Get a bus map!
Yesterday I realized how big Rome really was. Imagine New York City only three times as big, that is what it feels like anyway.
I began my day with an amazingly tasty pastry filled with Nutella. David, the friend who I am staying with introduced me to this little spot that he visits daily. Off he went to school and off I went to explore more of Rome. The day began with the Roman Forum Walk and the Palatine Hill. You could spend all day just at the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill but my days are numbered so I followed Rick Steve’s handy dandy self guided walk and moved on to my next spot. I was fortunate to get a reservation for the Borghese Gallery within the day. Amazing! I will explain in more detail when time allows but I saw classic pieces of art and then took a nice stroll in the park.
Then my 5 hour bus ride began. I needed to get to the Vatican City between 5 and 6:30 to pick up my ticket to see The Pope for the next morning. I was on a bus by 4:30 assuming I would make it there by 5. Well, I did not really have any idea which stop to get off at. I just figured the Vatican or St. Peters would jump out at me. It didn’t. Even after a gentleman told me roughly where to get off, but telling me 10 to 12 stops ahead does not do a tourist much good. I sat on the bus for nearly 45 minutes until it reached its last stop where I then proceeded to stay on that bus going back assuming it would still jump out at me. Again, it didn’t. Finally a girl saw I was struggling with the map and about to burst into tears so she kindly helped me. Only she told me I had missed the stop several stops back! So I proceeded to get back off the bus and on to another one when I finally made it. Only it was 7:45! And I was supposed to be there by 6:30. I ran to the big copper doors where the guards stood and luckily they were still open. As I walked into the office to pick up my ticket I was told they did not have my reservation. Just my luck. And the student ticket agency I booked with clearly said “Do not call or e-mail to confirm your reservation. You will not receive a confirmation e-mail due to high volume. Just assume we received your booking e-mail and you will have a ticket waiting for you the night before the general audience.” BULL! But luck was on my side as the man was nice enough to give me a ticket anyway.
And today, a salami sandwich and more gelato.
Tags: Rome
