Rob’s European Vacation 2009

So the day started off in Sorento and I was determined not to rush soo much on this morning since I only had about three hours of train travel ahead of me.  I ate my breakfast and grabbed my gear and headed for the Circumvesuvius train.  I just missed a train and hung out for about half an hour until the next one to Naples came.  On the train ride I struck up a conversation with an older couple from Sweden.  They were so nice and lovely and we had a great conversation (in English of course).  They were so cute together too..whenever I see older cute couples it really makes me wish I’m that way with my future wife when we’re in our fifties and sixties.

So anyways I got to dodgy (that’s my new favorite English english word) Naples and made my way to the ticket counter to get my reservation for the train to Rome.  That’s the one thing that sucks about Italy is that every train requires a reservation which costs money on top of your Eurail pass that you paid up the roof for.  Oh well, comes with the territory right?  So I got to the ticket counter and of course the next train doesn’t leave for an hour…oh wait that train is delayed so the next one is an hour and a half away but its also an express train and gets you there in only an hour for a 20 euro reservation…SOLD!  Btw, I LOVE Eurostar Italia…free newspaper, free soda and candy.  Seriously a sugar-holics favorite deal!

Anyways I got to Rome at 2 and hiked the four blocks from the Termini to my hostel.  The hostel is weird because the guys that run it, also run a internet point and laundromat combined right next door.  So I checked in…at a laundromat with computers on one wall.  Weird…almost like a pet grooming place and a coffee shop together…it just doesn’t sound right.  So anyways I checked in and they took me up to my room.  It’s basically an old apartment that they’ve put four beds into every room.  One toilet and one shower in the same WC for about 12 people = not good!  I’ve been in better places but I’ve also been in worse…and its only for three nights so I can live.

So after I put my stuff down I headed out on the town.  I took the bus in front of the train station and got dropped off and made my way to Campo di Fiori.  It’s a little square that was having a flower market and was enjoying its siesta still.  So I headed off for my grand Roman walk and made my way to Piazza Navona and Bernini’s Four Rivers fountain and an Egyptian Obelisk.  First of all, there are a crap load of Egyptian obelisks here in Rome, all stolen from Egypt during Rome’s heydays, some 2000 years ago!  So the fountain was awesome.  Rick Steves said you should try this “tortufo” from the Scalini restaurant for a chocolate treat.  Being the supreme chocoholic that I am, I tried it out.  Man was it good!  It was a mix of dark and rich chocolate and was kind of a gelato and truffle mixed together.  Awesome!

After the tortufo, I headed down the alleyways and through “village Roma”.  I turned a corner and BAM..there it was, the Pantheon.  It’s gorgeous and better in person than I ever anticipated.  I love history and the history this place has is immense.  I popped out my Ipod and started up my audioguide from Rick Steves on the Pantheon and hung out there for about an hour.  The perfect oculus of the dome and Savoy kings buried there really make it a special place.  Not to mention that it was built during the time of Hadrian!  Also did you know, that the Pantheon is the only Roman structure that has been in continuous use throughout the ages?!  So cool…

After the Pantheon I headed around some more corners and was star-struck yet again…the TREVI!!  Magnifico!  Bravo!  What an accomplishment.  The fountain is truly a work of art and by far my favorite thing about Rome.  I hope my future wife isn’t reading this right now because someday I want to come back to Rome and propose to her at night in front of the Trevi because I think it’s just that romantic and that amazing.  I hung out there for a bit and then continued on…

Rick Steves suggests some pretty good gelato places to me before in Venice so when he suggests another, I always hit it up.  Once again I wasn’t disappointed and was treated to some exquisite gelato from Giolotti’s.  I truly think that the closest I’ve ever had to a spiritual revelation on this trip is when I had my first lick of gelato everyday, lol.  I love the stuff just that much.

After the gelato, I made my way to the Piazza di Spagna or the Spanish Steps.  What a great way to people watch.  I again hung out there on the steps and watched the crowds come and go.  There’s a great view of some really glitzzy shops too.  After that I walked up to Piazza del Poppola for a while and back down to the Steps.  It was getting dark by now (at 9pm) so I headed back to the Trevi to see it at night.  I truly think this is when the Trevi shines.  The water is so blue and so pretty..even with the throngs vying for a spot to take a picture and throw a coin in….

After another stint at the Trevi I decided to walk back to the hostel.  On the way I made my way past the Victorio Emmanuele II memorial in all it’s grandeur and then I saw it..The Colosseum at night.  So beautiful and it’s been four years since I last saw it.  I missed the grand arena…I walked up to it and hung out for a bit taking some pictures.  Then I headed back.  I gotta say, I missed Rome and I’m glad I am back.

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