Rainbows and Gumdrops, Part 1: Roma

I have been back from Italy for a few days now and am still having trouble putting into words what I saw. Rome and the rest of Italy is overflowing with history, ancient history that I had trouble comprehending where I was and the sights I saw.

I will do my best to tell you about my Roman (Firenze and Venezia) Holiday.

We left on a Thursday evening from Stansted airport, about an hour train ride from central London. It started as a busy day as it was the last day of classes so we had a project due and a final to take. Once at the airport, the gate number switched three or four times as we were walking through the terminal creating mass confusion. Soon we were on the plane and en route to Roma, actually Ciampino Airport 10 miles outside of the city. We took a bus to the end of the Metro A line. It was nearing 2200 so the station was nearly empty. It looks a little run down and there is a good amount of graffiti. Then, to our surprise, the train shows up. It is new and shiny. We get in and there is plenty of room: a high ceiling and plenty of room between the sides. Also the carriages are open to each other so you could walk the train from end to end without getting out. Metro A took us to Termini, the central terminal where Metro A and B cross where we switch to Metro B. What a contrast Metro B looked like it came from New York City. It was covered in graffiti and had a dirty feeling to it. It just looked musty. After three stops we arrived at Bologna and our hostel, Youth Station Hostel. Since there were 9 of us we had a whole room to ourselves. It was actually more of a hallway than a room, but it was just a place to sleep. We were starving as it was nearly midnight and most of us had not had dinner. The front desk told us of a place around the corner that was open. We found it easily, Kebab King/Pizza Queen. They were almost out of pizza (which is baked like a sheet and cut and weighed, the it is folded in half like a sandwich) so most of us had doner wraps. So good.

The next morning we went straight to the Colosseum by way of Metro B. Walking out of the station we were not prepared for what we saw. There, across the street from the Metro station is the 2000 year old Colosseum. Just chillin', no big deal. We all stopped in our tracks and stared. We were not ready for it. WE finally got across the street and looked on in amazement. We finally pulled ourselves together to go get pizza for a breakfast/lunch.

Before we left London we scheduled a tour of the Vatican. We saw the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. I was surprised (I was surprised, were you surprised?) at the size of the chapel. I thought it was small with room for 100 people or so and ceilings only 20 feet or so from the ground. I was completely wrong. It is huge. The ceilings are at least 70 feet high and around 300 tourists inside. I was taken aback. The scale of the ceiling was so impressive. After the chapel, we went into the Basilica. It was gorgeous. And then we went out to the square. Wow. So much history. It is beautiful. The sun was setting at this time through the departing rain clouds. It was so beautiful. That night we went out to dinner. Pasta in Italy is so good. Then we went to the Trevi Fountain and sat and stared at it. We took a break and got gelato, the first of many. Then we went back to the Trevi Fountain and stared some more. I don't know what it is about the fountain. It is so beautiful at night. I have no words except to go and see it for yourself. It inspires awe in that it has continuously flowed for hundreds of years. I need that plumber because modern plumber does not work that well. We finally made it home. I could barely sleep because of all I had seen that day and in anticipation of what I was going to see the next day.

The next day we started at the Spanish Steps. I was sad it was not May because that is the only time they have flowers adorning the steps but it was lovely none the less. We were to make our way to the Pantheon. At some point while taking pictures (no surprise there) I got separated from the group. I knew where we were going so I took off in that direction figuring they had taken off without me. On my way I found a Ferrari store. I had to go in. The employees were wearing team attire, very cool. I would my way to the Pantheon and again could not believe what I was seeing. I was looking down little streets as I was walking and suddenly there it was. Out of nowhere and a 2000 year old building appears. I don't get. There is too much to try and process. My mind was blown. I could only stand in awe. After our fill of history there we ventured back towards the Colosseum and the Forum for a tour and stumbled upon the Vittoriano, a monument to the unification of Italy. We continued on to the Colosseum and the Forum. The tour was great, first we got to skip the line and then we got lots of good information. My favorite bit was that they would flood the Colosseum (arena comes from the Latin for sand as the ground was covered in it to absorb the blood) and have mock sea battles and train their navy. The tour continued over to Palatine Hill part of the Roman Forum. It was fun to walk around, climbing on huge pieces of marble that are 2000 years old. That night part of the group went out on a pub crawl, while myself and a few others went to diner (best pasta on the trip) and wandered Rome at night, we roamed Rome.

The next morning we packed up our stuff and made our way to Termini by way of Metro B. Early in the morning three of the eight made their way back to London. Now there were five and it did not feel like such a crowd getting around. At the train station we bought our tickets to our next destination: Firenze (Florence). See you there.

Roma had been everything I hoped it would be and more. The weather was perfect, the sights were awe inspiring, and the food was delicious.

Until we meet again,

-Maggie the traveler