txgrl99

Thank you for your wonderful trip report! It brought back some lovely memories. I agree about Rome versus Florence, too. (But Florence is worth the trip for David alone.) You should be so proud and impressed with yourself for traveling alone!

moolyn

mebe, how lovely to find more of your wonderfully written report and to read that you found the Florence you wanted across the Arno!

Thanks so much for taking time from your busy life to share your adventures with us.

mebe

Rome is special, isn't it?

Thanks for reading - - and posting! Especially since my Mom isn't reading it anymore, lol.

Alright, a litte bit more. Almost done!

This is the same day, by the way...)

It was a hot and bright Sunday afternoon and Via del Fori Imperiali, the major road that zooms chaos by The Forum and Coliseum was closed to traffic. The broad street happily held the crowds. Street musicians serenaded us as we all strolled towards the Coliseum. No need to revisit the Coliseum’s interior so I marveled at its exterior grandeur. A couple in full wedding regalia twirled and spun for a video camera, still giggling from their ceremony. We all applauded our congratulations and captured their joy in our cameras.

The Palatine Hill was my Eden: Umbrella Pine, Cypress, emerald grass, clusters of red poppies and white daisies -- encircling massive brick arches. I treasured being alone, lost in my thoughts, valuing my pure joy. I could stand and stare or smile and sigh, without a distraction. I came to Rome specifically to experience this quiet beauty and awe-inspiring history.

I transported myself into the Roman Republic, pretending to see Emperors eating their meals, gazing out at fountains, the slaves scurrying around the dark corners. I touched the red brick and took pictures of me in front of it, as if it was Michelangelo’s “Pieta.”
I waited for a half-hour to see the frescos inside of Augustus’s house. We entered in small groups. The frescos were worth every minute of that sunny line. The blues and reds were vibrant and fresh. The experience felt special.

Tour groups dominated the look-out points. But once they left I was privileged to see the Circus Maximus and Forum in all its radiant glory. I wandered down the hill on narrow paths and by a secret, drippy waterfall. The Forum was hotter without the gentle breeze from the hill and more crowded but still pleasant. I again reminisced about my little Ada skipping down the road, Aaron and I holding hands. Planes kept flying over head, reminding me of the end. Wait -- no -- I’m not ready! I get one more day…

I made my way home at a slow, “la-de-da” pace along Corso Vittoria Emmanuelle; letting the smog and chaos wash over me without concern. I popped into Gesu Cathedral; I love the illusionist ceilings. Saint Ignatius was splendid, but Gesu was, by far, the best. Those Protestants and heretics literally fell from the sky and into the hell of our three dimension world. Good thing I don’t believe in that stuff, or I’d be bummed.

From the religious propaganda I sailed into a supermarket to buy another toothbrush and ….dinner. Yeah, I know – I’m in Italy and eating premade pasta salad from a super market. In the checkout line, I stood behind a woman who searched her purse for change. The cashier gestured to me and told her to “ask your friend.” Oh! I must look Roman! So I handed the woman a few Euros, as an international gesture of kindness. But she refused (I may have embarrassed her) and her real friend settled her bill.

I searched for the Jewish Quarter and never found it but did wander through Campo dei Fiori, now bustling with limbless beggars, and young partiers swilling beer. I began crossing streets without looking in either direction and decided my exhaustion was now a health hazard. Time to head home.

After a long talk to Aaron and eating my not-so-yummy pasta salad, I took a stroll at sunset back to the Pantheon, eating a double scoop of gelato in the piazza, and planned the events of my final day.

laartista

Hi Mebe- Oh I love your report so far, not all the wat through yet but just downloaded it for some off line reading.

TexasAggie

A double scoop of gelatto and the Pantheon sound like a divine evening
We'll be there in November; I can hardly wait! We have never traveled so deep into the off season before.

mebe

Texas -- I'm so envious. I know, I was just there, but still...

I would love to go back in November. I was there the first two weeks of November and had great weather (a little rain) and the crowds were manageable, as well. I think I'll only travel in Italy in the off season.

Laartista -- it's nice to hear from you...stop reading my report and write more of your own! Please

LoveItaly

Ciao mebe, I am still here! Just saw your wonderful trip report again! I have been busy and not on Fodor's as much as normal.

I love reading about your adventures and your thoughts. And the polizia, mama mia, lucky you, lol!

Now I will tell you the story that my entire family is familar with and still teases me about.

It was back in the 1970's. My husband, teenage daughter and I were in Italy for the first time and he were so fortunate to be there for two months. We had left Orvieto and drove to Rome. A friend in Milan had made the Rome hotel reservation for us. We knew it was somewhere around the coliseum. It was late afternoon. We had no idea how to find the hotel. We were stopped at a red light and I "discovered" the most handsome Roman polizia standing with a couple of others right there at the intersection. I called out to him and he came over to our car. The light turned green and cars behind us begin honking. He waved his hands and yelled at them to go around our car. I had a map of Rome in my hands. He put his head in the passenger side of the window where I was sitting. OH mebe, talk about handsome! I think I stopped breathing while my heart rate doubled. I somehow asked him how to get to the hotel. It took him a good five minutes or so while he studied the map and me to tell me how to get to the hotel. Sooooo there I was staring at the most gorgeous Roman and not paying any attention at all. My husband sat behind the driving wheel praying I think we wouldn't get rearended.

Did I mention how handsome and sexy this fellow was? Black curly hair, a fantastic Roman bone structure, long black eyelashes, beautiful brown Italian eyes and the whitest teeth along with a golden skin color. And oh his build. Even his hands, lol. So he studied the map while I studied him. Keep in mind that his face was about 8 inches from my face, sigh. Finally he pointed out on the map how to get to the hotel. I thanked him and he gave me a kiss on the cheek.

As we drove off my precious husband asked "OK, where do I go now?" and my response was "HUH?" I certainly had no idea for heavens sakes. I mean really, did he think I was looking at the map and listening to the driving instructions?

Somehow, and how I still do not know how, we actually found the hotel, lol.

Other trips to Rome kept me looking for that out of the world gorgeous polizia with out any luck, sigh.

Now, lets hear about your last day in Rome please!

And hello laarista! I just called a good friend in Florence. He and friends were having pizza at a restaurant. He will be home in an hour so I will call him again. The background noise of the Italian language..I so wish I was back in Italy!

mebe

Oh Loveitaly -- what a story, lol.

Sadly, the polizia that gave me a little squeeze wasn't as handsome/sexy as yours. Oh well. Maybe that was for the best

LCBoniti

LoveItaly, that story is priceless!

Mebe, your trip report is priceless as well

YvonneT

Hi, mebe

I'm enjoying your adventure so much. Wasn't LoveItaly's story funny? I had palpitations just reading it. How can there be such handsome men over there?

Yvonne

marigross

mebe, dont think that you are writing this by yourself! We can sometimes be quiet audience.

Thanks for the great report!

gracie04

Hi Mebe

I printed out your report and have been reading it as I go to bed at night.

I really value your honesty. It's good you show that even though you are having a wonderful trip, you can still be lonely at times. I haven't done a solo trip yet, but your report has been an inspiration to me.

That double scoop of gelato at the Pantheon sounds so good right now. I'm like you, Rome is my city. I just love it. Sitting at the cafe by the Pantheon is my favorite spot.

Here's my Polizia story: Last time I was in Rome, May 2006, I was walking across the bridge to Castel St. Angelo. The bridge was full of guys selling knockoff bags. The policeman pulled up, (very handsome, what is it with those guys?) but instead of immediatley taking off after them, he stopped for a second to straighten his uniform. I had to laugh. Only in Italy.

Thanks again for the great report.

Johanna

annhig

Hi mebe,

been away for a week and came back to catch up with your great report.

I suspect that your preference for Rome over Florence may not be entirely because of the seasons at which you visited them - we far preferred Rome which we went to at Easter, over Florence, which we visited in late october.

regards, ann

mebe

JULIA -- I just got your email! Please check yours -- so bummed we didn't meet in Italy...

Johanna -- I'm touched you read my report before bed. Thanks for posting.

Ann -- I agree with you. Rome is special. I would like to try Florence again, with just my Mom and daughter.

I wish I had more to post but I'm too tired to write. Yesterday I got caught up watching home videos, one of which I will post, to share why I needed a break, lol.

I'm off to bed and promise to finish up soon.

Thanks to all for hanging in there.

~Myra

LoveItaly

I love your story Johanna..yes what IS it with those guys. The police in my area..well let's just say they wouldn't make any of our hearts start beating faster, lol.

Hi mebe, I look forward to your next post when you have the time and energy!

adventureseeker

bookmarking

Sue_xx_yy

"I was horrified by not only the people in skirts and strappy sandals, but by the grocery stores, restaurants, hotels and flush toilets. It wasn’t the wilderness experience I was used to; it was an outdoor tourist trap. There was no struggle to survive, no suffering."

mebe, don't do this. I am so mad at you for inserting hyperinflated drivel into such a good story.

You've got huge talent, huge imagination. Use it to see some of those burger-eating, suffering-averse people in you - yes, you, the one who was so averse to even the discomfort of a few hour's separation, let alone true suffering, that she bought a phone card so that she could call her family almost upon arriving.

Odd, how the better someone is at a trip report, the tougher I am on them. Truly, but for this, I enjoyed your story immensely. I especially liked even the accidental touches - e.g., "I opened the shudders". Wonderful! Wish I could say things like that, and more.

lol2g

Mebe, I love your trip report. And the Polizia.......ahhhhh.... I was married with a toddler the last time I was in Italy. Had I been single, might have just stayed in Italy. Love that you went on the trip on your own. Got little ones myself so I can totally relate to the need to do some grown up stuff.Thanks for sharing your trip.

mebe

Sue -- I appreciate your honesty. Perhaps I need to edit my feelings/writing a bit more. Sorry I made you so mad.

I agree -- I'm a hypocrite and sometimes judgmental. These are two of my many flaws. I also can't spell and my grammar sucks. I guess that's the risk in writing a truthful trip report: I expose the positive and negative, and risk offending people in the process. I'm sure if I re-read this 30 page report, I'd find many cringe-worthy paragraphs.

I agree with you -- I should've skipped that paragraph, since I tried to express my initial shock from the immature mind of a twenty year old. And I don't think that came across. The word "suffering" was a bit overkill, as well. I'm a work in progress, I'm not sure what else to say.

Yes, leaving my family was difficult. And I called them every night (to ease my DH's mind, as much as my own). I wanted this report to be honest. I wanted other Mothers to know, that even though it's difficult to leave the kids -- go for it -- it is worth every moment.



lol2g -- I'm glad you're enjoying this. My first trip was also with my DH and a toddler. I'd try to check the polizia out while his back was turned. But he was admiring those Roman women (really we both were) so it was gawking on both sides, lol.

Well, I sat down to finish this thing up but, I got sidetracked.

I wish everyone a lovely Sunday.

~Mebe

bfrac

Mebe, you should not have to apologize to anyone for expressing your reactions, feelings, or descriptions in "your" trip report. I have loved every entry because you are open and honest.

Please hurry back and finish it up for us.