Post by Kim on Feb 7, 2002 0:48:38 GMT -5
04 February
Rome, Italy
Hello all,
How foolish was I to fret? But, every guide book I have read, from Lonely Planet to Rick Steves, and all in between it seems, caution in a big, big way about the 'crime' here ....mostly petty and mostly pickpocket theft, but still, they seem to make such a big deal about it it concerned me. I was actually almost hesitent to come alone. But could not justify being here, in Italy, and not seeing Rome. Luckily met a charming man on the train from Assisi and he has traveled in Italy many times. He assured me all would be well, it really is not all that bad. So on Saturday past I hopped the train here and arrived to a simply glorious day!
How much am I enjoying Rome? May I say I am loving every minute, and that's an understatement. But, I have to admit a large part of my enjoyment must be credited to the weather.....I could not ask for better. It has been bright, sunny days, near to 70 by afternoon, balmy, fresh, perfect. A cotton tee and my down vest are almost too much, at least in the afternoon, and it is perfectly wonderful 'hanging around' days. Got a quick handle on the public transportation, the 'tourist' part of old Rome is small and very well managed on
foot. There are piazza's and parks and comfy benches galore, church steps, monument steps, the famous Spanish Steps..... everywhere just invites you to take a load off and sit a spell. And I have. The best 'people watching' I have ever seen!
Rome is friendly, warm, easily accessible and a delight to the senses. The sights are a joy to visit and see, but more than anywhere else I have been it is a place to relax and just enjoy 'being'. It's crowded, oh yes, and I can't imagine being here in 'high' season if it is like this in February. But everyone tells me it is 'empty' this time of year, so the summer months must be brutal indeed. In this weather, with these crowds it is a terrific place to spend a week or so, and I intend to do just that.
Spent all day Sunday in and around the Forum and Colleseum. More than half the day visiting these two places .....who knew just how truly huge the Coliseium actually is!.....and doing my best to figure out what everything is/was in the Forum.....and the rest of the afternoon just sitting, watching, chatting. (Tomorrow have an Ancient Rome tour booked for 4 hours which will hopefully explain what everything I've been seeing really is. But even without that knowledge, it is stunning to see and a good old day dream indeed trying to imagine it in it's hayday.
Today I went to Saint Peter's and the Vatican. Yep, I have spent loads of time on this trip visiting and looking at church's, some of them so grand and big I was incapable of accepting such wealth and riches. HA! They have been piddly things, compared to this, the largest church in the world. They can seat, yes I said seat, 60,000 for a mass. The square can easily hold 100,000 or more. It is astonishing! The mosaics, the statues, the Throne of St. Peter, the high altar, I'll tell you it is beyond description. And that, the bascilica is peanuts to the Vatican Museum. I was on a four hour tour here today, and barely, just barely touched the surface of the treasures held. I will pay my €10 and return on Wednesday, armed with the audio guide to spend yet another day there. It is breathtaking the amount of items and the value and history that they hold. And of course the Sistene Chapel.......the colors are so bright, the detail, how in the world he did that is beyond my ever comprehending. Once again, as with the David, no matter how many photos you have seen of it, nothing can compare with the majesty of looking up and seeing it with your own eyes. Another stop me dead in my tracks moment when I was sure I had 'seen' that and would not be overly amazed. You can't help but be.
I have spent hours just walking, here to there, exploring side streets, popping into this piazza or that, nearly all have something noteworthy in them. There is a beauty to this town that makes it a joy to be in. It's not Florence, in my opinion still the more physically beautiful of the two, but there is I find a genuine joy for life to be found here that makes clear why the Romans so love their city.
<br>Oh, and all that crime alert I kept hearing.....I am sure it exists, and flourishes, but I have so far had not one minutes trouble. And can not tell you the number of times in the past three days I have been stopped somewhere, looking at my map, and had someone stop and ask if I needed help, pointed out to me where I was exactly, and offer always a suggestion on someplace 'not to miss'. This has not happened thus far in any place I have been in the past three months. It is easy I think to fall in love with Rome, and I have. Planned on 5 days, expect this to be one of the stops I decide to linger in.
It's worth it!
ging
Rome, Italy
Hello all,
How foolish was I to fret? But, every guide book I have read, from Lonely Planet to Rick Steves, and all in between it seems, caution in a big, big way about the 'crime' here ....mostly petty and mostly pickpocket theft, but still, they seem to make such a big deal about it it concerned me. I was actually almost hesitent to come alone. But could not justify being here, in Italy, and not seeing Rome. Luckily met a charming man on the train from Assisi and he has traveled in Italy many times. He assured me all would be well, it really is not all that bad. So on Saturday past I hopped the train here and arrived to a simply glorious day!
How much am I enjoying Rome? May I say I am loving every minute, and that's an understatement. But, I have to admit a large part of my enjoyment must be credited to the weather.....I could not ask for better. It has been bright, sunny days, near to 70 by afternoon, balmy, fresh, perfect. A cotton tee and my down vest are almost too much, at least in the afternoon, and it is perfectly wonderful 'hanging around' days. Got a quick handle on the public transportation, the 'tourist' part of old Rome is small and very well managed on
foot. There are piazza's and parks and comfy benches galore, church steps, monument steps, the famous Spanish Steps..... everywhere just invites you to take a load off and sit a spell. And I have. The best 'people watching' I have ever seen!
Rome is friendly, warm, easily accessible and a delight to the senses. The sights are a joy to visit and see, but more than anywhere else I have been it is a place to relax and just enjoy 'being'. It's crowded, oh yes, and I can't imagine being here in 'high' season if it is like this in February. But everyone tells me it is 'empty' this time of year, so the summer months must be brutal indeed. In this weather, with these crowds it is a terrific place to spend a week or so, and I intend to do just that.
Spent all day Sunday in and around the Forum and Colleseum. More than half the day visiting these two places .....who knew just how truly huge the Coliseium actually is!.....and doing my best to figure out what everything is/was in the Forum.....and the rest of the afternoon just sitting, watching, chatting. (Tomorrow have an Ancient Rome tour booked for 4 hours which will hopefully explain what everything I've been seeing really is. But even without that knowledge, it is stunning to see and a good old day dream indeed trying to imagine it in it's hayday.
Today I went to Saint Peter's and the Vatican. Yep, I have spent loads of time on this trip visiting and looking at church's, some of them so grand and big I was incapable of accepting such wealth and riches. HA! They have been piddly things, compared to this, the largest church in the world. They can seat, yes I said seat, 60,000 for a mass. The square can easily hold 100,000 or more. It is astonishing! The mosaics, the statues, the Throne of St. Peter, the high altar, I'll tell you it is beyond description. And that, the bascilica is peanuts to the Vatican Museum. I was on a four hour tour here today, and barely, just barely touched the surface of the treasures held. I will pay my €10 and return on Wednesday, armed with the audio guide to spend yet another day there. It is breathtaking the amount of items and the value and history that they hold. And of course the Sistene Chapel.......the colors are so bright, the detail, how in the world he did that is beyond my ever comprehending. Once again, as with the David, no matter how many photos you have seen of it, nothing can compare with the majesty of looking up and seeing it with your own eyes. Another stop me dead in my tracks moment when I was sure I had 'seen' that and would not be overly amazed. You can't help but be.
I have spent hours just walking, here to there, exploring side streets, popping into this piazza or that, nearly all have something noteworthy in them. There is a beauty to this town that makes it a joy to be in. It's not Florence, in my opinion still the more physically beautiful of the two, but there is I find a genuine joy for life to be found here that makes clear why the Romans so love their city.
<br>Oh, and all that crime alert I kept hearing.....I am sure it exists, and flourishes, but I have so far had not one minutes trouble. And can not tell you the number of times in the past three days I have been stopped somewhere, looking at my map, and had someone stop and ask if I needed help, pointed out to me where I was exactly, and offer always a suggestion on someplace 'not to miss'. This has not happened thus far in any place I have been in the past three months. It is easy I think to fall in love with Rome, and I have. Planned on 5 days, expect this to be one of the stops I decide to linger in.
It's worth it!
ging