Roming in Rome
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So we made it to Rome, eventually. We passed across the border into Italy, accompanied by smiley border police and their guns who checked our passports two times each a day late.
But that’s certainly not a bad thing. By not travelling at night we got to pass through the mountains in daylight, and the views were extraordinary. Lakes that went on for miles. Rocky outcrops that towered high above us, and a strange blue mist that glided across the surface of ever body of water and gave the whole journey a mysterious, etheral air.
Rome is hot. It is also very busy. There is far too much traffic (and far too little in the way of understandable local public transport) for my liking and until today, our last day before we move on to Venice, I would have said without a doubt that I wouldn’t be coming back. I’d seen everything but the Vatican and could quite happily scratch the city off the list of ‘things to be done in a lifetime’.
Today, though, we did the only thing left to do - Vatican City itself. What an extraordinary place. So much wealth squeezed into so small a city. You really don’t know where to look next. Gold leaf on every wall. Chandileers, priceless art, letters from Galilleo and Michaelangelo, and from the top of the dome a view of the city unmatched by any other.
Religious or not, you can’t help but be touched by the place in one way or another. The whole place breathes serene power, and a feeling of calm and assuredness pervades every hall, chapel and coridoor.
We found the Sistine Chapel a disappointment. Probably only because it is always built up so much, but other than that I would defy anyone to come here and not be impressed.
After four days of walking 13 hours a day, though, our legs are tired. Our feet and backs ache and we’re looking forward to four days in Venice being punted around by a burly gondaleer.
If you liked that post, then try these...
London New Year’s Day Parade on January 1st, 2002
It’s good, but it’s not right on October 27th, 2003
Last of the Mohicans on February 20th, 2003
The aftermath on January 27th, 2003
Parcels on October 19th, 2001
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September 24th, 2003 at 4:59 pm
Rome scared me. It was so busy, dirty, and crowded. I was glad to go, but I enjoyed Capri and Sorrento so much more.
September 28th, 2003 at 3:30 pm
Oh I hated Sorrento. Too much of a busy tourist town and the hotel we stayed at was crap (and full of noisy Germans).
On the other hand, I found Venice to be lovely. I hope it leaves you with the same feeling.
And my stepfather got pickpocketed in Rome. He is still smoldering about that, years later…