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Saturday 13th Dec - Last breakfast in Paris, we have had an interesting stay and seen some lovely sites. A little more rain today, so we decided that it would be much more pleasant catching a taxi to the airport rather than dragging 3 cases and a kid through the wet streets to the metro. So once back at the airport and booked in we had a pleasant flight into Rome.
On landing in Italy we caught the train from Fiumicino airport into the centre of Rome and settled into our regular Hotel Windrose. On heading out for some dinner the first two shops we passed Rob bought himself a jacket and a pair of shoes, now I have some bargaining power to catch up:) Eating at a familiar little restaurant for some tea, ahh it was so nice, and half the cost of Paris. After our meal we wander around so I could take some night photos, I took some nice shots of the Colosseum. The streets look pretty with the Christmas lights. Due to some tied little legs we decided to catch the underground back to the hotel.
Sunday 14th - after a nice refreshing breakfast we set out to find the "Piazza Navona" which we didn't see on our last trip to Italy.One of the most beautiful baroque squares in Rome, it sits on the ancient ring, the Stadium of Domition built in 85 AD to host Greek athletic events it could host up to 30,000 people. In the 16th century two fountains were built hosted by Pope Gregory XIII. The fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi), unveiled in 1651, is one of the most beautiful and famous monuments representing the four major rivers known at the time - The Ganges, Nile, Danube and Plate with four white marble, 5 meter high statues. It is certainly an awesome site. Liam was soooo excited to be in Rome again, but his favourite place - Trevi fountain is going through repairs so not worth seeing, but they have a special little place to toss a coin so Liam & I did to ensure our return to Rome. We onto headed to St Peters, I was hoping there might be a large nativity set up for Christmas. Walking into the Piazza I don't think we had ever seen so many people in the square, as we meandered through the crowd we discovered Pope Francis was going to give speech at noon. So we got to see and listen to the Pope. With Rob's translation he was telling the crowd to find happiness within the family and to not look outside the home for it. Then he wished us all to have a good lunch and enjoy the Sunday. What a great surprise I never thought I would see the Pope in real life.Heading back to the hotel we walked past the Pantheon, another place we hadn't seen last time. This place was built between 27 BC - 14 AD, its a circular building with large granite columns. A rectangle front links to a rotunda building which is under a "coffered" concrete dome with a central opening to the sky. Almost 2 thousand years after it was built the Pantheon's dome is still the worlds largest unreinforced concrete dome. It has been in continous use through history and since the 7th century used as a church dedicated to St Mary and the Martys.Two kings of Italy are also buried in the Pantheon - Vittoria Emanuele and Umberto I, as welll as Umberto's Queen Margherita.
In the evening we visited Robs second cousin Raphealla who lives in Rome with her 94 year old Mother Amelia. Rob managed really well with his italian conversation, and I was able to pick some also.
I think Rome is my favorite place (sorry to all the Paris fans).
Tomorrow Messina - Sicily.
On landing in Italy we caught the train from Fiumicino airport into the centre of Rome and settled into our regular Hotel Windrose. On heading out for some dinner the first two shops we passed Rob bought himself a jacket and a pair of shoes, now I have some bargaining power to catch up:) Eating at a familiar little restaurant for some tea, ahh it was so nice, and half the cost of Paris. After our meal we wander around so I could take some night photos, I took some nice shots of the Colosseum. The streets look pretty with the Christmas lights. Due to some tied little legs we decided to catch the underground back to the hotel.
Sunday 14th - after a nice refreshing breakfast we set out to find the "Piazza Navona" which we didn't see on our last trip to Italy.One of the most beautiful baroque squares in Rome, it sits on the ancient ring, the Stadium of Domition built in 85 AD to host Greek athletic events it could host up to 30,000 people. In the 16th century two fountains were built hosted by Pope Gregory XIII. The fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi), unveiled in 1651, is one of the most beautiful and famous monuments representing the four major rivers known at the time - The Ganges, Nile, Danube and Plate with four white marble, 5 meter high statues. It is certainly an awesome site. Liam was soooo excited to be in Rome again, but his favourite place - Trevi fountain is going through repairs so not worth seeing, but they have a special little place to toss a coin so Liam & I did to ensure our return to Rome. We onto headed to St Peters, I was hoping there might be a large nativity set up for Christmas. Walking into the Piazza I don't think we had ever seen so many people in the square, as we meandered through the crowd we discovered Pope Francis was going to give speech at noon. So we got to see and listen to the Pope. With Rob's translation he was telling the crowd to find happiness within the family and to not look outside the home for it. Then he wished us all to have a good lunch and enjoy the Sunday. What a great surprise I never thought I would see the Pope in real life.Heading back to the hotel we walked past the Pantheon, another place we hadn't seen last time. This place was built between 27 BC - 14 AD, its a circular building with large granite columns. A rectangle front links to a rotunda building which is under a "coffered" concrete dome with a central opening to the sky. Almost 2 thousand years after it was built the Pantheon's dome is still the worlds largest unreinforced concrete dome. It has been in continous use through history and since the 7th century used as a church dedicated to St Mary and the Martys.Two kings of Italy are also buried in the Pantheon - Vittoria Emanuele and Umberto I, as welll as Umberto's Queen Margherita.
In the evening we visited Robs second cousin Raphealla who lives in Rome with her 94 year old Mother Amelia. Rob managed really well with his italian conversation, and I was able to pick some also.
I think Rome is my favorite place (sorry to all the Paris fans).
Tomorrow Messina - Sicily.
- comments
Pam Batten How fantastic was that? Perfect timing! A very special Sunday for you.
Pam Batten What a wonderful experience your holiday is providing. Especially for Liam. I'm really enjoying your blogs. We will definitely have to consider ticking a trip to Europe off the 'Bucket List'.
Raelene Mariani Thanks A.Pam I'm enjoying writing them. Liam is lucky with the holiday. Its a good tme to visit, crowd wise, I remember in 2011 when we were here in summer the crowds were massive. The cold is not too bad, and thebrain is tolerable.