a Monday night). I had a lovely Caprese salad, probably the best one yet (tomatoes, mozzerrella, olive oil and balsamic dressing and this time with green salad, too).

Today we finally found this Internet "store" that allowed us this time to post here, but we are eagerly off to visit Vatican City today and, with luck and not horrific crowds, see the Sistine Chapel. A Swiss couple we met yesterday said the line was at least 2 hours long (and you cannot reserve as you can with the museums in Florence). (Note: we have heard so much German since we have been in Italy--this must be a time for vacation for Germans--that we can now tell the difference between Swiss German and Germany German, tho Mike did ask an Austrian couple where in Germany they were from, and the man quickly corrected him). Our guidebook says that we may actually face a much shorter line if we wait till noon or 1pm to go, so our plan is to get there by noon....

I see that Tom and Kirsten, the Portland couple we met in Manarola, posted a comment the other day!! We will definitely check your blog when we get home to see how the rest of your Italy experiences were! I must say that we miss Manarola--Cinque Terre was the most relaxing and beautiful part of the trip in many ways....We have tried to get away from the touristy areas of Rome (and one main reason we are staying in Trastevere is because it is less touristy and definitely looks like Brooklyn in many ways). Yesterday, we walked through what must be an area of embassies and found a quiet pocket park.

It is now time for another espresso--we have become spoiled with breakfasts here: a cappuccino and a croissant in the morning at the hotel, then a mid-morning refill and search for yogurt for Stacey who needs more protein than a croissant can provide).

Ciao,

Stacey