Now at level 82 on ScrabbleGo, I am rockin’ a new Colosseum tile because I absolutely LOVE Rome! (Pay me! – bappletree). Although I have posts from 2016 from my second trip to Rome, I thought I would re-post my write-up while I was in Italy in 2012. Oh, it was amazing. Enjoy!
I was still feeling a bit under the weather and it got worse as the day went on but I had to see Rome. The port was about 40 minutes away but the traffic to get into the city was horrendous. We just missed a major downpour of rain and the rivers and streams were much higher than usual. We stopped just outside Roma and I bought a 12-pack of travel size tissue packages. There were three left when I got back home to the States.
Our first stop was the Colosseum. It was massive. It took 6 years to build it with the manpower of slaves and donkeys. It was amazing to lay my eyes on such a structure, to see it still standing and to think about the events and sadly, lives lost, in this building for the entertainment of the people. The size of it was incredible. I wish we could have gone down to walk around under the main floor.
The next stop was lunch. There was so much traffic that we had to be rerouted. It took quite some time. I was dying for a pharmacy but there wasn’t one nearby the restaurant. OH, and on the way to the restaurant, we damn near killed a woman. It totally wasn’t our driver’s fault, the woman wasn’t looking in our direction and was looking at her iPad. We were sitting near the front of the bus and saw the woman’s palm slap against the windshield and a thud. She was OK and knew it was her fault. Pretty eventful drive in Roma so far.
Then it was off The Vatican. The city is its our jurisdiction, not part of Roma. Inside was warm, filled with tourists, history and art. I couldn’t help but think about Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons, the book. The movie blew. And seeing with my own eyes all the things he described was truly amazing. But I felt so sick and it was getting worse. The hall leading to the Sistine Chapel was covered with amazing art and statues. You look up and you’d think that the ceiling has moldings and carvings. No, it was an illusion. The painter was so skilled to make you think this on a flat surface. Looking up, I felt bad thinking “get me out of here” because I felt like garbage. I have studied art in back in college and fell in love with Michelangelo and his work. My health cheated me as I stared up at the amazing ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. I needed to sit down. Better yet, they should make a lay down section so you can just look up as long as you want without a neck cramp. Inside, you can’t take photos or speak loud. But of course, there are those disrespectful people that took photos and spoke loud anyways. No respect, I swear.
Next was the church. It was massive and beautiful. It housed the bodies of former popes. It was the home of Michelangelo’s Pieta of Mary holding the body of Jesus. He completed that at the age of 26. Well, damn. What have I completed at 26? The Pieta stands behinds a glass now bc another disrespectful person ruined Mary’s face. Now it has been restored.
The alter was incredible and massive. Again, Angels & Demons comes to mind. And then it was out to walk into St. Peter’s Square where you can see the balcony where the Pope would bless the people, the chimney that would release the clear or dark smoke during conclave (the election of a new pope), the obelisk in the center, and the window where the Pope lives. All overlooking St. Peter’s Square. I just walked around, taking in the sounds, the smell and the amount of faith that people this place revived in people just by standing here. It made me question where’s mine most of the time. It was truly amazing and beautiful.
You go across the street and you are out of Vatican City. And that is where I made my biggest purchases. I bought a few rosary bracelets with the Pope’s sign of peace. There, in Vatican City, I realized I am truly not at peace within myself. I was going thru a rough time but there’s nothing like travel to give you the space you need to breathe and think.
I would love to go back to Rome. Who’s with me?
Grazie mille!
