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I still haven’t finished with the photos, but I’m getting there. Speaking of getting there…

I arrived at Fiumicino around 4 pm and Italian passport control was easy. He stamped *over* one of my other stamps. I really need to get to the embassy here in Prague to get the extra pages because I’m going to have issues soon. I know, I’ve only been saying this since Japan. I knew I could do a train/metro combo but decided for the direct train into Rome-Termini because that’s where the hostel was and I was too tired to think. As we rode from the airport to the city we had the oddest phenomenon of a strong storm on one side of the train while it was sunny on the other. Luckily rain on any side stopped by the time I got to the station.

It was a quick and easy walk to Hotel Positano, where I’d booked a dorm bed. On the way I stopped at the enjy Rome office and found out about the evening tour of Rome, which I asked the desk to book me on to. Dropped off my stuff and met some of the roommates and then was off for a quick bite to eat before pick up. There were many small restaurants on my block but I wanted a quick take out as I had only 15 minutes before scheduled pick up (Italian time is similar to Spain time, I forgot). I found a nice pannini and ate that as I waited.

The tour itself was a lot of fun. Our guide had been doing this for 35+ years and loved it because he got to be outside and could choose when he wanted to work. You could hear his passion which made it very enjoyable. The tour was primarily English speakers with a few Spanish and French and he’d go between languages quickly. At times I had to listen to think which language he was speaking because I could still understand even enough of the French. The Trevi was our first stop and it really is amazing to think that the fountain is the facade of a building. I was having camera issues and I don’t think the photos did it justice, but it’s an amazing atmosphere. We stopped for about 40 min so we were able to toss coins in the fountain-which is to ensure your return to Rome*-and get gelato. Yum. Chocolate and straticella (anyone know what that is? Even google doesn’t really help). From there we had a tour of the city conducted in such a way that all of a sudden, BAM! the Colosseum “the symbol of Rome” is right in front of you. I was in awe. We had another stop at Piazza Navona before the tour ended at the Vatican.

And the Vatican was where I found myself first thing Saturday morning. Not in time to get in but in time for the massive crowds and police presence in honour of Shrub. *Definitely going to need to go back: I can say I “saw” The Vatican and St. Peter’s but wasn’t allowed inside the Basillica and could not see the Vatican Museums at all. Somehow I managed to lose the Parthenon as well, but that’s another story. While at St. Peter’s I was with a crowd of American priests. Didn’t see too many priests-or at least priests in priest clothes-in Rome whereas I think I saw more nuns (in habits) per capita. It was interesting. The church is definitely a palpable presence within the city with St. Peter’s truly looming over not just the Vatican but Rome itself (and above). I was disappointed that we weren’t allowed access, but it was nice to be there.

Shrub’s visit had made transport in Rome a bit of a nightmare so I opted to walk from the Vatican to the Colosseum. I’m glad I did because the sight of The Colosseum as you round the bend from Piazza Venezia is AMAZING. It’s really odd to see ths imposing 2000 year old structure there, at the ‘end’ of the road. It’s hard to take in. The walk takes you down between two major sets of ruins: Il Foro Triano and Il Foro Romano, the latter of which is by far the most famous. It almost feels as if you’ve stepped back in time, and this was especially true on Sunday when part of the road was closed to vehicular traffic. It was about 1PM by this time and hot so I found a nice spot in the shade of Il Foro Romano and settled with my book, which has enjoyed some travels of its own. I read, siesta’ed and watched some of the people: a woman next to me knitting booties and a gentleman on my right doing an amazing drawing of Il Colosseo.

As I relaxed and then later walked to the Colosseum, I had two very different things going through my head. The first:

London, Paris, Monte Carlo, Germany and Rome
Different places, different faces still it feels like home

I can’t tell you the last time I heard that song, but all of a sudden it was in my head. Unlike some of my long term trips where I’m in one place for a length of time, this has been country/city hopping. England/Czech Republic/Poland/Czech Republic/Italy…and coming: Germany and Switzerland. Usually I have Truckin’ or Rainbow Tour in my head, but this was different. Part of this may have stemmed from how comfortable I felt in Rome: never been there–or to Italy at all-but I felt right at home. I love the city and can’t wait to go back. And no, I’m not telling you the song, you have to guess.

As I walked closer to the Colosseum, I got a slightly more appropriate line in my head:

My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

I didn’t have the exact line in my head because I’ve only seen the movie once and that was six years ago, but I thought of that line. I thought more of Roman history and all that these buildings and ruins could tell us if they could talk. I love that the ruins have been preserved. We all know that Rome is the Eternal City, but I personally didn’t have any understanding for what that meant until I travelled there. The statues could almost come to life (not counting those that do) and rule again. They’d recognize some of their city. Natural disasters aside, I’m glad they’ve been able to preserve so much of the city, it’s much easier to learn from seeing the Colosseum than to just read about it.

I lingered by the Colosseum for a while taking far too many photos. The thing about my favourite photo: I had no intention of returning that night, I just kind of ended up back there. I finally bought a tripod and so glad I did because that photo is one of my favourites ever. People watching is great at the Colosseum, brides and grooms having photo shoots there, and the bats coming out to play. After a while I headed back and crashed early, it had been a nearly 13 hour day.

Sunday morning went by all too quickly. I set out for the Pantheon but had issues finding it on the bus and by the time I was getting close, I wouldn’t have had time to see it so I headed back to the Colosseo to catch the metro to Piramide where I could get the local train for the airport. The feeling of not wanting to go back to Prague was different. I like Prague, but the passion for learning about it isn’t there. The new class is fun though, no photos but a good four hour tour. That’s going to have to wait because my hands are tired.

So when can I go back to Rome?

I’m back.

Rome was wonderful. Absolutely amazing.

I’m still editing photos: 218 in total, including 105 of the colosseum. The above is one of my favourites. There will be more photos and a post about the trip soon. Now doing laundry and getting ready for class in the morning.