Rome and Florence
On July 4th we flew into Rome and found that all of the taxis in the city were on strike. We couldn't figure out the bus system, so we ended up walking to our hotel. It was about 5 in the evening, it was hot as balls and we had been traveling for about 24 hours. We walked through Rome with our luggage on our backs and when we finally got to the hotel they told us they had over booked, the fact that we booked four months in advance didn't seem to matter. They sent us to another place, which they claimed was nicer. We were tired and angry and forced to walk yet again through an unfamiliar city with all of our stuff. The second place ended up being almost back to the train station and a complete shit hole. After deciding that the hotels were trying to scam us, we bitched and they sent us to a better place, all on their dime. (I later realized that the first two hotels, along with about 8 others are owned by the same people.)
The next morning we got up and headed out to see the city.
(as always, click the thumbnails to see the full size picture.)
We walked from the hotel and headed toward the Roman Forum. On the way there we caught a demonstration by the taxi drivers. There were helicopters, taxis blocking all the streets, police running this way and that with riot shields. It was pretty crazy.
We walked through the Forum and climbed to the top of Palentine Hill. The view from up there was amazing. It was so strange to see the ruins of an empire set right in the middle of a city. After all that we walked on to the Colloseum.
We walked all through the Coliseum, it was amazing. There was ancient Roman pottery and sculpture and even capitols from columns. That night at six we had a walking tour of Rome, so we head to meet the group at the Piazza de Novela. It was quite a walk and we got there early enough to eat something and sit and watch the goings on in the square for a while. I somehow neglected to get any pictures of the whole square, which sucks because it was really beautiful. In the center of the square was a fountain sculpted by Bernini. I don't remember the name, but it was amazing.
We set off on our tour and the first stop was the Pantheon
Inside I saw the famous domed ceiling, numerous beautiful paintings, and the tomb of Raphael.
The next stop was the Trevi Fountain. A fountain said to bring good luck and a haven for gypsies.
After that it was back to the ruins. We got to see the Forum from a different place and saw the Colosseum at night.
So after walking a good part of Rome the night we arrived we managed to walk almost the whole city twice the next day. After the tour we walked back to the hotel. We were exhausted, but somehow Lindsey and I found the energy to go out for a drink. We walked to a pub not far from the hotel called the Black Court Pub. We met some really cool people and had a great time. Our hotel was right near the Piazza de Spagna (The Spanish Steps). At some point while we were in Rome we climbed to the top and took pictures.
On our last day in Rome we went to the Vatican.
I hardly got to see the museum at all and I didn't get to spend as much time in the Sisteen Chapel as I wanted, but I did sneak a picture of the ceiling!
So of course, Rome was amazing. The day after the Vatican I left for Florence while Lindsey and Kelsey went to Pisa. I was excited to get to Florence and didn't really want to waste any time on seeing a leaning tower. I got to Florence in the early afternoon and I dropped off my bags at the hotel, grabbed my camera, and went off to see the city. I wandered around by myself most of the day. I was in complete awe of this place. When I was walking around I suddenly found myself in front of the Duomo. I had no idea I would be coming upon it and there it was, giant and towering over me.
The cars there are so tiny!
The next day I got up early and went to the Ufizi, the largest art museum in Italy. It was incredible. I finally got to see some of the paintings I have been studying all these years. I saw the Pontinari Altarpiece, it was the size of an entire wall. I saw the Birth of Venus and other works by Botticelli, da Vinci, Caravaggio, Van der Goes, van der Weyden, the list goes on and on. I saw Lacoonte and His Sons! I spent the better part of a day in the museum, but it would have been more if the Rubens room had not been closed. An entire room of Rubens' masterpieces and all I could see was what was visible through a tiny crack between two doors. It was disappointing, but it was still an amazing experience.