First order of business, was getting to Rome without paying for a shore excursion. Online at PortReview.com I found the port of Civitavecchia with detailed (color pictures and everything) of exactly what the port looked like, how to get out of the dock area to the street area, how to get to the train station (with pictures of what the building would look like) and exactly what ticket to buy. Our train tickets for 2 people was 1.80 Euros and we got to Rome way ahead of the tour buses from the ship.
Ready for traction, we took off in our tennis shoes and it was a good thing too. This is an example of many of the sidewalks in Rome. We saw Roman women in extremely high heeled boots clicking along these uneven stones without a flinch. I would have broken my neck so gladly the tennis shoes did me just fine.
We hit the ground running once we got out of the train. Even though I knew I couldn't see everything in one day I was determined to see at least two things, the Sistine Chapel and the Coliseum. They were at opposite ends of town but I had maps and we were going to try. Our first snag came when we took a wrong turn to get into the entrance to the Vatican. We practically ran around an entire block before we found the entrance. Once there we had been told that the line to get in could take as long as a couple of hours. BUT because our cruise had been scheduled for early November we practically walked right in. There are so many wonderful things to see in the Vatican and again you could take a whole day just wandering through the beautiful rooms there but I knew I had to limit my viewing if we were to get across town to the Coliseum and back to the boat by departure time. SO I found signs that led to "The Sistine Chapel" and followed them hurried through room after room of gorgeous tapestries, ancient maps, statues, and artwork covering the walls, halls, floors and ceilings. At each one my husband (not one for knowing what great work of art is what) would stop and admire and say "Is this it?". "Nope", I would answer and grab his arm to head down the next hall following the next sign to "The Sistine Chapel". The picture below is just one of the many rooms we "flew" through.
Then all of a sudden we were there. "The Sistine Chapel" was right through the next door. We stopped, I took a breath (for I knew I was about to have my breath taken away) and we walked through. No need to tell me not to take a photo. I was too much in awe to do much but walk around admiring what I had studied so long in art school. What was truly amazing was the lack of crowds. I had been told that they pack you in like sardines and shuffle you in and out. Not so when we were there. We actually sat, leaning against the walls that Michelangelo himself had touched and took in every detail at our leisure. Having reached the chapel so much sooner than we thought we would, we had time to wander through the Vatican just a little more so we wound our way down halls and passageways only to find ourselves winding down a huge spiral staircase.
At the bottom of the staircase was the exit. HUH? What happened to the rest of the building? Not knowing what it would take to wind our way back into the Vatican, we chose to go ahead and start our trek across town to the coliseum. Who knew how long that would take? I had a rough estimate but that was all it was, a rough estimate of a foreign town with a color coded map.
At the bottom of the staircase was the exit. HUH? What happened to the rest of the building? Not knowing what it would take to wind our way back into the Vatican, we chose to go ahead and start our trek across town to the coliseum. Who knew how long that would take? I had a rough estimate but that was all it was, a rough estimate of a foreign town with a color coded map.Before we left the area, however I ran across a site that I photographed and later painted with palette knife. It was a monk, leaning on a railing between two columns, looking out over the Vatican.
I used this painting as one of the starting points to the creation of 28 pieces for a one man art show in Memphis for April 2010 and decided to "give it back". My Jane's Perspective always tells me to give back to the people and the community that supports my artwork so this piece will be silent auctioned during the show with all proceeds going to MIFA's food bank program.
I used this painting as one of the starting points to the creation of 28 pieces for a one man art show in Memphis for April 2010 and decided to "give it back". My Jane's Perspective always tells me to give back to the people and the community that supports my artwork so this piece will be silent auctioned during the show with all proceeds going to MIFA's food bank program.Leaving the Vatican and heading across town we found the beauty of Rome to be slightly marred here and there by the beggers in the streets. What I found particularly heart breaking was the position of the beggers, often children or women, who would actually prostrate themselves on the streets, hands outstetched with donation cups in hand. If you go, please be mentally prepared for this.
But the beauty of Rome is still never ending. As we kept a good pace up following our map to the Coliseum, at every opening between the buildings we found beautiful artwork. Paintings and statues adorn even the smallest niche or courtyard. This picture is just one of many that led to nothing more than an parking garage.
As we walked closer to the Roman Forum we were feeling not only the mystery of the ancients who walked it before us but also the hustle and bustle of a vibrant active city. Ruins of the ancient city surrounded us until "gasp" there it was in all it's glory - The Coliseum. And to our utter amazement, the rain that threatened our day not only stayed away but created a fabulous cloud formation that inspired the focal piece of my art show. The colors in this painting that I titled "Clouds over Rome" are just as we found them with the sun peaking through to add even more beauty to the day.
Amazingly we strolled through the Coliseum and wandered our way leisurely back to the train station with time to spare, feeling successful, fulfilled, and pleasantly exhausted for what we saw, not what we might have missed.
But the beauty of Rome is still never ending. As we kept a good pace up following our map to the Coliseum, at every opening between the buildings we found beautiful artwork. Paintings and statues adorn even the smallest niche or courtyard. This picture is just one of many that led to nothing more than an parking garage.
As we walked closer to the Roman Forum we were feeling not only the mystery of the ancients who walked it before us but also the hustle and bustle of a vibrant active city. Ruins of the ancient city surrounded us until "gasp" there it was in all it's glory - The Coliseum. And to our utter amazement, the rain that threatened our day not only stayed away but created a fabulous cloud formation that inspired the focal piece of my art show. The colors in this painting that I titled "Clouds over Rome" are just as we found them with the sun peaking through to add even more beauty to the day.
Amazingly we strolled through the Coliseum and wandered our way leisurely back to the train station with time to spare, feeling successful, fulfilled, and pleasantly exhausted for what we saw, not what we might have missed.