Last Stop, Rome

Holy smokes, are we at our last part of Eurotrip? Seems like a long time ago we left home. I guess it really does take at least a week to get into vacation-mode. At this point, neither Les or I can imagine being back in the states, much less at work in our cubicle. We could do this traveling bit forever. Or at least until we run out of money.

Before we head to our last destination, we must do one final thing in Florence before we go: see Michaelangelo's David. I heard it was an awesome sight, and it is. We lined up at 8am in the morning to catch a glimpse before we went to our train at 930, but apparently that's when all the older tourists go too. I forget they all like to wake up early and do things by 5am. Nonetheless, 30 Euro and 30 min later, it is well worth it. I even sneak in a quick camera picture before I get scolded for taking pictures.

Off to Rome on the Trenitalia (Amtrak in Italy) and 2 hrs later, right smack dab in the middle of the city. By the way, if you wonder what the rest of Italy looks like between the big cities...imagine the hills and tree backdrops from Gladiator, and rinse and repeat for 2 hrs. It's that hillsy.

Our hotel here in Rome is especially nicer, since it's our honeymoon and our last stop before we go home...so why not splurge a little? Marble floors and a that little toilet thing next to the real toilet. What is that anyways? I'm afraid to use it.

So first day formula: go find the tourist booth and get the Tour Bus pass for an all-day tour around the city sights. Nice way to get to know the city, we think. Few observations about Rome: 1) weather is HOT. at least more than Paris and London. 2) Traffic is horrible. Bay Area traffic is butter compared to this. 3) Gelato is around ever corner. Every corner.

Anyways, onto the tour, we pass by the Colleseum, Circus Maximus, St Peters Square, more Piazzas than the Dodgers, and tons of cars squeezed down tiny alleyways. We get off after 1.5 hrs before we're falling asleep and decide to hike it around on foot. We stop off at Trevi Fountain (which Caesar's has on the Strip...now I know), Pantheon, Castle of St. Angels, Popolo Piazza, Piazza Navona, and some other places. Now, due to my fascination with history tied with secret society/conspiracy theories, I embark on a side quest to see the Path of Illumination and Altars of Sciences as described in Angels & Demons. I find 3 today: the Piazza Navona statue/obelisk, the St Maria Popolo and the Earth sign, and the Castle of St. Angels angel. Pretty nifty. Tomorrow, it'll be St. Peters Square marker and maybe the Vittotorio one.

Rains starts again, and we head to a small ristorante before heading home. A little disappointed today since we haven't had delicious food yet, and everyone seems to praise Roman food as the best. Pasta = eh. Pizza = eh. Gelato = deeelicious. 2 more days for the city to impress.

Sistine Chapel and St. Peters tomorrow. Better bust out my cross necklace.