Piazza San Pietro, seen from inside the Vatican museums |
The double helix staircase in the Vatican museums |
Rome was incredibly hot and humid when we visited. We quickly took up the siesta plan, going out in the morning, eating lunch, then returning to the hotel and staying there till after dark, when we would go to dinner. Our hotel was a perfect respite from the summer heat, air conditioned and quiet.
We went to Vatican City and walked through the Vatican museums to see the newly restored Sistine Chapel ceiling -- which was technicolor and also awe-inspiring. As we were writing postcards from the post office inside the Vatican museums, another young American asked us if she could borrow our pen to write a quick postcard. We chatted a bit with her and her husband -- they were at the beginning of their trip just as ours was coming to an end, and they asked us about where we'd been. They were considering going to Lake Como, and we told them over and over again that they definitely should.
Light streams in through the ceiling of the Pantheon |
Tiffany is a tiny speck inside the Panthon |
One night, we took an evening stroll all over Rome. We had dinner and walked in the working class neighborhoods, away from the tourists and the major sights, along the river, down narrow streets, and finally back toward the center of the city. We saw the Spanish steps, and also happened upon the Pantheon for the first time that night. The Pantheon was an awesome sight -- suddenly, out of the darkness and the modern buildings, rose this huge piece of the past. I just stood there, struck by the enormity and the history of it, until Jim finally dragged me away.
We found a delicious restaurant a few blocks from our hotel, a tiny neighborhood place where the owner was also the waiter -- I can almost taste the homemade ravioli now...
And, before long, it was time to go home. We reserved a taxi to take us to the airport around 6:00 a.m., and we said goodbye to Italy as we drove through the streets of Rome, passing landmark after landmark, monument after monument. We were ready to leave, but we would both miss this place, with its piazzas, pizzas, breathtaking countryside, roaring cities, wonderful shops, and delectable gelato. We would miss the sound of the language, the people, and the many dogs and cats we'd met along the way. Ah, but what wonderful honeymoon memories we had to carry back with us...
The dome of St. Peter's Basilica,
designed by Michaelangelo (yes, we climbed this too -- all 537 steps)
Lake Como
| Venice | Siena & Florence
| Rome
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