When in Rome...

Well once again I find myself writing a post that is LONG overdo. It has been a while since we got back from our trip, but with the holiday and (more truthfully) the overwhelming amount of info I wanted to talk about from the trip, I have been putting it off. So I guess it's best to start at the beginning...

First, what an AWESOME trip! I really never though I would get the chance to spend an entire week in Rome. And we were both really looking forward to this trip and the time away together. It was hard to fathom just how old everything was, and that it was still standing for us to look at. Before we left I had planned out the entire itinerary. This was a massive task that included what we would see each day, where to find it/how to get there, and what CJ referred to as "homework." Basically it was TONS of info about what we would be seeing each day for us to read the night before. Am I crazy? Yes. I can admit that. But this was a once in a lifetime sort of trip, and since we were navigating Rome ourselves, I didn't want us to miss anything. (Rest assured... we didn't!)

You might be wondering what we went to see. The better question is what didn't we see...

My favorite sites from the trip were everything having to do with Vatican City! It was incredible to go into St. Peter's and the dome, all the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. Although, we were slightly disappointed that you couldn't take pictures in the Sistine Chapel. Going up the dome to look out over the city might have been my very favorite activity. Like the crazy people we are, we decided to walk up all 500+ steps. Trust me when I tell you that it got pretty narrow at the top! Narrow and slanted. All I can say is I'm glad I did it at 26, because you couldn't pay me to do it when I'm older! However, despite the effort to get to the top, and despite my (what can only be described as) sheer terror at the height once we reached the top, it was such an INCREDIBLE view... or what I saw while hiding safely behind a GIANT stone pillar.

CJ fearlessly snapping away at the top of the dome.

Terrified... but had to pose for one!

I also really liked the Pantheon. I thought it was incredible that it was re-built in 126 A.D.?!?! And the oculus was cool and, of course has a rich history (right up my ally!). It was in a really cool little part of the city that had a ton of great restaurants, bars, and gelato. I also couldn't believe how this ancient building was situated right in the middle of "modern" Rome (although this was the case with all the sites). It was also hard to believe how much newer everything around it looked... which would still be ancient by our U.S. standards.

CJ's favorite thing in Rome was something that reminded him of our good friend Sara...

Sara, I hope you know, this was all for you!

His other favorite sites were the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. It was a great day to walk around outside, and again, remarkable that any of these attractions were still standing! Side note - it was still very cold. Just warmer in comparison to the weather back home in Zurich. Also, another nice thing about visiting Rome in December is the lesser amount of tourists. I can't imagine what Rome must be like in the summer. And I really don't think I would ever recommend anyone go during high season!!

Us inside the Colosseum... very cool!

Other highlights included:

• Trevi Fountain
• The Spanish Steps
• The Roman and Imperial Forums
  
• The Catacombs of St. Callixtus - way cool
• Piazzas galore
  
• All the churches from Angels & Demons - yes, I know I'm a dork
• What seemed like every Bernini fountain in Rome
• Attending a Papal Blessing in St. Peter's Square
• And WINE!!! Oh the wine was good. And so so cheap. And there were even places we went that included it in the price of the meal! After suffering through Zurich prices, we were so happy to be charged a normal amount for food! And I personally loved their restaurants. There is nothing I love more than to be convinced. For real. That's why I loved that nearly every restaurant had some man stationed outside trying to entice you to choose their restaurant. Genius!

Here is CJ enjoying his wine and pizza... for lunch! :)

There were SOOOO many wonderful sites and places we visited that I can't really name them all. But, if anyone is ever looking for ideas on what to see in Rome, talk to me. I have a detailed list to share.

Now, lest you think our trip was perfect, there were also some pitfalls:

• Eating pizza at least once a day (usually lunch; see above) - JUST KIDDING, that was awesome!! I even had pizza with french fries on it... I swear, I thought I was in Heaven.
• Public transportation?!?! RUN. No joke. Run from Rome's public transportation. It is easily the unquestionably, without-a-doubt, WORST big city public transportation I have ever encountered. We seriously felt like we were back on the Rapid on St. Patrick's Day. No amount of scathing criticism can come close to what is deserved in this area. Honestly. There are only 2 metro lines... 2!! Rome is a big city, and there were 2 lines! Unreal. But what Rome lacked in metro they made up for in buses. There are probably 900 buses, which is good. However, none of the stops are marked, announced, or discernible in any way. The buses are also PACKED (once again reinforcing why NOT to visit during high season).

Example of gross, graffiti-riddled train. You should have seen the inside...

• While we were happy to find more people speaking English than here in Zurich, we were unhappy to find how rude they were. And I don't mean to us tourists. In fact, we encountered a few nice, and helpful people (especially everyone at our hotel). No, they were rude to each other! Here in civilization, we like to wait politely to the side when train/tram/bus doors open to allow people to exit before climbing aboard. Apparently a foreign concept in Rome, where we literally witnessed a man shove an old lady (I mean elderly) ON to the bus while others were still trying to exit. It was dog eat dog for a bus seat.
• Rome is dirty. I guess we are spoiled living in Zurich. When we moved here, people said, "oh you'll love it there. It is immaculately clean." And once we were here I thought, yeah, it's alright. Well I was ready to eat off the train floor when we got back to Zurich. Another reason I was glad to be in Rome in winter... no part of my actual body had to come in contact with any of their public transportation because I was wearing so many layers.
• Rome is smelly. I swear to you, and I am NOT exaggerating, when we exited into the Zurich airport off the plane the air smelled cleaner!! It seems like everyone smokes here in Zurich too, but I don't know what was happening in Rome. The odor was hard to take.
• We both ended up getting sick. CJ was sick the first couple days of our trip. And like the thoughtful husband he is, he passed it along. I got sick the last couple days, and even when we returned I was on death's door. It was a nasty cough going around. I am finally, just this week, rid of it completely.

But, even though there were some things we didn't like about Rome, we had a WONDERFUL trip!!! Since we saw it all (repeat: EVERYTHING) we don't think we'll ever go back. But, we both feel so fortunate that we were able to go. Seeing all the priceless pieces of history and art is something everyone should get to do once in their lifetime. We were just very lucky to get to do it now, and together!

If want to see all the pictures CJ posted from our trip (and he worked hard editing them so you wouldn't have to flip through 800+) you can:

RELIVE OUR TRIP HERE

And now we are looking forward to our next big trip in May with our friends!! It's official, I don't care how old we are, the next trip is going to be SPRING BREAK 2010!!! Can't wait...