Tag: Rome

Walking in the rain

On By innergameoftheoutdoorsIn Italy, Rome, travel5 Comments

It was spitting when I left the hotel and by the time I had made my way to Trastevere it decided to become more insistent rain. So not too many good photos today and am glad I held this one over from yesterday, taken from along the Lungotevere Vaticano. Above those houses is a beautiful walkway called the Passegiato del Gianicolo. It’s as green as you get in the city and wonderfully peaceful on a Sunday morning.

From the Passegiato I walked back through Trastevere where the streets started to fill with tourists looking for lunch. To compensate for too much food yesterday, my plan was to hang on until around 3pm for the second and final meal of the day. Ignoring a grumbling stomach, I got absorbed in photographing different types of door knockers, while roaming through the narrow and very photogenic streets.

The rain lightened a little, but not for long and by the time I had crossed to the other side of the river and neared the Campidoglio it was pouring down just as I was lined up in a slow-moving queue to get a ticket for the Musei Capitolini, my umbrella threatening to take wing. The Musei Capitolini were definitely worth the wait with all their ancient treasures. One of my favourite items was a stone candlestick, with delicately carved leaves on it.

Next up was an exploration of the Foro Romano, but not until I had eaten: linguine ai funghi porcini and a glass of red wine.

Looking at the Foro you can’t help but be amazed at what the Romans built, but let’s not forget they had slaves. Imagine how fast our renovations would be if you had recourse to that kind of work force. In fact, The Romans also pretty much invented the original Hunger Games, sans television of course, but really the concept was there. Cue the Colosseum.

For me the Palatino was the most magical of all and I wished for weather more conducive to soak up the atmosphere for longer. Another pleasant surprise at the end of the day was San Giovanni in Laterani, particularly the byzantine paintings in the cupola. But nearly seven hours of walking had depleted the battery and it was time to make a retreat back to the hotel. Last day in Rome tomorrow. After that the mountains beckon.

Pasta, pasta!

On By innergameoftheoutdoorsIn Rome, travel6 Comments

Ah, Italy and pasta. Overdosed a bit on that today, as on other things, such as a wonderful invention of croissants filled with Nutella that the hotel serves for breakfast. Seriously.

The photo was taken at Campo dei Fiori. I particularly like the rainbow coloured pasta; certainly have never seen the like of that before. I got there by meandering from the hotel towards the Tiber River, Via Giulia, Palazzo Farnese and found this market. A bit more meandering via Piazza Navona (with mellow jazz) and the Pantheon, brought me to the lunch objective: Matricianella in Via del Leone. I indulged in bucatini all’amatriciana – slippery thick spaghetti-like pasta in tomato sauce with bacon. It was a miracle I managed to not cover myself in tomato sauce.

Tonight I had dinner at Il Molo in Via del Castelfidardo (every time I see that name I have to think of Tintin and La Castafiore) and had spaghetti alle vongole. Yum. Far too much food, too much wine (the waiter poured this massive glass of house wine) and finished off by sorbeto al limone and a glass of grappa on the house.

But I have worked hard for it and must have walked nearly six hours through Rome today. After lunch I walked to the Vatican, along the river and the Castel Sant’Angelo. I dutifully lined up to see the Basilica di San Pietro, as after all that is what you do when in Rome. I know it’s fabulous and extraordinary, but if I’m really honest, it didn’t move me one little bit. I followed that by a visit to the Vatican museum, in particular to see the Sistine Chapel.

The Vatican museum – oh, the horror, the horror. This is my idea of hell: hundreds, if not thousands, of rude and uncouth tourists, shuffling and pushing their way to the Sistine Chapel to tick off something on their guidebook-inspired list. I’m no better and became one of them, shuffling along with this insane mass of people. The Romans must hate us tourists, except for the money we bring. Both in San Pietro as in the Chapel people completely ignored the request for silence. I am not a believer myself, but is it really that hard to respect a house of worship?

Anyway, I have ticked this off my list and can return to doing what I like best: meandering through the city, soaking up the atmosphere and taking pictures. Foro Romano and Trastevere tomorrow.

Window on Rome

On By innergameoftheoutdoorsIn Italy, Rome, travel1 Comment

This morning I arrived in Rome, glad to escape Singapore’s humidity, but missing its efficient immigration when I realised Rome isn’t quite that organised at the airport, or anywhere really.

After 12 hours on a plane that left well after midnight, I wasn’t feeling too flash, so after settling into my room and having a shower, I launched myself into Rome, walking first to the  gardens of the Villa Borghese and following these to the Villa Medici.

Can someone explain to me how the French get all the gorgeous buildings in Rome: Alliance Francaise in Villa Medici, Embassy in Palazzo Farnese? I suspect it has to do with old popes.

From Villa Medici I arrived at Tourist Central, but not before indulging in a little gelato at Ciampini.

From Piazza di Spagna the next tourist stop was the Fontana di Trevi. Very pretty, would have like to do an Anita Ekberg moment, but wasn’t wearing the right clothes.

Have found the perfect pair of sandals for a very reasonable price and it couldn’t have been better timed, as my feet were ready for a sandal swop before walking to Santa Maria Maggiore and then back to the hotel for a quiet dinner and an early night.