Gloryfades.org

I’m going to attempt the impossible and write about all four days in Rome at once. I’ve uploaded the pictures to photobucket already so it may not be as hard as I think it will. Regardless, I may end up splitting this post in half

I arrived in Rome around midday and found my hostel with no real issue. I nearly passed by it, though, because it’s located inside of an apartment building. The only indication that it exists was a small plaque on the side of the building and an intercom. The hotel owner, after checking me in, gave me a map of Rome and highlighted all the main roads and attractions. That map was amazing. I found everything I needed on it and more. I wish more places did that.

Truthfully, this was my favourite hostel. Although I shared a room with this yappy American couple (they woke up me up one night because they were fighting) I really loved the place. The people were really friendly, especially the afternoon girl who I got to know quite well, and the place was quite cozy. Plus, they had a pair of dogs that stayed at the hotel the whole time. They were adorable.

My first order of business, after checking in, was to go do some site-seeing. I made my way down to the Via Corso where I saw this shirt in the window. I wanted to go back and get it for Gord (so he can be my very own Jake Gyllenhaal but of course I didn’t end up doing that *Sigh* Ah well.

Before I hit the Via, though, I managed to stumble upon my first site: the Trevi Fountain!

It was surrounded by tourists and just brimming with noise, exactly like I remembered it the last time. The square is barely big enough to fit both the fountain, the storefronts and the droves of people that were milling around. Directly across from the fountain was also a very baroque church which I forgot to snap a picture of, unfortunately. I bought a gelato and sat down on a bench by the Trevi. It was hot that day and I was wearing my jeans. That was a huge mistake.

After I finished my gelato I took the Via Corso all the way down to the Piazza del Popolo where I found a water fountain to fill up my water supply and admire the two matching churches of Santa Maria:

Unfortunately, I got really lost after that point. I wasn’t really looking at my map and I was content with walking around. Eventually I found my way back again and decided to stop for dinner near my hostel before calling it an early night.

The next day was Sunday. I had hoped to visit the Vatican and St. Peter’s that day but since it was closed on Sundays I had to think of soemthing else. It didn’t even occur to me that I could have gone to mass at St. Peter’s that day but I went to mass elsewhere anyway - the Pantheon!

I decided to find the Pantheon first since it was on my list of things to revisit. When I found it I could hear singing coming from inside. As I pushed past the throng of tourists I saw that most of the church was roped off for Sunday mass. There was an opening in the ropes, though, and I slipped past to sit down. I wasn’t going to take pictures during mass so I figured I might as well have a seat and enjoy it. Of course, I couldn’t understand a word the priest was saying but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It’s not everyday that you get to go to mass in the Roman Catholic capital of the world!

When mass ended I snuck over to a roped off part of the Pantheon to take a look at the tomb of Raphael (yes, the Raphael) and quickly continued on my way. The day was slightly overcast which made it a bit depressing walking around the city. Not to mention the fact that almost all of the streets were empty (people were either in church or sleeping in!). Still, I managed to snap some pictures as I was walking around, searching for something else that was open.

The view of the piazza from the doors of the Pantheon, after mass.

A doorknocker on a huge palazzo I passed by. It’s Madusa!

They’ll put churches anywhere in this city.

St. Peter’s from across the city. That was how dark it was outside that morning.

After the mass I settled on hauling my cookies across town to Castel Sant’Angelo, which is the Pope’s “secret” hiding spot when danger come’s a’knocking to St. Peter’s. Originally it was a huge burial tomb for the Emperor Hadrian but his ashes were dumped elsewhere and the building became a papal residence.

Me trying to take a picture of myself inside the Castel’s many windows.

An eerie bust inside an alcove in the Castel.

The castel from the ponte. The weather (obviously) cleared up by the time I was outside again.

The Ponte Sant’Angelo from which I took the previous picture from. The statues were designed by Bernini.

I was really happy I went to the Castel that day because when I went to St. Peter’s the next day, I found that the Castel (from the same ponte) was obstructed by a huge canary yellow crane. I was able to get pretty pictures of it the day before

I headed back towards the centre of town to walk around the old Roman ruins. I somehow managed to get lost on the way there (me and my not looking at a map again, I tell ya!) so I decided to climb these insanely long steps to the top of a hill - Capitoline Hill, apparently! I wanted to visit the museums but I needed to go back to my hostel first. I had spilt grease all over my shorts because I’m a clumsy oaf. When I returned the museums were closing in an hour. An hour for two museums isn’t enough; especially the way I visit museums. So I resigned myself to simply walking around the area.

The main street leading up to the Colosseum was closed to cars and public transit that day (being a Sunday) so it was more of a path. I thought it was really neat that it gets closed every Sunday. I took lots of pictures of the area, but I didn’t seem to upload any to photobucket. I might add some later

I think I’m gonna stop here. I’ve got two more days to talk about but this entry is getting crazy long.