Yesterday, Friday, was a travel day and it took all day long! We got up in Paris at the apartment and cleaned, as Donald will be coming next week before we get back from Italy. Went to Tante for breakfast but my almond croissant were sold out. Darn!! AND the coffee machine was on the blink. This was not a good start.
We went to Porte Maillot and caught the transfer bus back to Charles De Gaulle Airport around noon. Arrived about 1:00 and waited in a snake line like a Disneyland ride to check in our bag. We only had one, but it still took a long time. Once through security (I got patted down and it wasn't bad!) we had some time to sit, and wait, and wait, and sit. Our plane was late getting in, so consequently we were late leaving.
This time we flew Air France. Much nicer! Free wine, ice in the drinks, lemon with the seven up, more seat room. It took about an hour and a half to fly from Paris to Rome. It was clear all the way so we saw the alps, the med, really beautiful! Sat next to a man from Senigal who was (I think) getting married in Italy. I say I think, because he spoke no English and my French is really pretty "hazy". I am limited to, please, thank you,bring the bill, and do you speak English?
Arrived in Rome about 6:30, found the train to downtown Rome and got on at 7:09. That took about 45 minutes, and by the time we got to Termini station it was dark. Our hotel was only 5 or 6 blocks away but we didn't know which way to go. Plus it was HOT and humid! And Jerry and I were pretty crabby. Melissa was right, the taxi drivers were relentless, but we just kept saying no and walking. After a long walk (really too long because we missed some streets) we found our Hotel Verona. Room is nice, we have a balcony,and blessed air-conditioning. After a quick shower we went down stairs to a restaurant next door. We sat outside, and our waiter was so cute. He spoke pretty good English and we had fun teaching each other phrases in each other's languages.
Dinner was amazing.....Mussels, salad, prosciutto & melon, and Fettuccine Bolognese. Fortunately we were 10 steps from the hotel and fell into bed.
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| The Alps |
Today is the Vatican tour and then venturing out to see the town. The hotel guy, Marco, says the Colosseum is about 5 minutes down the street. I can't wait. I will post pictures tonight. Ciao!
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| Paris Airport |
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| Bakery in the Paris Airport |
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| Shirtsleeves weather at 10 PM |
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| Mmmmm. Mussels |
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| Melon and prosciutto |
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| view from our balcony |
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| Breakfast room in the hotel |
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| Outside terrace at the hotel |
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| Our room from below |
Hello from beautiful sunny (and hot) Roma. We have had 2 days of sightseeing since I last posted. It is hot and humid here and very little wind so I am really sweating off the pounds (ha-ha). Maybe I just won’t gain so much from all the pasta.
Saturday morning we got up and ate at the hotel and taxied to the Vatican Museum. The lines waiting for tickets to get in were around the block but we fortunately had advanced tickets so could go right in. The Vatican museum is huge and difficult to navigate because almost every sign is in Italian and there were no English maps. We have noticed that in Italy there is much less English on signs compared to France. Anyway, it is the largest collection of western art in the world and is 4 miles long if you see everything (and we just about did). Much ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruiscan artifacts, plus masterworks by everybody famous before the 15th century. It ends at the Sistine Chapel which, as advertised, is an amazing experience. It was very full of tourists, but it was breathtaking.
After that we went into St. Peter’s Basilica which is the largest and most impressive place I have ever been in. Michalengo’s Pieta is there, he designed the Dome (over 300 feet from the floor to top) the Basilica is over 2 football fields long, and every surface, every ceiling, wall, floor, doorway, is gorgeous inlaid marble, mosaic, gilt, sculptured, carved by artists. Jerry said if he ever decided to take up religion he would become a Catholic so he could go to church there. (Not going to happen!). Then walking out to St. Peter’s square was another experience. It is HUGE.
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| Vatican Entrance - Cab dropped us off right at the door |
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| Fig leaves--only in the Vatican |
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| mosaics in the floor |
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| ceilings are gold leaf |
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| Tropical Vegetation - Who knew? |
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| Every inch of this place is decorated |
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| The Vatican Square where the Pope hold audience |
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| Michelangelo's Pieta |
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| These letters are 6 feet tall! |
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| The dome from the inside |
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| confessional |
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| St. Peter's Cathedral is 2 football fields long! |
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| Hotel Verona |
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