David and Lisa's "Get Away Plan" or "The Italian Job"

ROME. We took a mid-morning flight from Warsaw to Rome. After checking into a Bed and Breakfast near Vatican City, we made our way, between rain showers, to meet up with our travel buddies--David's brother Tom and Pam. his fiance. We met at the courtyard in front of St Peters Basilica   (PiaS.Pietro)  We enjoyed a delicious dinner and scenic view of Vatican City while fine tuning David's "The Italian Job," itinerary. Even though we had several skype sessions and emails with Pam and Tom for planning, there were still details to discuss, like how we were going to see Rome the next day. Arriving a day and a half after Pam and Tom, Lisa realized there was much we would miss that they had already seen by the time we got there. (should've watched Roman Holiday for research beforehand)

Massimo, our Vatican tour-guide, was about 6'6". While other guides raised their hands holding flags, flowers or various items for tour-groups to follow, ours said in his very Italian accent, "I don'ta need a daisy or a suna flower." Pam must've quoted him  dozens of times during the trip--we got such a kick out his (and her) humor! Here in the Vatican Museum he poses. Which nose is more stately? His Italian or the Greek? Do you nose? 

 We spent our first full morning and early afternoon in the Vatican Cilty. We were very impressed with the artwork and architecture of all the facillities. The Sistine Chapel was much larger than we anticipated. We wish we had more to share on it and St Peter's Basilica. We were not able to take pictures. We learned a lot about the art froms used at the time. The frescos completed by Michelangelo were incredible. Lisa decided to read "The Agony and the Ecstasy" as it chronicles his life and struggles with the Pope and others to complete some of these great works.

We made it to the colleseum just in time to choose between waiting in line about 45-minutes for tickets or join a tour-group for 20 euros each to by-pass the lines. Ching, Ching. After a morning seeing the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica, we opted for another tour-group lead me, guide me, show me, tell me...anything but lines please. We zipped via metro subway from Vatican City to the Colosseum in 20 minutes. Not the way Pam and Tom suggested we tour, but hey we had to see Rome in a day! Plus we still haven't had a gelato!

David in the Coloseum

Inside the Colosseum was impressive.  The advanced engineering principles of the time were seen in much of the workmanship.  The structure would most likely be still in tact were it not for the systematic demolition that took place under the direction of several popes to salvage the stone and bricks for the building of the Vatican and other buildings in the city.  The demolition was stopped under the declartion that it should serve as a memorial to the Christians that were slain here.  Current data suggests that the stories of Christian's being fed to the lions is probably more fiction than fact.


Lisa in front of the Arch of Constantine.  No tour-guide here, just a quick picture and off to our third tour. 

Looking down from from one of the seven hills of Rome towards the remains of the Roman Forum.

                                                                                                      

We were so impressed with the all that we could see and learn from our third tour-group leader for the day.  Now as we review the pictures, a week and a half later, it may be best to google Roman Forum for factual information!  Note to self: next trip pack a tape recorder.

We loved the views, the tours, and thanks to pre-trip workouts our feet weren't sore yet.  Not bad for our first full day in Italy.  But we had to wait for Venice to taste gelato!