Monday, September 20, 2010

Of tickets and sights!





Monday, 20 September 2010

Ciao!

Well, a lovely day in Rome, and we accomplished a LOT! YEA!! Up about the usual time – 7-ish, and by 8 R and I were heading to Termini, the train station, to get our tickets for Saturday’s transfer to Venice. Found the line for tickets; very organized and orderly, unlike years ago, the last time we got tickets at Termini. Then, it was more like individual lines to individual windows, with everybody crowding in and trying to get on top of everybody else. We had a terrible time, as they would NOT take our Visa card but would take my Art Center American Express card – but with considerable hassle! Then, after getting the tickets, we had to go to another long line to make seat reservations! UGH! MUCH easier this time! Orderly progression – waited probably 15-20 minutes, and voila, we had our tickets – and reserved seats -- to Venice in minutes!

(Here, though, I want to make a point. Last night, to try to get some idea of what we would be paying for tickets, I looked up the trains we wanted on RailEurope, the website that provides tickets to American’s at their home address. The charge per person was going to be 198 Euros – EACH! I hadn’t realized things were that expensive, so I actually scouted around some websites to see if we should fly instead. However, figured we’d decided to use the train, and Mom was looking forward to it – so we would bite the bullet. Got to the agent at the train station – for the THREE of us, it was 219 Euros TOTAL. I have always known that RailEurope charges a super premium for the convenience of one not having to stand in line and deal with things in a language they may not know – but that’s an unreal charge. Advice: Use RailEurope to look up time schedules, but never, EVER use them to book tickets!!)

Back to the flat, at which point the guys who were going to change the locks on our apartment were there. Mom didn’t mind staying in for a bit, while we went back out to pursue soccer tickets for the game at Stadio Olympico on Wednesday night – Lazio vs. AC Milan. Walked the four or so blocks down the next street over – Lorenzo Il Magnifico (Lorenzo the Magnificent; I LOVE that name!) -- and found the travel/ticket shop that had been recommended to us. First problem: The guy actually needed ALL three of our PASSPORTS for the tickets! AND, he wouldn’t take a credit card! I mean, it’s harder to get soccer tickets than TRAIN tickets!! Who knew?? So, back to the apartment, to find the guys just finishing up our wonderful new door lock – works absolutely beautifully now! – collected passports and cash, and back down Lorenzo Il Magnifico – and voila! (I know, they don’t say that in Italy…) we’ve now got soccer tickets for Wednesday night! Will have to remember to take naps that day, as the game doesn’t START until 8:45 p.m.! Can’t wait!!

Back to unload at the apartment, and FINALLY ready to go out and SEE some sights! Took the #62 bus, which actually came today (not being a Sunday) and rode into the center of Rome. Not a long ride, but very attractive above ground! Got off at Via Tritone and made our way to the Trevi fountain. Not as crowded as I’d expected, actually, which is good! From there we headed to my world’s favorite building, the Pantheon. Again, not too crowded, so we were able to have a good look around – and see Raphael Santi’s tomb, as noted in “Angels and Demons.”

By this time it was lunch time, so we settled in to Ristorante M. Agrippa al Pantheon, just to the right of the Pantheon as you face the fountain. R ordered ravioli with sage and butter sauce. Mom had fettucine al Pesto, and I had their gnocchi primavera – gnocchi with fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella and sliced olives. It was FANTASTIC! A GREAT combination of flavors, all fresh! Washed everything down with a nice bottle of Frascati; very refreshing on a nice warm day! Mom and I decided that we would also have gelato, so we stopped into a shop a bit farther down the street. Mom had blackberry gelato that was a very, very deep purple, and looked wonderful! I had chocolate and something that looked like strawberries and cream and was delicious! Just the way to finish up a good Roman meal!

Wandered back to the Via Del Corso and caught the 117 minibus. Seriously small – 10 seats and then room for about 10 more people to stand. Have to say that Italians are very, very polite and thoughtful – and traveling with a senior citizen is almost a certain guarantee that some kind person will get up and offer Mom a seat! Wound around the 117 back toward the Coliseum, as we decided to see the church St. Pietro in Vincoli – St. Peter in Chains. Got off at the right place, but then found that the church itself was UP a VERY long street of STEPS! Whew!! What a slog UP the hill that was – only to find that the church closes for lunch between 12:30 and 3 p.m. Decided to wait, though, even though it was only 2:30 – did NOT want to tackle that hill again, and didn’t want to waste a trip! Fortunately, there was a large portico with shady spots that we could sit and recover ourselves. Doors opened promptly at 3 and in we went. Very, very interesting church, on the altar of which are displayed the chains in which it is alleged St. Peter was taken to be crucified. Very moving. There is also a gigantic sculpture by Michelangelo of Moses with horns; very interesting.

From there we decided to head back to the flat for naps. Hopped on the Metro B line at Coliseum and voila, in 10 minutes or less (5 stops) we were back at the flat turning on the air conditioning!

Up again at 5, and R and I headed across the street to buy some cheeses and cold cuts and bread for breakfasts. Nice walk; very breezy and pleasant out! All and all I lovely day! (And it won’t be the end of the day, if I can talk these folks into a passagiata (walk) around the square tonight!

Lots of love,
m
x
PS – Think I have FINALLY mastered the art of the Italian washer! YEA!!

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