First Attempt at Trip Report
Jun 28th, 2002, 02:14 PM
#21
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Randy Malpaso and Inky are the same person.
Which makes it even weirder that one plays 'nice' and the other not - who else here is known to argue with themselves? (keep reading)
you usually find them within ten minutes/one hour of each other - and they both disappear from the board at the same time and resurface at the same time.
I think they are both Lauren S Kahn.
Which makes it even weirder that one plays 'nice' and the other not - who else here is known to argue with themselves? (keep reading)
you usually find them within ten minutes/one hour of each other - and they both disappear from the board at the same time and resurface at the same time.
I think they are both Lauren S Kahn.
Jun 28th, 2002, 02:50 PM
#22
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I didn't notice people dressing very stylishly. Everyone I saw including Italians were wearing jeans, Nikes, and very casual clothes. I think I saw a man in a suit 2 times in two weeks. Older women had on smock type dresses.
Headed out at 8:30 to meet Sarah our guide for the Forum and Coloseum tour. Only six of us in group so the tour was very informal and personal. Saw Coloseum, Forum, Palentine Hill Domus Area, Nero's Golden House.Learned so much more than I would have on my own. She had stories and little known facts and tons of information. It made the place come alive.
After the tour we went to San Clemente Church. It is a 3 level building.
Headed out at 8:30 to meet Sarah our guide for the Forum and Coloseum tour. Only six of us in group so the tour was very informal and personal. Saw Coloseum, Forum, Palentine Hill Domus Area, Nero's Golden House.Learned so much more than I would have on my own. She had stories and little known facts and tons of information. It made the place come alive.
After the tour we went to San Clemente Church. It is a 3 level building.
Jun 28th, 2002, 03:06 PM
#23
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pasta and mushrooms.My first time experiencing Bruchetta -toasty bread with olive oil and tomatoes or cheese.
The lower level is a 1st century church, the second a 4th century,and the one now is from the 12th century. You can walk all the way down to the first level. It is cool and dark. This is worth seeing. Next we went to Mamertine prison where Peter and Paul were imprisoned. You can go down to the actual cell they were it. It has a very weird feeling in there. Then we saw the Victorio Emmanule building or "wedding cake". It is a beautiful building, but I can see why most Romans don't like it. It sticks out like a sore thumb among all the ruins in the area. Next grabbed a quick pizza and calzone. We ate again a few hours later at Euro Pizza, which actually had great pizza. We had tomato and riccota cheese.
We took the bus to Torre Argentina and then walked to the Pantheon. It was closed. Sat for awhile and then walked to Trevi Fountain. It was getting dark and the fountain was lighting up. It was beautiful.Went back to room to freshen up and walked to Cici a Bomba. It was closed. We then went to Fiamettas
The food was very good. I had spinach and mozzarella crepes.
The lower level is a 1st century church, the second a 4th century,and the one now is from the 12th century. You can walk all the way down to the first level. It is cool and dark. This is worth seeing. Next we went to Mamertine prison where Peter and Paul were imprisoned. You can go down to the actual cell they were it. It has a very weird feeling in there. Then we saw the Victorio Emmanule building or "wedding cake". It is a beautiful building, but I can see why most Romans don't like it. It sticks out like a sore thumb among all the ruins in the area. Next grabbed a quick pizza and calzone. We ate again a few hours later at Euro Pizza, which actually had great pizza. We had tomato and riccota cheese.
We took the bus to Torre Argentina and then walked to the Pantheon. It was closed. Sat for awhile and then walked to Trevi Fountain. It was getting dark and the fountain was lighting up. It was beautiful.Went back to room to freshen up and walked to Cici a Bomba. It was closed. We then went to Fiamettas
The food was very good. I had spinach and mozzarella crepes.
Jun 28th, 2002, 03:23 PM
#24
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Sorry about the bottom of the post coming up first in the last comment. I have no idea about this copy and pasting stuff. I am doing my best.
After Fiamettas we went to Giolittis for gelato. I thought it was good, but I still liked Blue Ice better. Giolittis gave you avery small portion and it had a higher cost.
Got going at 8:00am and caught 64 bus to the Vatican. We went to the Scavi tour first which was aat 9:15. Afterwards we ate a small lunch and met up with our guide and the same couple from the day before and had a tour of the museums and St. Peters with just the four of us. It was great. I went in as a person with no feeling one way or another about art and sculpture and came out enlightend. The museum was beautiful and the Sistine Chapel cannot in my opinion be explained in words to a person who hasn't seen it.Michaelangelo was a genius with his hands, eyes, and mind.
After Fiamettas we went to Giolittis for gelato. I thought it was good, but I still liked Blue Ice better. Giolittis gave you avery small portion and it had a higher cost.
Got going at 8:00am and caught 64 bus to the Vatican. We went to the Scavi tour first which was aat 9:15. Afterwards we ate a small lunch and met up with our guide and the same couple from the day before and had a tour of the museums and St. Peters with just the four of us. It was great. I went in as a person with no feeling one way or another about art and sculpture and came out enlightend. The museum was beautiful and the Sistine Chapel cannot in my opinion be explained in words to a person who hasn't seen it.Michaelangelo was a genius with his hands, eyes, and mind.
Jun 28th, 2002, 03:30 PM
#25
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After I thought I couldn't see anything more beautiful, we walked into St. Peters. It took my breath away. So beautiful and what alot of patience and hard work went into building this church.It is over 600 feet long. The Pieta by Michaelangelo was outstanding. I can't believe he was only 24 when he did it. I didn't know many Popes were buried in there. Then John told us about Pope John 23rd who is in a clear glass coffin. He told us that when they dug up is body to bring him here he had never decomposed. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Jun 28th, 2002, 03:37 PM
#26
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We walked all the way up to the top of St. Peters only to find it was raining and we really couldn't see much. We bought and mailed postcards to our friends and relatives so they would be postmarked in the Vatican's own post office.
We caught the bus back to our room and freshend up to try Cici a Bomba. When the waiter couldn't find our reservation, he put us in the basement room with a few tables and no one else in there. It was cold and strange. We left.
We caught the bus back to our room and freshend up to try Cici a Bomba. When the waiter couldn't find our reservation, he put us in the basement room with a few tables and no one else in there. It was cold and strange. We left.
Jun 28th, 2002, 03:44 PM
#27
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We then went to Restaurante de Pallaro by Campo di Fiori.It is run by a husband and wife.She is the cook and he is the waiter. There is no menu. Cash only. The minute you sit down they start bringing you food. We were laughing because we didn't know what was coming out next. Nothing strange to eat thank goodness! 36.00 for two persons plus tip. After dinner we walked (take a guess) to Blue Ice to get a gelato. I am now officially addicted and can't find a rehab center in Louisiana. Can anyone help? What was your world's record in one day? I am 5ft 1 inch and 104 pounds and I ate three medium size two scoops in one day.
Jun 30th, 2002, 01:32 PM
#29
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More on Rome- After we ate gelatos we went back to our room. It was actually chilly at night. I was surprised.Oh,I wanted to let you ladies know that I bought a pair of Ecco $100 walking shoes and half-way through the first day, my feet started to hurt. After second day, I was getting blisters. So thank goodnes I brought my Nike tennis shoes, because that's all I wore during the day for the rest of the trip. I am going to contact the company. The store I bought them from has a 30 period and after that no refunds or exchanges. I had worn them around a little before I left,so they weren't new right out of the box. There is no support in these black"bowling shoes" at all. They a flat to the ground. Be forwarned!
Jun 30th, 2002, 01:53 PM
#30
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More on Rome- Fourth day we went to Santa Maria Concezione(spelling) church. This was the church where over 4000 monk's bones are used as art work? in several different rooms. The room of skulls, the room of pelvic bones. It is one of the strangest things I've ever seen. I would recommended if you had the time, to see this. Next, we went to San Crispinos for gelato. From what I have read this place and Gilottis are supposed to be neck in neck as having the best gelato. In my opinion this was about the same as Gilottis.
Jun 30th, 2002, 02:07 PM
#31
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More on Rome- We still thought Blue Ice had the best gelato. We walked to the Spanish Steps and sat for awhile, then walked down Via Conditti where all the expensive stores are. Just for kicks I went into the Gucci store and picked out a very small purse. I had guessed $300,my husband $260. The price was $860.00. I would love to meet in person anybody that can afford that much for a little, tiny purse. We walked to the Pantheon again. this time it was open. Very impressive, but not quite as ornate as I expected.It's amazing to see what great shape that building is in. We walked a bit and I saw a very small store with an old woman making leather purses by hand. Went in a bought a $36 small purse for my 16 year old, and guess who's purse it is now? She didn't like it a bit. Good thing I did.We went bak to our room to freshen up and took off for the Trastevere Section of to supposed to be like how the real Italians live. We enjoyed it and yes it was a little bit poorer section. Lots of people sitting outside everywhere talking.
Jun 30th, 2002, 02:19 PM
#32
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More on Rome- We saw the Santa Maria in Trastvere Church which is supposed to be the first Christian church in Rome. It was allowed by Constantine.The church was beautiful. There was a real Italian mass going on in the front.There were beautifulside chapels all the way up and two chapels behind the altar, was for Mary.Next we went to Santa Marie of Della Scala. Very beautiful and ornate.Not as wide as other ones, but that made if feel more intimate. Real crystal chandeliers. Beautiful marble, mosaics, and art work all in the same church. Had that great smell of old wood and candels that I always associate with church.Went to the Botanical Gardens but they were closed for the day. Took a very long walk one of the Fodorites suggested on Via Giancarlo. It took us forever, and at the top was a great view of Rome. Walk is not recommended if you have trouble walking up steep roads and it took a long time to get there.
Jun 30th, 2002, 02:29 PM
#33
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More on Rome- Next we went to Da Vittorias for pizza. It was highly recommended by someone, but just to get one pizza and leave took over two hours. Pizza was ok but not the best I have had. We walked all the way back across the bridge to Campo di Fiori. It was packed with young adults and teens. Must be their hangout on Friday nights.
Then I know you can guess, we went to Blue Ice and got another gelato. The strawberry and tiramisu are great. Forgot about the early morning on this day. We went to the Campo di Fiori to see the market. So much fresh fruit, meat, fish, flowers, etc. It took oup the whole piazza.Lots of locals doing their shopping for today's meal. I never saw a supermarket ordepartment store. Where do they all get their clothes and food staples?
Then I know you can guess, we went to Blue Ice and got another gelato. The strawberry and tiramisu are great. Forgot about the early morning on this day. We went to the Campo di Fiori to see the market. So much fresh fruit, meat, fish, flowers, etc. It took oup the whole piazza.Lots of locals doing their shopping for today's meal. I never saw a supermarket ordepartment store. Where do they all get their clothes and food staples?
Jun 30th, 2002, 02:44 PM
#34
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Final thoughts on Rome. I loved this city very much, and the whole time I was there or anywhere in Italy my husband and I kept checking to make sure the buildings were real. Remember The Truman Show with Jim Carey? He finds out the world he lives in is all mirage and when he gets to what he thinks is the end , it is just a fake rubbery wall.We did that so much. I kept saying is this real? My husband said he felt like he was in Disneyworld. Every thing was so different than what I have seen before, it was a magical experience for me. Then when my husband started singing "It's a Small World After All" in the middle of the street I had to get away! I loved everthing I saw ,experienced and ate. What is up with those three tall people dressed up like Egyptians, Statue of Liberty,etc? They were there in Piazza Navona every night for hours at time. Went back to room and tried to console myself that I was going to Florence tomorrow. Any questions, feel free to post or e-mail me. I will post a much shorter report on Florence, Venice and Tuscany if anyone is interested? If not, then I won't. Karen
Jun 30th, 2002, 03:05 PM
#36
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Just one las thing. I just read my whole report and I realize there are some typing and gramatical errors, but I was going so fast,it's hard to be perfect. I was just saving some of those spelling and grammar checking people some trouble.I know where the mistakes are already. If there's anything I forgot, or something you want to know feel free to get in touch. Karen
Jun 30th, 2002, 03:38 PM
#37
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Thanks for the report Karen. I have been to Rome twice. It is my favorite city in Europe and I did not see some of the things you did. That is what makes these reports so special. There is so much to see in Rome, you can't get enough of it. St. Peter's is unbelievable! Kay
