Jun 05, 2018
Touring Rome – May 24th
Thursday, May 24th was a beautiful sunny, warm day and I was feeling much better so we decided to head out and hit the highlights of what we wanted to see here in Rome. Colin had seen some of these areas the day prior in the damp drizzle while I stayed home and recovered.
We took the bus into town as it was located just outside our condo and we wanted to see some of the local streets. I regret not taking more photos of ruins that are scattered throughout the city. They are lying everywhere, some are fenced off for protection while others just become part of the street area.
Everyone lives in apartments, one of top of the other, side by side. So different from all the space we have in Canada not to mention the greenery.
Our first stop was Campo de’ Fiori, a large square area serving as a daily morning local market. The market is surrounded by dozens of restaurants, cafes and bars. At night the tables and chairs fill the market space.
For centuries public executions took place at Campo de’ Fiori. We had read that Julius Caesar was stabbed to death here.
It is a limoncello delight if you are interested in doing some tastings. Guess what we had for breakfast?
Limoncello Viagra! Now that is going too far.
So many residents going about their daily business among us tourists. I expect that these are two old friends who dress up and meet for a morning coffee several days a week.
We were going to stop for a coffee and late breakfast near the market but walked on to Piazza Navona. Sadly in the last week or so my beautiful black and white hat tore in two. The stitching in the straw came apart.
The Piazza Navona is symbolized by 3 fountains, the Fountain of the four rivers, the Fountain of Neptune, and the Fountain of the moor. In the past, in addition to the market, processions and spectacles where held here including mock naval battles when the square was flooded with water.
There are many other facts about this area but today it is mostly a lovely gathering place surrounded by restaurants.
Good friend and world traveler Suzanne emailed me that her favorite restaurant in Rome was Tre Scalini so we decided to stop in for lunch.
First we had a coffee and then shared a famous ‘Tartufo’ as described above. I could detect several different chocolate tastes but not all 13 of them. Truly a decadent lunch. What day this was turning out to be considering what we had already had for breakfast.
An expensive but delightful stop as we relaxed and watched the activity on the square. Grazie mille mi amiga.
Things are close in Rome so we walked over the Pantheon.
The word Pantheon is a Greek adjective meaning “honor all Gods”. In fact the pantheon was first built as a temple to all gods.
“The most fascinating part of the Pantheon is its giant dome, with its famous hole in the top (The eye of the Pantheon, or oculus). The dome was the largest in the world for 1300 years and until today it remains the largest unsupported dome in the world! The diameter of the dome is 43.30 meters or 142ft (for comparison, the United States Capitol dome is 96 feet in diameter) and is in perfect proportion with the Pantheon by the fact that the distance from the floor to the top of the dome is exactly equal to its diameter.”
Taken with Colin’s camera.
Taken with the iPhone.
“The hole (oculus), 7.8 meters in diameter, is the only source of light and is the connection between the temple and the gods above.” Taken with the iPhone, it was difficult to get the light on the floor ( which is the original marble ) without people in the shot.
The tour will be continued in the next post. Sadly the day does not end well.
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Rome sounded great until I saw those coffee prices. I have never seen a coffee that expensive anyway in all my travels. I think the priciest Americano I’ve had was in England for about 3.80 euro, which I still thought was a fair price for being in central London. I expecting prices like Spain or the Netherlands of 1.50-2.50 euro or so. Wow.
Good on you for having the cake for lunch!
Your iPhone photos are looking good! I can’t remember the last time I took out my camera.
Limoncello Viagra! My goodness; I guess the guys who drink that must want to be “Italian Stallions.”