rome the city of scaffolding

8/2/15

Today was our last day in Rome.  We slept until late, showered and packed up all our gear and excited our room for the last time.  We stopped in the kitchen for breakfast, home made cappuccino's and pastries.  

Our original plan was to leave our stuff at the hostel and go to San Giovanni church around the corner but by the time we had eaten, showered and packed it was later than we had planned.  So with heavy hearts we handed back our key to our room, took all our things and said our farewells!

The Mr Rome hostel was absolutely amazing.  Thank you to Marius (and his mum! She ran the place during the day and made the awesome coffee in the morning!) for all of your stories, the laughs and the competitions! Sorry, not sorry!

We headed out to the San Giovanni church, having the epiphany along the way that it was a sunday and there might be mass on.  We still went and had a look, we had timed it right, by some stroke of luck to arrive in between services.

San Giovanni in Laterano, or St John Lateran was the first church to be built in Rome.  Built by Constantine the Great in the 4th Century it is one of the four major basilicas of Rome.

After wards we slowly ambled up the street, Via Merulana.  We were heading in the direction of the Main Termini, to catch the train to the airport.  We shopped and went past several more old fancy buildings and ruins along the way.

 

Before we caught the train, we decided to have some lunch before and we stopped at a little cafe and had coffee and sandwiches.

Then we walked to the Main Termini and after awhile we figured out how to catch the train to the airport and to our plane.

Originally we were supposed to depart Rome at 2:40, however due to bad weather at the other end of the flight it was delayed 3:50 pm.  Rome was sunny and bright, of course, because it was the day we left!  In the end we didn't take off until about ten past four, which meant we didn't land til after 6.  Charlotte and I headed to the train station and bought tickets but there wasn't a train to Fruitgen until 7:13, so we had some time to kill before then.  Once more we did some shopping!

At quarter past 7 we caught the train from Zurich to Bern, Bern to Spiez, Spiez to Frutigen, then the bus from Frutigen to Adelboden Oey, from which we walked up the hill back to the Chalet.  As a result of all the delays we didn't get home until after 10, so it was straight in the shower and to bed!

vatican city

7/2/15

Morning came around way to quickly. Before we knew it it was 8 am and then 8.30 am and time to get up. We got dressed and headed into the kitchen where pastries and fresh made cappuccinos were waiting (best hostel ever right? ). Anyways we set off about 9.45 after sitting and chatting to others at the hostel (sucking out their knowledge) and figuring out where and how to get there.

As instructed we caught the train from san Giovanni Train st to Ottaviano S. Pietro in the direction of towards Battistini.  It cost a whole 1.50 euro for 100 mins of travel.

The Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world, by both area and population.  It is approximately 44 hectares, with a population of just 842.   

We had been instructed not to go to the Vatican City until about 12ish to miss the crowds. It was still just after ten so we wasted some time shopping g and buying souvenirs. However when we had wasted about 15 mins and we were at the walls of the Vatican, we decided to go check the line and see if we need to waste more time and come back. It turns out it was empty and we walked straight in.

Security 

Immediately inside was airport security. Literally no joke. Full Metal detectors xray machines and cloak room for prohibited items such as umbrellas. Once we got through there ( no one took my umbrella???) We headed upstairs to buy tickets. Full price was 16 euro and student price was 8. They actually accepted my student card!

The Vatican Museum originated as a group of sculptures collected by Pope Julius II, and placed in what today is the Cortile Ottangono with the museum complex.  The Vatican Museum today is a complex of different museums and galleries which started under the patronage of popes Clement XIV and Pius VI.  About more than 4 million people visit the museum every year.  There are 54 galleries in total, with the most notable the very last sala within the museum, the Sistine Chapel.

   

 

 

 

 When we had spend a considerable amount of time within the Vatican Museums; I could have spent days there reading everything, we headed out through the 'guided tour' exit from the Sistine Chapel.  On the back left hand side of the museum, with a big 'no entry' sign, on of the guys at the hostel had told us about it the night before.  If we went through this door compared to leaving the 'normal' way, we would go down a staircase and right out onto St Peter's Basilica's terrace, as opposed to having to re line up to enter the Basilica.  It meant that we skipped an over an hour (at least!) long line to get into the church.  

St Peters Basilica is a late renaissance church, designed by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.  It is one of the largest churches in the world and the most renowned piece of architecture from Renaissance period.  We joined all the other tourist marveling at how massive the church is and the amazing works of art inside.  

  

 

Again, working on the information of a hostel guest, we followed the brown railing which runs inside the church around to the left hand side.  Just this side of a pillar, there is a set of stairs which lead down into the crypt below the church.  We had been told, no one would going down the stairs, and he was right.  The only reason we found them was because he had told us, otherwise we would have never known they existed!  As per Catholic tradition the crypt is the burial site of its namesake, Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, and also according to tradition, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome.

After walking through St Peter's Square, past all the people queuing to get into the Basilica, we walked to Castle Sant' Angelo and across a bridge over the Fiume Tevere.  On the other side, after walking down a couple of streets which I called 'typically Rome' (they looked excatly like what Rome looks like in the movies!) we stumbled upon some street markets.

  

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the upper north area of Rome.  We found the Piazza Navona, many churches and shops along the way.

Along the way we found the Pantheon.  The Pantheon was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) and was rebuilt by the emperor Hadrain about 126 AD.  The circular building has a portico of large granite Corinthian columns under a pediment, a rectangular vestibule linking the porch to the rotunda, which is under a coffered concrete dome, with a central oculus (opening) to the sky.  Almost 2000 years after it was built, the Pantheon is still the worlds largest non-reinforced concrete dome.  

   

We also went to the Spanish Steps, a set of steps climbing the slope wetween the Piazza di Spagna at the base and the Piazza Tinita dei Monti at the top.  As per most other parts of Rome, the Trinita dei Monti church at the top was under reconstruction and scaffolding.  It was still good to see the steps and say we have been there!

We had dinner in the same restaurant where we got the take away pizza the night before.  This time we sat in the restaurant (mainly for the use of the free wifi!). I had smoked salmon carbonara and Charlotte had ravioli.  We had dessert at the gelato place next door; I had coffee, hazelnut and baci ice-cream in a waffle cone with whipped cream on top, just to add to the calories!

  

 

We finished the night staying in at the hostel with wine drinking and discussions!

popping to rome for the weekend

6/2/15

No sleep was to be had by either Charlotte or I. Overnight we had traveled from Our Chalet to the Zurich airport. We caught the 8.54 bus to Frutigen, then the train from Frutigen to Speiz, changed at Speiz to go to Bern, changed at Bern to go to Zurich HB.  From Zurich we caught a train to Willisellen, and then a bus from there to the airport.

We eventually arrived at Zurich Airport at just after midnight.  After finding a much required rest room, we were able to electronically check in and get our boarding pass.  However entrance to the departure lounges didn't open until 5 am.  So instead we hunkered down out side the security area on some metal chairs to 'sleep' for the night.

 At 5 am and possibly 3 hours of sleep (if we were lucky), we were able to get into the departure lounge. From there we were able to find slightly more comfortable seats able Internet!  Our plane didn't leave until 7.20, boarding wasn't until 6.55 and our gate wasn't going to be displayed until 5.50 so we just waited. 

Eventually we got our gate number, A 84, and we headed down to the gate.  We chilled outside the gate until we could board.  The flight was over before it had even begun.  By the time we boarded and found our seats, taken off, the lady next to me got up to pee, I fell asleep,  I woke up to her poking me trying to get back to her chair, the air hostesses came around with a croissant  (which tasted like a pretzel?) And coffee, then they came around with a chocolate each, then they collected the rubbish, I fell asleep again, woke up and read my book, then at 8.41 we landed in Rome. A whole hour and 20 min flight, for the 431 miles between Rome and Zurich.

Once we departed the plane, we headed to customs. The strangest customs ever! We literally walked through. No one looked at our passports the entire trip from Zurich to Rome once.

We made our way to the outside of the airport and to the train station.  From there we caught the Leonardo Express into Roma Termini, the main train station in Rome.  It was aprox. a 30 min journey which cost us 14 euro. At the main station we had a look around ad tried to find a money changer. In the end it was going to cost too much commission and the rate was horrible to change money so we decided to wait.

Instead we headed of on the walk to our hostel where we were staying. In a very round - a - bout way! 

From the Termini we walked up to the papal Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore.  

Santa Maria Maggiore

San Giovanni

From there we walked down Via Merulana, towards San Giovanni in Laterano (another church).  Though we walked fairly fast we stop and looked around sights as we past and into some of the shops.  

We made our way to our hostel, we were staying at 'Mr Rome'.  Though we walked down a dingy little alley way to get there and then climbed 6 flights of stairs it is a lovely hostel and the staff are amazing.  It was only 11.20 and we weren't supposed to check in until noon and we had no cash to pay for said room, they let us check in a drop all our gear before heading back out into Rome.

Here is where the fun started!

First stop was the ATM next door one of the other guests had kindly told us about to get some cash out.  Then we headed off in search of Rome ' s most iconic location - the Colosseum. 

We got lost.  We walked down the wrong street which lead us down the hill instead of up to the Colosseum. But we corrected it and got there eventually!

We decided that instead of waiting in line at the Colosseum we would walk up to Palatine Hill to get tickets and start up there.

Palatine Hill is one of most ancient parts of the city and one of the seven Hills of Rome.  On Palatine was where the first settlers built their huts, later becoming a residential area attracting the nobility.  Over the time, the area gave way to imperial palaces.  Most of what is left is just minimal remains of what once stood.  There are many areas which stand empty and appear abandoned. After we had walked all through Palatine Hill we headed down to the Colosseum. Now that we had tickets we breezed past the que and walked straight in.

 

 

  

 The Colosseum (or Colosseo) is an elliptical amphitheater in the centre of the the city.  Construction began underneath the emperor Vespasian in 70 AD, and was completed in 80 AD under his heir and successor Titus.  It was estimated that the Colosseum could hold at full capacity 80,000 spectators.  It was used for gladiatorial contest and public spectacles; these included executions, mock sea battles, animal hunts, battle re-enactments, and dramas based on mythology.  The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval period.  Later on it was reused for purposes such as housing, workshops, religion, a fortress, a quarry and a Christian shrine.  We managed to spend over 2 hrs wandering the Colosseum, taking photos and looking in the shops. I bought a mini golden gladiator helmet to hang on my Christmas tree.

 

 

 

We headed up the hill from the Colosseum, aiming eventually for the Trevi Fountain. Along the way we found some market stalls and wandered those (and some more big buildings!).  I thought we were going in the completely wrong direction, but as it turns out, 2 secs later we stubble upon the Trevi Fountain.

 

 

The Trevi Fountain is a fountain (no surprise there!) in the Trevi district of Rome. It was designed by Nicola Salvi, and built by Pietro Bracci.  It stands 26.3 metres high and 49.15 metres wide.  The  

The fountain at the junction of three roads marks the terminal point of the "modern" Acqua Vergine, the revived Aqua Virgo, one of the aqueducts that supplied water to ancient Rome. In 19 BC, supposedly with the help of a virgin, Roman technicians located a source of pure water some 13 km from the city. This scene is presented on the present fountain's façade.  

We joined the que to walk across on the glass walk way over the fountain as they are still renevating it.  When I threw my coin in, it appears I may have thrown a little too hard as the guard shouted what I assume was the Italian version of 'Oi' as it hit the statue and fell into the fountain. Needless to say we got off the walk way pretty quick.

Next to the fountain was a Gelato shop where Charlotte and I both got ice cream in replacement of lunch. I had lemon sorbet coffee hazelnut and lemon sorbet again!  Even our ice cream cones had ice cream cones though!

We began the walk back to the hostel after that.  We got distracted again with a makeup store and then more markets, where we bought some coconut. We passed the Colosseum and took some pictures.of it lit up at night time it was spectacular!

 

 

Just before rounding the last corner to the hostel we found a restaurant.  We bought two take away pizzas to have back at the hostel.  After demolishing half of a pizza each we put the rest in the fridge for lunch. 

 

Marius the hostel owner joined us in the kitchen later in the evening and had bought some food for us all... so it was a good thing we saved some room and didn't eat a whole pizza each!