That was Rome. This is Siena.
Jul. 3rd, 2011 10:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zcat_abroadRome was hot. And big, and dry. But there were a lot of old buildings to see, and some cats. So lets see if I can cover the basics.
On Sunday, the day after we arrived, we realised that the Vatican was free that day. So we trouped off and joined the huge queue in the blazing sun. Slowly we snaked around the outside edge of the Vatican, and eventually made it inside, with half Rome's tourist population. It was pretty, but really crowded, and I'm afraid the Sistine Chapel was too noisy (despite the guards saying "Shush") to appreciate. But we saw it... And then returned to the hotel and collapsed. Dinner that night was perfect, though. I have loved the food.
Apollo Belvedere
Monday, we went to the Pantheon, and then walked a bit further, joined a tour of the Colossuem, and then the Palatine Hill, went searching for Trajan's column (which we saw every day after that!) and returned to the hotel and collapsed before heading out for dinner.
Tuesday, we went out to the Via Appia antica, one of the oldest roads, and saw catacombs, including San Sebastian's tomb, and the place where St Peter and Paul were buried for some time. It was very different - cooler, and quieter, and the catacombs were not creepy. There were no skulls.
Wednesday, it turned out, was our birthday - I had thought it was Thursday. Thanks to Facebook for alerting me to this fact. We were hot and tired, and on consultation with our very friendly hostelier, decided to take a day trip to Tivoli, and enjoy the fountains and gardens of the Villa d'Este. The bus trip was long and dusty, but the hill-town at the end was fantastic. The villa was nice, but the gardens were magnificent! Fountains, cypress, and and views over the countryside...
On Thursday, we managed to get a ticket to the Villa Borghese museum, and wandered round the park after. We weren't allowed to take pictures, which was good, as it meant we had time to look at things. However, after an hour and a half, our backs were thoroughly saw from looking upwards at frescos on the ceiling. Highlight of that day was Bernini's sculptures, though. They were amazing - so light and realistic for marble. In the Rape of Proserpina, you could see the way her flesh was moulded by Pluto's fingers, and Apollo and Daphne were so light and dainty.
On Friday, we went to see the Keats-Shelly House (with some stuff on Byron), and then on to the non-Catholic Cemetery, to see cats and graves. There were plenty of both, but I couldn't see the cats at first - until this guy demanded attention. Apparently, I had walked right past, and not paid my pat-toll.
Then the cats were everywhere.
And that was Rome. Siena is a totally different kind of place, and we're loving it, but that's for another day.
On Sunday, the day after we arrived, we realised that the Vatican was free that day. So we trouped off and joined the huge queue in the blazing sun. Slowly we snaked around the outside edge of the Vatican, and eventually made it inside, with half Rome's tourist population. It was pretty, but really crowded, and I'm afraid the Sistine Chapel was too noisy (despite the guards saying "Shush") to appreciate. But we saw it... And then returned to the hotel and collapsed. Dinner that night was perfect, though. I have loved the food.
Apollo BelvedereMonday, we went to the Pantheon, and then walked a bit further, joined a tour of the Colossuem, and then the Palatine Hill, went searching for Trajan's column (which we saw every day after that!) and returned to the hotel and collapsed before heading out for dinner.
Tuesday, we went out to the Via Appia antica, one of the oldest roads, and saw catacombs, including San Sebastian's tomb, and the place where St Peter and Paul were buried for some time. It was very different - cooler, and quieter, and the catacombs were not creepy. There were no skulls.
Wednesday, it turned out, was our birthday - I had thought it was Thursday. Thanks to Facebook for alerting me to this fact. We were hot and tired, and on consultation with our very friendly hostelier, decided to take a day trip to Tivoli, and enjoy the fountains and gardens of the Villa d'Este. The bus trip was long and dusty, but the hill-town at the end was fantastic. The villa was nice, but the gardens were magnificent! Fountains, cypress, and and views over the countryside...
On Thursday, we managed to get a ticket to the Villa Borghese museum, and wandered round the park after. We weren't allowed to take pictures, which was good, as it meant we had time to look at things. However, after an hour and a half, our backs were thoroughly saw from looking upwards at frescos on the ceiling. Highlight of that day was Bernini's sculptures, though. They were amazing - so light and realistic for marble. In the Rape of Proserpina, you could see the way her flesh was moulded by Pluto's fingers, and Apollo and Daphne were so light and dainty.
On Friday, we went to see the Keats-Shelly House (with some stuff on Byron), and then on to the non-Catholic Cemetery, to see cats and graves. There were plenty of both, but I couldn't see the cats at first - until this guy demanded attention. Apparently, I had walked right past, and not paid my pat-toll.
Then the cats were everywhere. And that was Rome. Siena is a totally different kind of place, and we're loving it, but that's for another day.
