Saturday, December 12, 2009
Rome Today From Cruise
Rome-All Roads Lead to Rome
Today we visited Rome, the Eternal City,--It’s most enduring legacy are it’s stone roads that connected much of the European continent. . It is also known for other achievements as central heating, aqueducts, public baths, and urban planning.
This was my 3rd visit to Rome.
Before we began our tour, the company owner , Remo (DriverInRome.com), invited us to his lovely, modern hillside vista. His lovely wife prepared traditional Christmas cake and coffee and he serenaded us with his squeezebox (harmonium) and told jokes. Luca was our driver and guide for the day.
On our 8-hour tour from the ship, we squeezed in the following visits:
Coliseum—ALWAYS impressive!
Trevi Fountain---tossed in 3 coins “so I will return”
Spanish Steps---majestic
Sistine Chapel---long walks thru countless rooms decorated rich in medieval art
St Paul’s Basilica---takes your breath away
Since the airline lost some of my luggage, Instead of lunch, I ran in and out of shops and found 2 pair of shoes-1) walking and 2)dressier ones. Looking in shop windows, I was reminded of how fashionable Italians are!
Because there were demonstrations throughout the city, traffic was snarled a bit.
We made it back to the ship in time.
Places Where I Have Traveled *=more than once
- India
- China
- Dubai
- Israel
- Russia*
- Iceland
- Cuba Aug 2016
- Egypt*
- Indonesia
- Tahiti Feb 2016
- Northern Ireland
- Cook Islands Feb 2016
- New Zealand Feb 2016
- Australia Feb 2016
- Belize
- French Polynesia Jan 2016
- Mallorca
- Shetland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Brunei
- Morocco*
- Brazil*
- Philippines
- North Borneo
- Crete*
- Ionian Islands*
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Azores*
- Norway
- Dodecanese Islands (Rhodes)
- Bosnia
- Palestein
- Croatia
- Romania
- Argentina
- Ecuador
- Tunisia
- Corsica
- Bulgaria
- Columbia
- Peru
- Montenegro
- Columbia
- Chile*
- United Arab Emirates
- Uruguay
- Jordan
- Gibraltar
- Turkey*
- Bermuda
- Estonia*
- Viet Nam
- Finland*
- Malta*
- Thailand
- Guatemala
- Crete*
- Jamaica*
- Panama*
- Grand Canyon
- Scotland
- Niagara Falls
- Greece*
- France* lived there
- Japan*
- Bilbao, Spain*
- Canada*
- Costa Rica
- Bahamas*
- Banff Hot Springs
- Hawaii*
- Italy*
- Catalina Island
- Luxembourg*
- St Johns
- St Marteen/St Martin
- St Thomas
- South Padre Island Texas
- Mexico*
- Vatican City*
- Austria*
- Denmark*
- Monaco
- Portugal*
- Belgium*
- Holland*
- Ireland*
- Alaska
- England*
- Sweden*
- Switzerland*
- Spain*
- Germany*
- Madeira
Events/Experiences
- Pyramids at Giza
- Taj Mahal
- Climbed Great Wall of China
- Western Wall-Jerusalem
- Transited Panama Canal 3X
- Rode Camel in Tunisia
- fathom Adonia--1st US cruise ship to Cuba--Aug 2016
- Old Town in Havana
- Burj Kalifa in Dubai
- Saw Kangeroos, Wallabees, and Koalas in Australia
- Kayaked in Bay of Islands, New Zealand
- Vaparreto # 1 in Venice
- National Museum in Brunei
- Saw Geysers Erupt in Iceland
- Drink at Raffles Hotel-Singapore
- Fish Spa in Greece and Philippines
- The Peak in Hong Kong
- Pedicab Tour in Manilla Philippines
- Road Amalfi Coast, Italy
- Chewed Gum in Singapore
- Marched in St Pat's Day Parade in Dublin
- Sailed Kotor Bay
- Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia
- Smithsonian Museums-DC
- Toured Ancient City of Petra, Jordan
- Transited Suez Canal
- Rio for Carnivale 2X
- Cruised along Cinque Terre, Italy
- Fish Spa in Corfu, Greece (teeny fish scrubbed my feet!)
- Subway in Russia
- Flash Mob (dance) on stage on several cruises
- Visted 21 Countries on 5 long cruises in 2012
- Ceviche in Peru
- Cremation Service in Bali
- Saw Lamas in Lima
- Vasa Museum-Stockholm
- Buddhist Monastery in Viet Nam
- Drove Amalfi Coast
- Queen Mary 2
- Berlin Wall
- Mummies In Cairo Museum
- Jordan River; Sea of Galilee
- Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Luxor at Sunrise
- Transited the Pirate-Infested Gulf of Aden
- Ski Dubai
- Fellucca Ride on the Nile at Sunset
- 16-day Europe/Transatlantic on Queen Victoria
- Tahrir Square-Cairo
- Toured Pompeii
- In Fashion Show Aboard Queen Victoria
- Rode Elephants in Thailand and India
- 7-Country Baltic Cruise
- Hermitage Museum
- Checkpoint Charlie
- Transatlantic Crossing on QM2
- Climbed Tikal in Guatemala
- Mediterranean Cruise 6 countries
- Audience with Swami in Rishikesh, India
- Poetry Class in France
- Kissed Blarney Stone
- Pike's Fish Market in Seattle
- Photo with Snake Charmer in India
- Dacau near Munich
- Hitchhiked from France to Scotland
- Climbed Washington Monument in DC
- Oktoberfest in Bavaria
- Toured Panama Canal
- Wine Country in France, California and many others
- Guest of Placido Domingo in Chicago
- The Alamo
- United Nations
- San Diego Zoo
- Helicopter over Grand Canyon
- Club Med in Cancun
- Eurailpassed Twice Thru Europe
- Hollywood
- Albuquerque Hot-Air Balloon Festival
- Rodeo in Dallas/Ft Worth
- NCAA Playoffs in Charlotte and New Orleans
- Cucchi Tunnels in Viet Nam
- Grammys in New York
- Paella in Spain
- Rain Forest in Costa Rica
- Xmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on 5th Avenue
- Niagara Falls
- Disney Land & Disney World
- Voodoo Museum New Orleans
- Cancun Jazz Festival
- Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica
- Las Vegas for Trade Shows
- Key West for Hemmingway Festival
- Art Classes in Louvre
- Black Ski Summit in Vail and Colorado Springs
- Texas State Fair
- Mardi Gras in New Orleans
- Italian Class in France
- Nude Sunbathing in St Marteen
- Danish Pastry in Denmark
- Palace of Knossos Crete
- Anne Frank House Amsterdam
- Karaoke in Japan
- Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Lobster in Maine
- Belfast Black Cab Tour
- Dozens of Transatlantic Sailings