When in Rome

So the train ride was a gas. Definitely having our own cabin made it an excellent mode of transportation. It was nice to be able to just leave our stuff around and hop onto the top beds. Downside of overnight trains is that all day today I've felt off balance.

We got into Rome around 12:15 and thus missed the Papal blessing of the crowds. Oh well. It was surprisingly easy to find a place to stay for a reasonable price. After getting settled in the hotel/hostel we headed to the Vatican to attend one of the afternoon masses (as per the request of one of our aunts). Huuuuuuge line to get into the Basilica, but surprisingly not many people attended the actual mass.

It was interesting. I think if I wasn't an atheist it would've been even more awesome, but I enjoyed the novelty of it nonetheless. The Basilica is gorgeous and huge. I wanted to take a picture of every single inch of it. Literally. Since they don't let people take pictures of the altar area I had to pull a KTP and be sneaky sauce about it. Its sooooo gorgeous! Emily tried to rush me through, though, which was slightly annoying, but I still got my pictures.

Since the Sistine Chapel isn't open on Sundays we decided to visit again on Monday. So after the Vatican we headed to the Spanish Steps to see the Keats & Shelley Memorial House. It was closed at that time unfortunately, but I took pictures of the plaque and such (YOU NEED TO WATCH BRIGHT STAR!!). We then decided to walk to the Trevi Fountain.

After walking for a while we found a fountain in the middle of a roundabout and hopped on over. We took some pictures and were just about to toss in our coins when I commented on how it seemed to lack all the pomp and circumstance I had expected. We both kind of staired at this pretty but simple fountain then whipped out the travel guide. Yeah. This is was so not Trevi.

So once we got our bearings we headed in the correct direction. The Trevi definitely has more pomp than the Tritione fountain. We spent a good while just looking at its prettiness before heading for the Pantheon.

Pantheon=not terribly exciting. Since it was closed for the day we only saw the outside. On approach from the side it was impressive, but with one half under renovation and no illumination on the building it was just this big building tucked away.

On our way to the Trevi we had seen some awesome looking building down this one street and decided to investigate. Even though Emily's feet were killing her she was game for checking it out. We eventually made it there and assume that its the Capitol Hill. So awesome sauce!

The closest metro from there was the Colosseum stop and the walk gave us the opportunity to see the Forum & Colosseum lit up at night. Pretty!

After we got back to the hotel we had a glass of wine with the receptionist, picked out a nice little restaurant for dinner and enjoyed some excellent pasta. It was a lovely day in Rome and I can hardly wait for tomorrow's adventures.

Ciao!

P.S. I'm starting to feel like Doogie Howser wrapping up the episode with his diary entries. But its funsies.