Sure sure it all seemed so simple -- skip the cellphone, get a netbook and use it for skype, email, facebook and blog -- a 4 in 1 all inclusive communications device -- complete with pictures uploaded direct from the digital camera. So, a word of warning --netbooks require a grounded power converter - three prongs please! Word of advice - take a teen -- turns out they DO know everything. Still struggling with uploading the pics, sorry...stay tuned.
Enter handy dandy Italian native and friend Andrea who sourced a converter quick as a wink. Everyone travelling in Italy should be so lucky as to have an Italian pal hand in the city they are visiting.
OK, some Roma highlights:
Monday/Tuesday
-OMG the taxi ride from the train station was electrifying and terrifying en meme temps -- cabbie managed a convo with his pal (another driver in another cab) for much of the trip while dodging vespas, trucks, buses and pedestrians by at least 5 centimetres
- neighbourhood piazza -- Navona -- home of the famous Bernini 4 rivers fountain -- Bernini is my god - oh,m and the church was beautiful when we finally went in
- gelato addiction -- started the first night - hasn't let up yet -- hankering one NOW - fruity or creamy hmmm
- Borghese grounds and museum -- where I (finally) learned what sculpture is all about -- thank you Mr Bernini (Ratto di Proserpina, and Apollo and Daphne), Canova (Pauline Bonaparte as Venus)
- Spanish Steps --not so much for the steps as for the local very high end shopping and, especially memorable the crazy lady dressed all in bianco shouting in italian at just about everyone
Wednesday
- Coliseum (get the audio phone) - Constantine's arch -- all you Catholics can thank/curse him for making Christianity legal -- he brought the Church above ground -- year? 1313
- hey , despite the movies, there is no guarantee that the gladiators hunted Christians ergo maybe no martyrs?
- awesome structure - held as many people as the ACC - wonder if Cher would sell out at the Coloseum?
- hiked through the Forum - hmm, sad I cannot visualize how it once looked, cause it's mostly rubble now and i don't mean Barny -- BUT I did learn about Romulus and Remus and their fight for where the capital would be and why we visit Roma not Rema! (guess who won?)
- Campidoglio -- amazing piazza designed by our fave Italian artist Michelangelo - quite an awesome sight -- hope to post my mini movie of it soonish
- lunched next -- glass of Prosecco -how decadent -- hiked off to meet our pal Andrea to make a plan then finally headed back to our 'hood - Piazza Navona for some R&R before a not so great meal, a drink with Andrea and his pals then home to crash
- Oh, did I mention that the first time I went I was refused at the Vaticano?? turns out that while Piazza San Pietro was welcoming to the max, the guard at the Basilica cared not for my skirt and deemed it too short -- I felt shame (not) but was turned awa to come back another day - actually glad I did - the basilica is fabulous and the Pieta spectacular
- hiked the forever trek round to and through the Vatican museum to see the Sistine Chapel -- us and about 5,000 other people -- not so much fun -- the ceiling looks pretty much just like the many many pictures we've all seen -- except WAY higher up -- you'll need a neck brace after looking up for so long - and the crowds are all assholes and the guards keep yelling 'Silensio' so all in all, the best part was the modern curved ramp in (a la the Guggenhem, NYC) and the art deco ish ramp out. Sorry, it was too overwhelming - nobody should have to deal with 6 kilometers and 60 rooms of art to finally see the piece da resistance.
Speakingof burnout -- that's what I am now...Catch you up more later on Thursday and Friday
ciao ciao/les
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