Andre and Wendy

23,200 Steps

Our last full day in Italy, today we will take advantage of Metro to save a few steps.

We start by taking the Metro to the Peoples Square. Somewhere that we really liked last time, this time they were taking down some grandstands that really spoiled the square itself. It was some kind of police celebration. We did see the formal dress police uniform one of the 3 uniforms for police in Rome. Designed by Giorgio Armani, so beautiful.

Once the service was done for the police we visited the 2 churches in the peoples square. They look identical from the outside, but very different inside.

Next we visited Santa Maria del Popolo Basilica. It was restored by Bernini in the 1600s, featuring masterpieces by Caravaggio & Raphael. This church has it figured out, you need to put a Euro in a box in order for the pieces to be lit up, it is really dark unless you put in a Euro.

We then line up for sandwiches at maybe the most famous sandwich shop in Rome. Big lineups but they move fast when they only make sandwiches. Our lineup was a little slow as they ran out of Focaccia bread, but we knew it was fresh when it was delivered. 40 choices of sandwiches at All’antico Vinaio. Take out only, no where to sit down. Lots of people walking around eating these sandwiches

Back at Novona square, Four River Fountain in Piazza Navona, to represent the 4 major rivers of the 4 continents which papal authority had spread, Nile, Ganges, Danube, RIo de la Plata. We really liked this square. Lots of families out today, a man doing huge bubbles and kids having a great time chasing the bubbles, or even getting put inside a bubble.

We crossed the Tiber River again and were in the area that we stayed last time we were in Rome, Trastevere, a really nice area of Rome. Certainly nicer than where we are this time! Brought back some good memories as we crossed these bridges many times on foot last time. One last picture of Rome as we go by the Coliseum on our way back to the Metro and AIRBNB as it is starting to rain.

Supper tonight is a place that is recommended online that is about a 5 minute walk from our place. We get there and there is only 2 people waiting outside, the restaurant is full, always a good sign. The waiters are all Italian, another good sign. Turns out this is one of our favourite meals. We had a fantastic waiter, I had the pasta with artichoke special, Andre had Osso Bucco. The waiter would not let us any other wine except red. Dessert Andre had an Italian Crème Brulle, don’t remember what it was called but the cooking method is different than the French, but tasted the exact same to me. I stuck with a Limoncello. The man beside us had some kind of other little drink, we asked our waiter what it was, he said you need to try it, so a free sample brought to us both of we think he said radish drink. Never heard of it before, would not order it on purpose.

A fantastic last night, hard to believe we are back home tomorrow.

April 15 Rome – Home

12,400 Steps

Raining out when we get up, so decide to take the metro to the train station to get to the airport. It is only one stop away and we have 1 ticket left each on our 24 hour pass so off we go. It was forecasting rain so we had found a way to the metro station that is most under porticos. A quick stop for takeaway croissants at the free spot for breakfast and off we go. The metro is packed, we are pretty much in rush hour and many people connect to the other line at the train station, as well as anyone using trains. Andre takes both carry on so I can squeeze on the metro. Hands on purse, and Andre has hand on wallet zipped pocket.

Basically fall out of the metro with everyone else after 1 stop and take a bit to find the train to the airport. I am at the incredibly slow train ticket electronic dispenser (this has been everywhere in Italy, not just here) and I hear it is gone. I first thought it was his wallet gone, no his phone. A relief as this is pretty much a burner phone that sometimes works with a SIM and sometimes doesn’t. It had been so unreliable that I bought an ESIM for my phone a couple of weeks ago when we knew we would need more reliable navigation for driving a car. Not a big loss, a friend gave us the phone that he had found in electronic trash. Andre liked it for the camera. Only one picture from last nights dinner had not been downloaded, so it is not that bad.

Uneventful flights home. Was excited to have chicken on the flight, I usually hate airplane food, but the chicken was great, maybe because I hadn’t had chicken for weeks?

Crazy flights as we went to Montreal, then Toronto, then home. If we could only parachute once we get over the Atlantic we would save more than 8 hours of travel time. Maybe some day…..

Brian picked us up at the airport, one person that I know won’t think twice about a midnight pickup. Nice to have a comfy bed and couch again.

Time now to start thinking about next trips.

Decided to take the metro to start the day and save 2.5 kms of walking

Ad inside the Metro, love it

Our first stop, the people square but the had a big celebration yesterday and it was mostly closed of because they were taking down the stagging. 173 years for the local police

The 2 churches on the square, they are not quite identical

Red granite obelisk completed by Pharaoh Ramses II with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs & lion statues.

The people's gate, Monumental 16th-century gateway with marble columns, statues of saints & a papal coat of arms.

The entrance to the park, very big with lots to see but no time for us

Neptune fountain

One of the 3 uniforms for police in Rome. Designed by Giorgio Armani. They are holding their hats, wish we would have got them with their hats on

Elegant Santa Maria del Popolo basilica restored by Bernini in the 1600s, featuring masterpieces by Caravaggio & Raphael.

In one of the 2 almost identical churches is is more an art gallery

done of cracking glass, very interesting an unique

They call these fountain, nose fountain. You put your thumb where the water comes out, then it comes out above you finger in a small higher stream

Remains of Roman Augustus emperor's circular, raised tomb,

Another coat of arms

Most church are natural stone colour, this one is an exception

The line up for our sandwiches

40 choices of sandwiches. some very interesting ones. 8 to 12 euros each

The nicest fountain we saw

Courtyard in front of the church, only 1 we saw like this

The church with the fake dome

They had mirror to look up at the ceilings and the domes

The dark dome is fake

Back at Novona square, Four River Fountain in Piazza Navona, to represent the 4 major rivers of the 4 continents which papal authority had spread, Nile, Ganges, Danube, RIo de la Plata.

Another beautiful courtyard

The Campo dei Fiori where the market is now held. Mostly for tourist but a few cheese, vegetables places for locals

Rated as one of the cutest streets in Rome when the construction stuff was not there

The Tiber river with the Islet of Tiber in the middle

What remains of the oldest bridge in Rome. 2nd century BC, Emilio Bridge

Remains of an ancient walkway originally built in the 2nd century B.C. to link two Roman temples. Portico de Ottavia

Roman theater started by Julius Caesar & pre-dating the Colosseum, the setting for summer concerts. Theatre of Marcellus, built in 13BC, the colosseum wasn't built until 72AD