Jean's Italian Adventure: First Day in Rome

Our first day in Rome

During our dinner last evening with Alfredo and Maura (pasta, bread wine and tiramisu), Maura mentioned she could get us on a tour of the Vatican if we were interested. Of course we were. We weren’t going to go to the Vatican because you have to wait in line for such a long time. Maura’s brothers girlfriend works for a company that sets up the tours so Maura set it all up for us. We were to meet at St.Peters Square at 11:30. We were to look for the woman in white pants and a red shirt. Our hotel was a few blocks down from Stazione Termini (Rome’s Grand Central Station). She explained to us that we should buy a bus ticket, get on bus #64 and she told us to look for the Vatican City stop. The important thing here is to get that bus ticket validated at the front of the bus when you get on . You also have 75 minutes after you buy your ticket to do that otherwise, the ticket is no good. Sounds easy, right. Stay tune for my later entry on that point.

By the way if you’re ever going to Italy you may want to take Susie with you. She is like a little mini compass with her map and her highlighter and our trip itinerary . Since I landed I have no sense of direction (which my family knows I don’t have anyway) and no sense of what day or time it is. OK back to the bus.

Remember I told you in an earlier post about all the cars and people going in all different directions, well it’s like a free for all. Then you have to try to cross the street. They do have crosswalks but they mean absolutely nothing. Finally made it into the station with the thousands of other commuters. Where do you buy the bus ticket? Good question. Now remember in Rome there are pick pockets (Gypsies) all over, hold your purse close, watch when you get your money out, look for a newsstand to buy the bus ticket, don’t miss the bus, look for the bus number, need to buy water, oh yeah and where is the bus. Need to make it by 11:30. I knew Susie would be able to get us on the bus and she did. When on the bus Susie and I remembered we needed to get the ticket validated, we were trying to figure that out when this nice, older Italian man came to our rescue and gave us a lesson (in Italian) on how to validate our ticket.

We continued watching from the window all the insane drivers. Making U turns in front of each other, scooters zipping fast in all different directions and people pulling out in front of each other. It was amazing to watch and couldn’t believe this all goes on and there is no road rage. Finally made it to our bus stop. Now finding our way to St Peter Square. Take that back about the road rage, we’re walking a few steps and hear this yelling in the street and there’s a man with a long stick hitting a tour bus and breaks the stick over the bus and the Italian was flying. Quite entertaining.

Finally made it to Vatican City and found our tour guide. Very pretty young woman about 28. St Peters Square was beautiful. Pictures don’t capture the beauty, you really have to be here and experience it. The tour of the Vatican took about 3 hours. Again, you really need to be here to experience it… Words just don’t justify the experience of the paintings, the statutes and the history. The Sistine Chapel is magnificent. There are signs everywhere to be silent, the international sign of SSHHH is everywhere. There is one guard in there that his only job is say SSHHH about every 10 minutes. My favorite place had to be the bridge of Angles. Very beautiful. Fascinating place and I am very glad we decided to see it.

Finally had lunch at our first sidewalk café. One of they’re lunch specialties was my favorite, gnocchi. Of course I ordered it and I was so hopping it tasted like my grandmothers. First bite, oh yeah it really did. Susie had homemade Canolli. Great lunch! The waiter came out with the check said he wouldn’t take a cc Euro only. That was bull because we just saw him do a cc for someone else. He also said service was not included which meant we needed to leave a tip. We decided we needed to ask Alfredo tonight about this.

Bus trip back to the station was just that, a trip! You buy your tickets at a news stand, but remember that 75 minute rule. First we need to find a bus stop with the #64 bus on it, then a news stand, and we had to cross the street several times in downtown Rome, again with cars going everywhere and hundreds of people. About this time ,walking for hours looking at everything we could (I’m sure we walked 10-15 miles), waiting for the bus. Can’t wait to sit down. Here comes the bus, doors open, OMG how many people can they get on this bus. Susie and I look at each other, we start laughing and get on the bus. It’s obvious we’re not going to sit down. Oh yes, got to get the ticket validated at the front of the bus. Forgot to tell you we got on in the middle of the bus. So Susie volunteers to try to take our tickets to the front of the bus. As she disappears the bus makes more and more stops and more and more people get on. It’s getting very, very squishy in there. Still can’t see Susie. Still standing, wow I’m tired. Just then I look to my side and see this little Italian boy sitting with his Nono (Grandfather), He says something to me in Italian and move to his Nono’s lap and the little white, haired man motions to me to sit in the seat. I finally get to sit. We’ve been on the bus about 15 minutes. Haven’t seen Susie yet, but I’m comfortable. This continues on for 15 more minutes. Wait, I think I see Susie’s orange shirt, is that her getting a little closer. Think I’ll give her my seat when she gets here. 15 more minutes go by and no Susie and I think we’re getting close to the stop, but my tour escort isn’t with me. We do have our phones, but in all the confusion we forgot to exchange numbers. Well, I figure if worse gets to worse I can just yell out her name. I look at my watch and it’s 5:55. We’re suppose to meet Alfredo and Maura at our hotel at 6. Got off bus and I finally see Susie. Making our way back to the hotel. As we walk in the front desk man says Ms. Fantini you have a phone call.