There is a lot to catch you up on so let’s rush right in.
Janelle, being the awesome friend that she is, loaned/gave me her bus pass. It gets you on and off the local bus/train. So I prepared for my journey into the city alone. OOOOOOO –scary! I don’t speak the language and I look like a tourist. Will I get got? Will I get Taken? You know how I like to talk to strangers. Well, this was different.
My alarm went off at 10:30 A.M. and I hit snooze. I got up at 10:50, showered and dressed. I made it out of the house by 11:50 and watched the bus pull off from the bus stop. I walked on down and admired the villas in the neighborhood and some of the scenery that reminded me where I was. See the pics.
Following Janelle’s directions, I took the bus to the Acilia station and got on and went to the last stop. I changed at the station and went Piramide (Line B) all the way to Termini. Marta ain't got nothing on the Rome inner city train and bus. Can you say HOT?! SMELLY?! And CROWDED?! It was worse that Decatur station on a bad day. My first thought was: Shouldn’t these people be at work. They can’t all be on vacation like me.
Anywho, when I got to Termini station, I went up and out and I was there! All the familiar sights of being in Roma! The noise, the smells, the buildings. Everything was bustling as though the citizens knew I was arriving and wanted everything to be ready. It was 94 degrees and I could have walked to my destination, but that was too much like right. So I hopped in the first available cab said a prayer to Jehovah that he not kill me and we were off.
I passed 266 via Cavour (Hotel Matisse) where I stayed last time I was here. I waved and got a little teary eyed as we rounded the slight curve. There it was, still standing, and looking a little better than I left it . . . the Coliseum. This time there were no pictures outside the closed gates. I was going inside. My arthritic knee was a little less stiff today and I sprang from the cab and moved at rapid speed for me. I fought the crowds and ignored the people selling guided tours just so I could get in line and guide myself. There was that one distraction. I couldn’t help it he was just so cute in his little uniform and charming. He got me to thinking “James Who?” See the pics.
Once through the gate I had to choose: audio tour or lonely silent wandering thru the ruins? The line for the audio tour was shorter and it only cost 4,50 euro more. So, I got a little recorded woman that I only heard say “Welcome to the Coliseum.”
All I can say about the tour was it caused me to reflect. Standing outside of one of the prisoner holding cells there was the lingering thought: “My brothers and sisters were in there and they remained faithful to the death. How will I fair during the Great Tribulation? I know they were made of much better materials than me.” That then led to a personal conversation between me and Jehovah. So start planning your trip to see what emotions a visit evokes and you and hope they remain long enough to change you.
After a couple of hours in there I finally exited. I was a little inspired and refreshed and I felt more at home in the eternal city.
“Rome . . . Roma, mi amore. Sorry it took me so long to return.”
I made my way across the street and bought some gelato, 2 scoops – lemon and vanilla. Smooth, creamy, and succulent. It served its purpose to refresh me for my trek back to Dragone.
I was burning up and tired of people bumping into me. After clenching my messenger bag purse (Target $10) I finally got a seat on the last train to the Acilia station. I dozed a few times on the 20 minute ride. I kept waking up to make sure there were no puncture wounds on me from a gypsy trying to tranq me and steal my cute purse or my faux jewelry.
In the end I made it to Janelle & Danny’s. I kissed the baby and chilled with Janelle. What a day!
Did you enjoy our excursion? Were you moved by the ruins? Well rest up cause tomorrow is another day!
A presto!
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