Circus Maximus - Clutch

Rome Colosseum 226
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Rome 3-5-07

Ah Roma. Just being here wants to make me talk like Brando in the Godfather. ‘Buona Serra, Bouna Serra’ I try saying good night to folk with cotton in my cheeks. The city is more amazing than I could ever explain but being able to share it with family makes this stop far more meaningful than some of the others. I was whining a few posts ago about getting lonely and now I have company: Mama Mia! Yeah, Mom Benson flew across to see the Pope and her eldest son, probably but not necessarily in that order. Mom had never been to Italy so I asked if she wanted to join me for the week and I’m very glad I did. I certainly enjoyed the company and we finally got Mom to see Italy. We had a great week of sightseeing, tons of food, and quality family bonding. ‘Mucho Bueno’, no that’s Spanish isn’t it?

Rome Vatican Sunset 2
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So the city itself is just one huge history lesson. Wherever you look, every darn building, church, park, and back alley seems like it jumped right out of the distant past. Roman ruins are around each corner, and the churches. You could see a church every day for three years and not run out. They Italians say a lifetime is not enough to see all of Rome. No kidding. Then there was Pompeii and the Vatican that deserve whole pages. I was actually going to break up the posts by city: Rome, the Vatican (its own country actually and the smallest in the world at that) and Pompeii but to honest that’s just too much darn work. Now you’ll just have to trudge through way too many pictures this post and I’ll mercifully try to all the pics to do most of the describing. If you really want more details give Anna May a call. She remembers all the names better than I do anyway.

Pompeii 091
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Briefly though, the Vatican is amazing. We didn’t get to see the Pope (sorry Mom) but we did make Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica our first day. The size of St. Pete’s is just unreal. Huge. And beautiful of course. Later during the week we made it to the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican museums. Michelangelo’s work is as wonderful as anything you’ve ever heard. I couldn’t possibly do it justice with words or pics. All I can say is just come see it for yourself someday. It’s even worth fighting through the many crowds and tour groups, of which you know I’m not a fan. We also made mass that last Sunday at San Giovanni Basilica where the Pope is the actual pastor. Very nice Basilica (lesson learned: a Basilica is like a Cathedral but has famous folk buried there) and Mom really seemed to enjoy it.

Rome Colosseum 259
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Ancient Rome was a big thrill for me. Yeah, I know, I dig really old stuff. Get it? I dig, archaeology, joke. No huh? Oh well, I like the way distant past and Rome is all about the past. Hadrian’s Pantheon, the Colosseum and Forum were all great. Standing in the spot where Julius Caesar was assassinated and Marc Antony proclaimed ‘Friends, Romans, Countrymen . . .”. Just extremely cool. Probably just as impressive as Rome when it comes to ruins is Pompeii. A few hours south of Rome near Naples is the city of Pompeii that was buried by ash when Mt Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. It’s well worth the trip, but rent a car. Do NOT take the Green Line all day Naples and Pompeii tour. I will never, ever, ever take a touristy tour again as long as I live; if I can avoid it. The ash preserved the whole city. There are perfectly intact buildings with tile floors and countertop stoves, beautiful frescos, and creepiest of all – a few inhabitants still in their duck and cover poses. Moms really toughed out the difficult walk for which I definitely owe her big time.

Rome Vatican Sunset 1
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She’s the best and it was a very fun and relaxing week for me. No solo dinners. No bouncing from one cheap hotel to the next. Actually taking a cab instead of walking a mile with luggage from the train. And I think it gave me a little recharge to go out and hit the next few months travel on my own again. Much thanks and love to Mom.

Bill

PS - Circus Maximus is the big field where they used to race chariots.  Now it's mostly where Romans jog.