Trip Update #10 - Rome, Rome, and more Rome

[Josh Seamon]

Hello everyone,

I've posted several new pictures in the Live Trip Updates section of the gallery right here:

http://mrseamon.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1658

Tip: When you are viewing a picture in the gallery, look in the upper right of the page and you'll find a drop down menu that will allow you to view larger versions of that picture



I've also had the chance to post 10 new video clips from the trip. They should all show up on this page:

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=jseamon



If for some reason all of the videos are not showing up on that page, here are all the direct links I have so far:
SJA Europe Trip 2007: This is how much fun we're having :)
SJA Europe Trip 2007: Pompeii - 2/28/07
SJA Europe Trip 2007: Capri Boat Tour - 3/1/07
SJA Europe Trip 2007: Chair Life Up Capri - 3/1/07
SJA Europe Trip 2007: Top Of Capri - 3/1/07
SJA Europe Trip 2007: The Colosseum - 3/2/07
SJA Europe Trip 2007: Trevi Fountain - 3/2/07
SJA Europe Trip 2007: Hellos Home - 3/2/07
SJA Europe Trip 2007: Pantheon - 3/3/07
SJA Europe Trip 2007: Dressed up for dinner - 3/3/07

(One more is on the way.)



Here's what we have been up to over the last two days:

Rome has been way too much fun.

3/2/07: We woke up at 7am and enjoyed another pleasant hotel breakfast. We are particularly amused by the floor labeling system... breakfast was on a sub level, so below floor 0 (the lobby)... floor -1. Okay, I might be the only one who thinks it's amusing, but then again I am a math teacher. After breakfast we got our first real taste of Rome traffic, which while as busy as Naples, is a bit more orderly. Rocco took us into the city and we made out way inside the Vatican walls where we unloaded and met up with our guide, Moritz, a very nice Italian gentleman. Outside the entrance to the Vatican museum we were fitted with 'Whisper' headphone systems that let us hear everything Moritz said into a mic on his collar -- the system worked quite well. We then entered the museum via the group entrance, which meant we didn't have to wait in any lines. Inside the museum we took in a huge amount of sunning art. We saw sculptures, HUGE tapestries, and grand maps. There is also a whole long corridor that has a ceiling that looks 3D... REALLY 3D, but is actually 2D and painted very, VERY well to seem like it is inlaid with carvings. Next we walked down a long walk way, turned a corner.. and we were in the Sistine Chapel. Absolutely unreal. The whole place is alive. Ever surface is covered with something to be in awe of. We were all wishing there were coaches the lie down on so we could just stay there staring at the ceiling. While in the chapel we ran into Cindy Stanton! The world is a small place. As we left the chapel and emerged outside, our guide noticed the line to get into the tombs underneath St. Peter's was very short, so he took us in, something he never gets to do. It was a truly spiritual experience to walk by the tombs of so many Popes. John Paul 3 and St. Peter's tombs were particularly powerful. Next we walked the short distance to St. Peter's Basilica.... What a place, what a place. The sheer enormity of the structure is staggering and the sculptures, Papal altar and massive mosaic paintings were beyond elegant. We next walked out into the courtyard in front of the Basilica, took a few excellent group pictures, and then spent an hour eating lunch and browsing through a Vatican gift shop. After lunch we headed over to another incredible monument to history, the Colosseum. We again got to skip any real lines by having a group reservation and Moritz led us into the light inside the ancient entertainment center. He gave us a brief history of the structure and then we have 45 minutes to explore. Again we were totally floored. The weather was a little cloudy, but we had good portions of time with great sun. Everyone had a great walk around the place and up onto the second level and then we excited on the far side and continued the tour through the ruins of Imperial Rome. We got to see the many layers of the city and how buildings were built on top of older buildings. Moritz then led us to the HUGE Emmanuel monument where he turned us over to Flo. We next enjoyed 30 minutes of free time to explore the monument and surrounding area and then we had 30 minutes at the very crowded Trevi fountain. Flo then walked us to dinner at a theater -- we were seated high up and would have had a great view if there was a show going on. We were all very tired from the very long day of seeing HUGE sights and walking far. The food was again great -- way too much bread, tasty pasta, and creamy custard covered in chocolate for dessert. We got back home around 9pm and I was so tired I passed out fully clothed about 5 minutes after I got back to my room.

3/3/07: Today we had a walking tour of Rome led by Flo where we saw sight after sight after sight. We started early again and were on the bus by 8:30. Flo first took us to see the famous Roman baths which were a huge, crumbling, glorious ruin. Turns out they hold concerts there every so often. On the way we also saw a large marble pyramid that was built as the tomb for someone whose name I can't remember. We then made our way to the Mouth of Truth... the large circular coin shaped face whose mouth you can stick your hand in... and the legend is that if you tell a lie you will have you hand taken off. Needless to say we got some good pictures. We were also wildly amused (well, some of us were frightened) by a large rat that scampered by and made Mr. Urie and many of the kids yelp like small children ;) After the Mouth of Truth we got back on the bus and headed for Spanish steps which were elegant and full of people. The area around the steps is jam packed with great stores and street vendors which everyone enjoyed exploring. I personally enjoyed seeing the famous Babington Tea House right at the base of the steps. During our free time at the steps, Flo led us to a small pizza place that served wondrously delicious foccacia pizza style sandwiches for only 3 euros a piece! I had two and almost hurt myself enjoying how tasty they were. After the steps Flo led us to an open air market teaming with character. The kids had another hour to explore. The center of the square held a fabulous broze statue of an Italian who wanted to prove that the Earth rotated around the sun well before Galileo. (His life did not end well either.) After the open air market Flo took us through the Jewish district to the edge of the Imperial ruins where most of us headed over to the Mametine prison. Next we took the bus back to the hotel for a couple hours of much needed rest and cleaning up for dinner. At 5:45 this evening we all met in the lobby, all dressed up for our fancy night out a restaurant of Flo's choosing. 20 minutes later we were at the restaurant, a very cozy small Italian establishment. We enjoyed a meal of Bruchetta, two kinds of pasta, Roman Pizza, and various desserts such as lemon sorbet, Creme de Caramel, Tiramisu, and several others. Many of the kids an I left very, very full. After we left the restaurant, Flo took us to one of the bridges over the Tiber where we took another great group picture. Next we boarded the bus and headed back to the hotel. Along the way Flo convinced Rocco to bring us to the front of St. Peter's which looked supremely majestic at night. We got back to the hotel a little before 9 and the kids enjoyed an hour and a half of free time before night/packing check in.

Tomorrow we take off bright and early for Florence. Along the way we will stop in Assisi. 2 nights in Florence, then 4 in Chamonix.... then back to the States. Time sure does fly when you are having fun.


- Josh