We lost most of today due to an 8 hour time change, but so far jet lag has not set in. We arrived in Rome at 11:30 local time with nothing but our two backpacks and the clothes on our backs. Being a bit bewildered, we were left no choice but to hop in a bus shuttle with one Italian driver and other tourists from various countries. Right away we were bombarded with questions about the oil spill, healthcare, and World Cup hopefuls. When we arrived at our pre-booked hotel, we were happy to see that it was a bit secluded from the craziness of the city streets, but boasted a convenient shuttle into Rome for a reasonable price.
Once we checked in, we did not waste any time. We made our maiden tourist voyage into the city, just a couple of unassuming tourists. We grabbed a map and the shuttle dropped us off at the first stop. Our shuttle driver was right when he said that everything in the city was within walking distance. In just a few hours we were able to see the Via Museo delle Terme, Repubblica, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, S. Pietro in Vincoli, Domus Aurea, Colosseo, Arco di Constantino, Mercati Traianei, Colonna Traiana, and the Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II.
The architecture here is beautiful and some of it is absolutely gigantic in size (some of the largest buildings I have ever seen...) Beyond the sheer size the intricacies of the sculpture and edifices are absolutely breathtaking. To be in a city with such history constantly in the foreground is a wonderful variation to the “new” western world. It’s rather neat to see and can’t wait to check out more tomorrow.
Mo
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