whirlwind tour with Gpa and Gma, part 2 (of 2).... ROME!

When in Rome...

...follow James.

James spent months in Rome as a student, and visited again as a graduate student and teaching assistant. He is both fond of and familiar with the city. Even better, since he was studying as an architect his homework was literally to study Rome's grid, buildings, map and structures. We all benefited.

He often says a lifetime isn't enough time to explore and appreciate Rome. We only had four days.

So began our tour. We landed in an apartment for a few nights, in the heart of the city. It worked well enough for sleeping six, even with its character flaws (bathroom was through all the bedrooms, the only way to have a hot bath in the bathtub was to boil 3 pots of water---no shower, who should sleep on the very short, single bed in the living room?). The location was fabulous, near a grocer for snacks/breakfast and cozy enough.

The first day we walked around the city with our fabulous guide (thanks James... can you hold that umbrella-marker higher? So we can see you?), and dined in the piazza near the Pantheon. In 3 1/2 days we saw/did the following:

1. The Pantheon
2. The Colosseum
3. Campo dei Fiori
4. Michelangelo's Moses (S. Pietro in Vincoli)
5. Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna)
6. Trevi Fountain
7. The Vatican
8. Saint Peters Basilica (Michelangelo's Pieta; St. Peter's Square)
9. The Sistine Chapel (breathtaking! We came home with a puzzle of the Last Judgment!)
10. DOOR to prison where Peter and Paul were chained (bummer not open, but still cool)
11. Piazza del Campidoglio (equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius)
12. Musei Capitolini  (incl famous originals of: the She-wolf, Boy with Splinter)
13. Piazza Navone
14. Great meals: near the Colosseum, near the Trevi
15. Piazza del Popolo (just James and Janelle---late night walk)
16. Roman Forum

Food treats: pastries, Nutella crepes, breakfast from the Campo dei Fiori market, dinner at Vineria Il Chianti (near the Trevi Fountain).

We also briefly saw the Circus Maximus, the Constantine Arch, the Trajan Forum and La Bocca della Verita (the mouth of truth---see picture of Grandpa with his hand in the infamous mouth!).

Here is a link to our whirlwind tour, part 1. And if you want to see even more pics of our adventures, visit this photo album.