The Good,The Bad and the Unlucky

Rome

Sunday 31st August

Well we farewelled our traveling companions after a short breakfast, and packed our bags for the short taxi ride to our new accommodation. It is a lovely B&B a short stroll from the Vatican. We were very early but Simone heard us outside and came down to let us in. 

The impressive entrance to our accommodation. It shares the building with other businesses, but nonetheless we feel special coming into it.

The internal courtyard, no doubt for the carriage!

Situated on a lovely quiet street but then it is Sunday.

It has everything we want including a novel use for the bidet. Other hotels in Italy did not have tea and coffee in the room, but this little establishment does.  Simone went to great lengths to provide us with information about local eateries and transport in the area.

But the one thing we really wanted to do this trip was mass at St. Peter's Basilica. We had to hot foot it past the huge lines waiting to enter the Vatican museum (we discovered that it was free today), but our hearts sank when we entered the Square. The line to enter the church was even longer. Surely they can't all want to go to mass??? But the majority simply wanted a look inside and the faithful had to queue up with them. So we took our place and made the almost complete circuit of the Square, before finally entering. We just about sprinted up the have and pushed and angled our way into a spot in the mass of worshippers. It was a mass in Latin, sung and concelebrated with at least one cardinal several bishops, a few Monsignori, and dozens of priests. We would not fit such a throng in St.Brendan's in Shepparton! We respectfully did not take any pics during the mass. The less reverant guy beside Pop did try but had his arm tapped by attendants frowning fearfully at him with very clear instructions that deterred other would be photographers. After mass was OK to photo, Si !

Under the dome almost over where we stood for mass. But afterwards it was back into the Square for Pope Francis' Angelus Address. There were thousands and thousands. What a view we had.

There, building on the right second window from the right.. What? You Don' t see him?  Pop use the zoom!!!

That is much better! We didn't understand what he said until he came to bless us - and the few others gathered there. That was special.

We decided to go to a lovely pizza restaurant recommended by Simone. It was delicious - the best yet. Then decided to reconoitre the public transport for a trip to Ostia Antico tomorrow. 

On the way back in a very crowded train with much jostling and pushing as the train lurched, Pop was relieved of his wallet!!  Did not feel anything and I thought it was secure in a leg pocket held down with Velcro tabs!! What an expensive lesson and I guess unlucky to be the target. Money and a card they cannot use (immediately suspended) but a sour edge to our day.

Need to go and have a drink next door!

Well done Hawks!

Ciao you lovely people.

Poss an Pop

Trafalgar Termination

Rome

This is the last day of our Trafalgar tour and the group is already beginning to disperse. Last night our new friends from NZ said their farewells. They had an early start to take the train back to Venice and board a cruise ship for the Adriatic and the Greek Isles. They are a lovely couple in their late seventies,with health problems and tons of heart.

The rest of the group headed out to explore not only a great museum but also a great church at the one site - the Vatican. We didn't see Pope Francis today but we are coming back tomorrow and you never know.

The amazing museum first but only the highlights as it would take weeks to cover the full collection.

Castle Sant'Angelo once the Papal fortress.

The scarf in green and yellow is the" flag" of one of the tourist guides. They enable us to follow our guide in the crowds.

This reminds you of the opulence we have already seen in the palaces of Paris and Venice, but their religious themes give the nature of the place.

One gallery had accurate and detailed maps painted from an aerial perspective centuries prior to any flights.

The highlight was the Sistine Chapel. Because of the nature of this, the world' s largest fresco by Michelangelo, no photography, no flash, no speaking. You may suspect that this means a dark and dull hall of frescoes... Wrong!!! The art work has been cleaned and very recently the stained glass replaced to allow more light into the chapel. It brought tears to our eyes.

Although we are not able to provide pics of this experience you can take a tour and see the wonder of what we saw.

vatican.com/tour/sistine_chapel_3D

So we then passed into the great basilica of St.Peter itself. We were not prepared for the dimensions of this sacred space - enormous or huge really does not do it justice. We recalled the great council of VaticanII and now realize how they could fit over two thousand bishops into this space. Each statue is in itself a monument. 

It is in many ways surreal. To be here were so much of the Church's focus has often been. The sense of grandeur and ritual which is kind of nice but at the same time out of touch with the real mission of our church - that is the option for the poor and marginalized, which is the call o f the current Pope.

Here again the timeless work of Michelangelo in the Pieta 

Here the symbol of God's Spirit shining from the most central position on saints and sinners alike.

And in this side chapel we paused and prayed for each and every member of our family, our friends both living and dead, and for our world which is in need of some help at present.

As if understanding our solemn mood the Vatican provided people for some light relief. As Bailey calls Bendigo Cathedral "the prince's castle on the hill" , she will no doubt love these 'clowns'. But they did not do anything but simply stood there.

This is our last night with Trafalgar. Our dinner overlooking Rome was again top quality. We finished with a few drinks on the terrace of our neighboring hotel.  Tomorrow on our own again. If you want to do the major sight of Europe and not drive, hassle with luggage, long lines queueing to get in then you must  get a tour guide or company for extended travel - not an advert but we have been very happy with our Trafalgar experience. End commercial!

Pick up with you all in a day or so. Tomorrow we intend transferring to our B&B near the Vatican and going to mass in the 'Big House'.

Love to you all,

Poss and Pop

Finally to Rome

Rome - The Eternal City

With great efficiency the Italian rail system whisked us from Florence to Rome in a little over an hour and a quarter. Smooth and fast at another 250 kph.

The weather is hot (32C) and the walking in narrow streets of cobblestone can take its toll. However, our fellow travelers from NZ in the wheelchair continue to inspire us. So on we go!

First stop was the Coliseum. It looked a little smaller than we expected from the outside and it is really only when you enter the building that you begin to appreciate the amazing engineering feat that this building represents. It is not simply in the use of materials that balance the weight across the structure, but also in the drainage and infrastructure that was needs to support a crowd of 86,000 who attended the games.

Needless to say this was not a happy place if you were part of the spectacle designed to entertain such a crowd. Untold numbers of Christians went to their deaths to satisfy the blood list of the mob. Gladiators also fought but not often to the death as they were valuable commodities. Not so the Christians. Phenomenal engineering is all we can say - makes Etihad look positively primitave.

We then went with our lovely guide Elena on a walking tour of some of the memorable Roman sites. Unfortunately the Trevi Fountain, scene of so many classic movies, was closed for renovations - disappointing - but we tossed our coins in the proper way so that if our wish comes true we will return another time to Rome.

Caught in mid throw!

Well nearly caught it!

Possibly one of the highlights of Rome was our visit to the Pantheon, a former pagan temple dating back 2000 years which was later converted to a church. But again what a great feat of engineering.

The Pantheon

The perfectly symmetrical dome with its central portal which is open to the elements.

It was very impressive.

The guide warned us that at this stage of the tour we may suffer from " monument fatigue" and this may be the case. To see so much of Roman history at every turn does make you a little blaze.  So we will leave it there and he head to bed. Oh? Did we mention another wonderful dinner with wine, great food, music and dancing under a perfect sky? No I suppose some readers are suffering "blog fatigue" by now. Take heart - only one more week to go!!!

We do love you all and miss you. Tomorrow Head Office and we will offer prayers for you in St.Peter's Basilica - even if you don't believe in it.

All our love 

Poss and Pop

The Circus Maximus

The ornate column of Marcus Aurelius

What's this one Poss? I give up.

Florence

Market & Church

It was nice to have a slow start to the day. At about 9:30 we set off for the Central Markets following our trusty map and trying to read the street names which at times were hard to find. Having read about the market on TripAdvisor, we were not disappointed in what we found. Every type of fresh produce to tempt the palate. Stall holders offered small tastings of olive oils, prosciutto and cheeses. Who needs lunch?

The building housing the market is not only great to look at and in atmosphere but airconditairconditioned, which on a warm day is nice (about 28C and walking makes it feel hotter). Of course we now quite like the odd coffee and the availability of WiFi made our stay a little longer. The crowds built as it approached midday and lunchtime. Many of the stalls will prepare fresh jambons (sandwiches) or panini for you. However, we chose two slices of a fresh torte made of spinach and ricotta cheese. Absolutely delicious!!! As the crowds increased the WiFi performance declined to the point of being the same as the hotel - pathetic. So on we ventured with trusty map, fighting our way past stalls of leather goods, scarfs, and the usual tourist fare.

Eventually we came to the church of St. Maria Nouvelle, which dates from the 13th century and is very well preserved. It had also been a Dominican monastery so there was plenty for us to see.

The market and outside the tourist traps

St. Maria Nouvelle

The outside of this church was just as delightful as the inside. Just think what these walls have witnessed over 900 years? 

With our feet beginning to flag we slowly took ourselves back for a shower and little siesta before heading into the Tuscan hills to a villa once occupied by Machiavelli. It is a working winery and fine restaurant ( oh how sad!!) . Regrettably we have no pics of this wonderful evening. The wine was great and the five course meal superb. When we returned to the hotel we finished with a nightcap in the bar. Very nice. Don't know what the drink was that Simon the barman poured for us (on the house) but as he filled the ten shot glasses the liquid turned from deep green to deep red. All from the one jug...some sort of vodka based cocktail.

Anyway goodnight and goodbye from Florence as tomorrow we head to Roma!

Ciao, Poss and Pop