Post by GRWelsh on Nov 10, 2023 4:35:42 GMT -5
Highlights of Rome from yesterday: Took a high speed train from Florence to Rome (90 minutes) and arrived around 8:30 AM local time. It was very cold and I put on gloves and had my Map app and earbud guide me around the city. The first stop was the Colosseum. I realized my battery was getting low on my iPhone and stopped into an Information kiosk/cafe to recharge. Then I went along the various ancient Roman Forums (there are more than one) and snapped many photos, while trying to imagine Romans in their togas and armor walking around below me like ghosts... The day was warming up and I had clear weather. I walked up to Capitoline Hill where there were protestors with police nearby, but there was no problem. I went into the Capitoline Museum and browsed around at the ancient Roman stele and cemetery inscriptions as well as the most impressive collection of ancient statuary I've ever seen including "The Dying Gaul" and famous busts from the Halls of Emperors and Philosophers that I've seen photos of. Then I walked to the Pantheon, and had an early dinner at Ristorante di Pizzeria la Sagrestia. I asked the owner for recommendation and got Tris Roma, which was a combination of three traditional Roman pasta dishes (amatriciana, carbonara, and cacio e pepe). I had this with a Chianti, Frizzante water, and complimentery appetizer of crostini with tomatoes, herbs and olive oil. And then an espresso. The pasta was fantastic but the portions were so huge... it is a good thing I'm doing so much walking! Next, I went to Trevi Fountain, visited Venchi to buy some dark chocolate bars for folks back home, and then walked up the Spanish Steps and enjoyed the high view of the city for a while. From there I walked to the Basilica Papale Santa Maria Maggiore but go there to late to go inside. There is a lot of security around the church and a gate. By then it was time to walk over to Roma Termini and catch my train, and I got back to Florence at 9 PM where it was raining. Rome is big, glitzy, heavy with traffic and cars honking everywhere, and police holding AR-15 style rifles are not uncommon. Downtown Florence is a lot more relaxed and easy to walk around in.