Leisure day in Roma

Nice picture with the Fiume Tevere River
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Today I woke up later than expected again at 0830.  The US embassy opens at 0830 and I wanted to get there early to get a replacement passport.  It was a long process as expected.  I had to have two pictures and one was not sufficient.  So I had to take more pictures at a nearby photobooth downstairs.  Unfortunately it wasnt working properly so I had to go to the train station.  There, it ate my money so I put a €10 bill in even though I only had to pay €3.  Come to find out that it doesnt give change...great.  so I paid €13 for photos...sucks.

view from the Spanish steps
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I went back and flled out the appropriate paperwork.  The guy had a house in Pearl Harbor area...some rich dude, no clue what city he was talking about but he said Pearl Harbor and thats all I picked up on.  The entire process took 2.5 hrs.  Not bad actually.  I have a replacement passport good for 1 yr.  I was watching the television about the Virgina Tech shooting...crazy!  I really hope nothing like that ever happens at HMC campus.  though I wouldnt be surprised since students there are under so much pressure.

Piazzale del Popolo had two monstrous cathedrals flanking the main entrance.
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From the embassy I went to the Spanish steps and hung out a bit.  There were many photo snapping tourists.  I just walked around and explored.  It gave an...okay view of the city.  It was a beautiful day so any view of anything was great.

After the Spanish Steps I headed towards the Piazza del Popolo...Plaza of the People.  It was beautiful.  I dont know how else to describe it because it was very similar to many other plazas.  There was a pillar in the center that was brought over from Egypt.  It had heiroglyphic writing on it.  I crossed the river and walked along it for about 30 minutes.  For the first 5 minutes of the walk I was going at a quick pace.  But I soon realized that I didnt have much that I wanted to see for the day so I slowed down and found that I really enjoyed the walk.  The river was very green.  Again, it seemed almost fake like the water at Cinqueterre.  But there was still a lot of pollution in the water unfortunately.  I almost bought some clothes from a vendor: shirt for €15...but decided against it.  It mkes for a better story if I stay true to my bumness.  Along the river I passed a nice small gothic, but white, style church.  I have never seen a church in gothic architecture that was painted white.  I dont know if thats unusual but it was nice to see.

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I walked passed the Paazzo Di Giustizia.  It was a brilliantly decorated palace complete with many sculptures, grand windows, and flags flying about.

I also passed the Castel Sant Angelo.  It was a boring circular looking castle.  I am sure the interior was of more interest but I didnt decide to go in.

I crossed the Ponte Sant Angelo which was a bridge across the Fume Tevere River.  The bridge was lined with many sculptures and vendors.  I couldnt get a good picture because the vendors kept approaching me.  Geez they are irritating...and they all sell the same things.

Castel Sant Angelo...didn't go inside
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I continued my trek to the Campo de Flori.  It was an open market selling everything and anything.  It was neat to walk around and just see the little stands.  I didnt buy anything.  The architecture of the Campo wasnt great.  It was lined with many restaurants and bars.

From there I went to the Piazza Navona.  It was another open market very similar to the Campo de Flori.

Then I stopped by the Pantheon.  It is a great 2000 year old dome made of poured concrete without any supporting pillars or arches.  I would say that it was my favorite dome of all.  The center of the ceiling was open and light poured in.  It used to be used as a sun dial. It was free entrance.  They had smaller arched shrines within that were very simple in comparison to those I have seen at St Peters Basilica.  I highly recommend seeing the Pantheon.  I cant really describe how massive the interior is.  It was amazing to stand in the center and look all around you...it feels like the walls keep expanding!

Palazzo di Giustizia
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Then I walked south to the Area Sacra where there were some Roman ruins...not very interesting, again compared to Greece.  I just walked by and then went to the Isola on the Ponte Fabricio and Pont Cestio bridges.  Its basically an island in the middle of the Fume Tevere.  I had a cone of gelato there...pannacotta flavor was soooo good.  I did a lap around the island, about the size of a large city block.  Then I headed over towards the Colosseo through the Roman ruins again in the Ancient city.  I had already seen this place on the first day but it didnt hurt to see it again.

Pantheon was amazing!!! I couldn't get a good picture from within because it was soo huge and my camera didn't have a wide enough viewing angle.
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Colosseo cost €11 to get in, not happy about that but it was good that I went.  I did a couple of laps around the lower level and the upper level.  Took all kinds of pictures.  They also had a small exhibit about the god Eros.  It was neat to read about what the Romans believed about him.  He had more power than Zeus because he could meddle with peoples minds and their desires.  I also learned that it was normal for men to engage in homosexual activities.  Older men were supposed to take younger guys under their wings as mentors and also indulge in sex!  Whoa!  Not that I want it to but I wonder why it never carried over through civilizations...now gays are a minority, howd that happen?

only one more full day in Rome!
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I went to the Palatine Hill again and walked around the ruins there.  From there, it started to rain hard.  It was a 30 minute down pour.  It first started to hail even though it felt about 75 degrees F!  It was really odd to see hail when it was so hot.  But then of course it started to cool down, I thnk it was because of the hail.  Then it rained for a long time and the city was somewhat flooded.

I walked back out and headed over to Luzzi restaurant nearby, recommended by Lets Go.  Now recommended by me.  It was very good.  I had bruschetta, pizza con salame piccante, tiramisu, and .5 litre of red wine.  All for €12.  More than I usually spend but it was a lot of food!  The pizza had such a thin crust and it overhung the plate because it was so large!  The tiramisu was premade but it was still good.

I'm in the colosseum!
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A couple sat next to me and they were from France.  I tried talking to them and was horrible at it.  I am in for a big ride this summer!

I walked back home and hung out for a bit and then turned in early.  Take care all!