Our day to visit Rome arrived, warm and pleasant. The fact that both trains were delayed and it was raining when we returned did little to diminish the joy of our adventure. We navigated to our departing train this morning and had a lovely 1 1/2 hour ride to Rome. This was Bridget's first train ride, making it even more exciting. We had reserved another "hop on/hop off" excursion and it was a good thing..I had NO IDEA the time needed to really experience Rome. After today I can believe one would need a month just to truly take in the "high" points, let alone all of the small tucked away adventures. Our 6 hours left us with a "to do " list half completed. On the train ride we used the map and our tour book to decide which stops we wanted to get off at; in Rome another bus comes every 15 minutes and I can understand why. We visited beautiful piazzas and various remnants of the past...which we'll share when we upload the pictures. Our plan was to spend the first 3 hours in antique Rome, drop over and see a sight or two in "ancient Rome" (old Rome) and then take a bus to the Vatican just to see the outside of the buildings and the Sistine Chapel. We truly wanted to visit the Sistine Chapel but learned it would take about 5 hours minimum. Well, as they say, the best laid plans and all that......We hopped off and on in the first hour and then got off at the Colesium and that was about that. Words do not begin to describe the awe one feels as he walks thru these ruins. We met a guide originally from New York and she gave us a few pointers about seeing the other ruins in the area, only she didn't clarify which direction we should head out in. Let me just say that Bridget and I toured some grounds and a large church not on any tour map. After walking an hour and realizing we were no where near the ruins of the ancients nor the circus maximus, we rounded a hill and saw the gate we should have gone through. We had walked at least 2 miles out of our way! No problem other than it cut into our carefully planned day. After we cross four lanes of traffic (Did I mention in Italy the crossing signals are more for show; you simply hold up your hands, close your eyes, pray, make the sign of the cross if Catholic, and step into traffic. They generally stop without honking a horn even!) we entered and completed our tour. We then caught the next bus and rode awhile taking in more sights. Our next stop was Trevi Fountain. Shall I sing "3 Coins in the Fountain"? There were more tourists here than in any one small area thus far. Yes, we have pics of tossing coins over our shoulders in hope we'll return. From here we intended to hurry over to old Rome and see the Parthenon but only had 30 minutes so we settled for Gilatto and window shopping until it was time for the bus. We were lucky for the 15 minute ride to the train station took nearly 30 minutes with the traffic.
Once our returning train finally arrived and we made it back we found a quasi-English speaking ticket agent or told us which bus would deposit us closest to our hotel, bought our tickets, and boarded. We then discovered our driver didn't know a word of English but luckily a young Italian lady overheard me trying to communicate with him and explained where our stop would be. Once we left the bus we found a small trattatoria (they don't open here until 7:00 p.m.) and had some incredible lasagna and red house wine. Bridget is now downstairs reading and I'm about to sort through from today and prepare for tomorrow. Bridget told me she believes if you've seen one antique church you've seen enough so there isn't any need to get up early and visit the one we planned before we go to the Ufizzi museum at 10:30.
Friday is horseback riding in Chianti and Saturday is a bus trip to Sienna....

more to come.
wish you were all here.

Oh, and in defense of Rome, it did not smell, it was not dirty, the people were not hateful, and no one attempted to steal our purses....all per Bridget!