Rome has one of the biggest cruise ports in Europe, and that
suits me quite well. It is one of those ancient cities that will take more than
one visit to see, and many of the cruises start in Rome. I try to stay for two
or three days before boarding the ship. You don’t want to arrive on the same
day, especially if it’s an overseas destination, that is much too risky, and
Rome is always well worth the extra time. There are many hotels that fit all
budgets.
Even if you spend a whole day in the Vatican alone, it is
not enough, and would also prove quite exhausting, if nothing else the huge
crowds would do you in. They say about twenty five to thirty thousand people
visit the Vatican daily. The best I can do is five or six hours at a time.
The treasures housed within that community are unbelievable,
it is a Mecca for art lovers. Michelangelo and the Pieta and the Sistine Chapel
are sites that once seen will never be forgotten, and must be seen again if at
all possible. The Chapel, a rectangular
room in the basement is all Michelangelo, it is bare of furnishings. It is a
place to pay homage to a magnificent artist and his immeasurable artistry. It
will leave you breathless.
I have done independent tours to the big sites, but now I book
a tour to the Vatican and the other special sites because of all the tourists,
it is easier and faster to get in. You don’t wait in the long lines, and at my
age it is well worth it.
For this upcoming trip I booked two tours through Viator;
Vatican Walking Tour- this tour includes the Sistene Chapel, Raphael’s Rooms
and of course St. Peter’s; after the tour I can wonder around on my own. The
other tour I booked through them is the Ancient Rome and Colosseum Walking
Tour.
I’m going with my grandchildren, and it’s their first visit
to Europe-I wanted to make sure they would get a decent historical introduction
to this magnificent city.
If the stop is part of the cruise, I book through the cruise
line, for one excellent reason, if there is a delay, they will wait for you. It
has happened where the bus was delayed for about an hour. There was a general
announcement about the delay, and we departed once the bus returned to port.
That is not the case if you book through an outside agency. For me, it is not
worth the extra stress to make sure I’ll be back on time, especially true if
the visiting site is a bit of a distance from the port....but I digress.
Ancient Rome offers the Forum, the Colosseum, the Pantheon,
these are all places that must be seen, the age and history will astound, and that is just the beginning. There
is also the lively Rome, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, so tourist
packed that you have to wait, and weave your way to get up close and personal. The
outdoor restaurants, the entertainment at said places, where you’ll get a
troubadour serenading you, and it’s best to have some change ready for a tip. Rome is a walking city, and, comfortable shoes are a must, although I have seen a few Italian women wear heels; how they managed is beyond me.
Then of course there are the espresso stops, I prefer to
linger, the Italians prefer to stand and gulp theirs. It is less expensive to
stand and drink your coffee, if you sit down there is a charge for that
privilege. However by the time I need a coffee break, I also need a sit-down
break to recharge.
I try and avoid the height of the tourist season, it is far
more expensive, and overcrowded and prefer to go early Spring or late Fall. Sometimes that is not always possible, as in this trip the timing depended upon the kiddies and their activities.
Cheers,
Margot
Justes
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