From the top of the Spanish steps we spied where we wanted to go which happened to be the Piazza del Popolo. Along the way we visited three churches, where one can see some of the most amazing artwork in the city...and free of charge. In SS Ambrogio Carlo al Corso, we lit a candle for Jim in an alter with a painting of one of the Saints on a horse riding in heaven. The painting and the candle made me weep for the loss of Jim and find joy that he, too, might be riding a horse in heaven... As we continued our walk to the Piazza, we grew famished from our small, yet delicious, breakfast of bread, jam, juice, and coffee from the B&B and we stopped for an early lunch and ate one of Jim and my favorites, prochuitto and melon. Mackenzie and I shared this along with a tuna salad and a 1/2 crafe of white house wine and a loaf of bread (seriously).
We were pressured constantly by men selling "selfie sticks", yet still enjoyed our walk through the Piazza and then along the river to cross over the Pointe S. Angelo bridge arriving in front of the Castel S. Angelo, which we did not go into because it had a fee. Follwoing the Via della Conciliazione, we arrived at the Vatican and the Piazza San Pietro. Here we ran into a southern woman and her daughter who were complaining that the Piazza was readying to be emptied of all tourist so that Pope could give a private Mass. She was one unhappy lady, but helped us to decide our next adventure...the Colosseo (Colleseum).
#RickSteeves, says to buy your tickets for this, the forum, and Palentine Hill at Palentine Hill, where there is no line. He is correct. Buy there and head over to the Colosseo and head right in quickly through the mass of people buying tickets. Afterward, head back over to the Forum/Palentine Hill, using the same ticket and head right on in. Upon entering the Forum, I couldn't find my ticket...I finally did, stashed in my bra...don't ask! Tip of the day...there are so many natural water fountains throughout the city, so bring your #Nalgene or other water bottle to make frequent fill-ups to hydrate.
The Colleseum, Palentine Hill, and Forum were remarkable and you can read about them on any travel blog or book....Our favorite part was taking pictures of people taking selfies! I think we will do an entire blog of these pictures!
We left that area around 7:30 and headed back to the steps, stopping to get a map at Capitaline Hill and then stopped at the under-construction, Trevi fountain, and we still threw a coin and stopped the 'Selfie Stick' hawkers in their tracks when I held up my #Nikon D5000 camera. Seriously, I was tempted to grab one of those selfie sticks and clobber them with it!
Hungry, yet again, we grabbed a nice dinner near the steps at Caffe Leonardo. Bruchetta, Ravioli, and red wine was completely satisfying (by then we'd walked 15 miles). Back to the metro and then waiting at the bus stop for 45 minutes while we were stared at by a 90 year old gentlement in a suit and tie, smoking non-stop (as most Italians we've encountered do). We spoke a little to him and when we got on the bus, he sat next to us and helped us to find our Due Santi stop. With a wink and a Ciao! we left the bus and during our 1 mile walk back to the house, we realized that he was our guadian angel in a place where no one spoke English and we were completly aliens seeking peace in a strange land.
Pax!
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I am loving reading your blog!! Bev
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