I forgot to mention Saturday afternoon Michelle and I then went downtown and rode a different hop on-hop off bus around town to get the lay of the land. (it was still raining but we were undercover). We passed Circus Maximus where that weekend the Susan Komen Race for the Cure was going on. Later on Sunday when we rode the bus again (the ticket is good for 24 hours - 3 p.m. until 3 p.m.) there were 3 sites the bus didn't stop at because of the race. We saw many people walking around town with T-shirts with the pink Komen info on them. The other place, where the stop is closed for a year, not sure why, is the Vatican. Last time I was here the bus dropped you right in the square. We didn't even see a glimpse on this trip. We will do the Sistine Chapel at a special event on Friday evening, with Anna, rather than fight the lines during the day. Michelle is working on the reservation for that.
We got off near the Borghese Gallery (a 3* for Rick Steves) and were able to make reservations to see it on Thursday. Then we walked over toward the Pantheon. On the way, we had one of our weirdest experiences!! This guy pulled his VW car over and called to us. He wanted directions to the Spanish Steps (where we were going past on our way). He called us over to the car; he was nicely dressed in a suit and tie, about 50+. In his limited English he asked us if we like Ferraris! He was in Rome, from Switzerland for a Lamborghini/Maserati conference of some sort (obviously, he's into cars!) He gave us some story about a "catastrophe" where his wife was back at the hotel; I got the gist that he had forgotten their 35th anniversary and now had to buy her some huge flowers!! Then he showed us, out of a nice bag, and beautiful box this probably Rolex-type watch, a pen, etc. He said we couldn't ever SELL this; but he was going to give it to us, in exchange for some money so he could buy these flowers!! We were puzzled but I took up a E10 note and held it out. He said, no, he needed to buy "big" flowers!! Michelle said she had no money and we walked away. He drove off!! We have no idea!! SCAM??? Who knows! Just a weird experience!! It wasn't your typical scam with watches down his wrists!!
We passed the Spanish Steps that were under construction, visited the church at the top and walked down them. On to the Pantheon where there was a HUGE line. Also there was a motorcycle group with what looked like a bride so I snapped them! Also a group of young men all dressed in black suits and one guy in priest's garb - so I assume maybe he was just ordained? Snapped that! We'll save the Pantheon inside for another day.
Headed to Trevi fountain and found an okay restaurant (we're getting fussy; the bruschetta wasn't tasty! )for lunch and then a few photos and coin at INCREDIBLY packed Trevi! We walked on down to the Victor Emmanuele monument (the wedding cake!) - Victor Emmanuel was the first King of Italy back in 1840s when Garibaldi (the military guy) helped him unite the several Papal States (most of central Italy) with several other citystates into the unified country of Italy. Victor Emmanuel was the King of a large region of Sardinia and northern states so he was the first king. There are now 20 Italian states/regions and we've visited about 7 of them.
We walked past the monument (past the palace where Mussolini ranted from the balcony!) and down along the Forum towards the Coloseum. We turned up a street to find St. Peter in Chains church (up MANY stairs!) where I remember from '92 seeing the gorgeous Moses statue carved by Michelangelo for Julius II's tomb (it never got built).
There was a nearby metro stop where we hopped on and didn't have to get off at Termini or change Metro to get back to our stop, Libia in NE Rome. I forgot, on our way in, we had also located on the side of Termini where I get the bus shuttle to Ciamino airport - smaller one that services my RyanAir flight to Bordeaux. Anna will drive us both Sat. a.m. to Termini and Michelle will get the train to Fiumicino (a.k.a. Leonardo da Vinci) Airport for her flight back to Portland, OR, via Newark.
We ended up having oatmeal and strawberries for supper and went to bed!! Exhausted! Oh, Anna came over about 10:30 p.m. and brought us the car for our trip Monday to Assisi! It was pretty complicated to go by bus and/or train and she offered her car. She told us that when the Plum Village group was here 3 years ago (when I MET Anna in Rome!), the sangha had used HER car to drive Thay (Thich Nhat Hanh - the 90 year old leader of Doug's community) around town. So she said the car was blessed and we should have a good trip!!
She also brought take-out vanilla, chocolate and strawberry gelato (who knew they did takeout!!) for us to share! Delicious end to the day!
Baci!! (means hugs!)
We got off near the Borghese Gallery (a 3* for Rick Steves) and were able to make reservations to see it on Thursday. Then we walked over toward the Pantheon. On the way, we had one of our weirdest experiences!! This guy pulled his VW car over and called to us. He wanted directions to the Spanish Steps (where we were going past on our way). He called us over to the car; he was nicely dressed in a suit and tie, about 50+. In his limited English he asked us if we like Ferraris! He was in Rome, from Switzerland for a Lamborghini/Maserati conference of some sort (obviously, he's into cars!) He gave us some story about a "catastrophe" where his wife was back at the hotel; I got the gist that he had forgotten their 35th anniversary and now had to buy her some huge flowers!! Then he showed us, out of a nice bag, and beautiful box this probably Rolex-type watch, a pen, etc. He said we couldn't ever SELL this; but he was going to give it to us, in exchange for some money so he could buy these flowers!! We were puzzled but I took up a E10 note and held it out. He said, no, he needed to buy "big" flowers!! Michelle said she had no money and we walked away. He drove off!! We have no idea!! SCAM??? Who knows! Just a weird experience!! It wasn't your typical scam with watches down his wrists!!
We passed the Spanish Steps that were under construction, visited the church at the top and walked down them. On to the Pantheon where there was a HUGE line. Also there was a motorcycle group with what looked like a bride so I snapped them! Also a group of young men all dressed in black suits and one guy in priest's garb - so I assume maybe he was just ordained? Snapped that! We'll save the Pantheon inside for another day.
Headed to Trevi fountain and found an okay restaurant (we're getting fussy; the bruschetta wasn't tasty! )for lunch and then a few photos and coin at INCREDIBLY packed Trevi! We walked on down to the Victor Emmanuele monument (the wedding cake!) - Victor Emmanuel was the first King of Italy back in 1840s when Garibaldi (the military guy) helped him unite the several Papal States (most of central Italy) with several other citystates into the unified country of Italy. Victor Emmanuel was the King of a large region of Sardinia and northern states so he was the first king. There are now 20 Italian states/regions and we've visited about 7 of them.
We walked past the monument (past the palace where Mussolini ranted from the balcony!) and down along the Forum towards the Coloseum. We turned up a street to find St. Peter in Chains church (up MANY stairs!) where I remember from '92 seeing the gorgeous Moses statue carved by Michelangelo for Julius II's tomb (it never got built).
There was a nearby metro stop where we hopped on and didn't have to get off at Termini or change Metro to get back to our stop, Libia in NE Rome. I forgot, on our way in, we had also located on the side of Termini where I get the bus shuttle to Ciamino airport - smaller one that services my RyanAir flight to Bordeaux. Anna will drive us both Sat. a.m. to Termini and Michelle will get the train to Fiumicino (a.k.a. Leonardo da Vinci) Airport for her flight back to Portland, OR, via Newark.
We ended up having oatmeal and strawberries for supper and went to bed!! Exhausted! Oh, Anna came over about 10:30 p.m. and brought us the car for our trip Monday to Assisi! It was pretty complicated to go by bus and/or train and she offered her car. She told us that when the Plum Village group was here 3 years ago (when I MET Anna in Rome!), the sangha had used HER car to drive Thay (Thich Nhat Hanh - the 90 year old leader of Doug's community) around town. So she said the car was blessed and we should have a good trip!!
She also brought take-out vanilla, chocolate and strawberry gelato (who knew they did takeout!!) for us to share! Delicious end to the day!
Baci!! (means hugs!)
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