"Life is a combination of magic and pasta."--Federico Fellini
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Day 4
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Rome-First day of our tour |
The Borghese Gallery and Gardens
Before meeting up with our Rick Steves group, we had a few hours on our own to explore the Borghese Gallery and Gardens. At the suggestion of our guidebook we bought our tickets well in advance as they often sell out. The gallery only lets 300 people in at a specified time which gave us two uncrowded hours to see their amazing collection. The artwork was spectacular but the gallery itself was a masterpiece. Every inch of every surface was embellished with paintings, guilt work, and marble reliefs. The collection included the finest works by Bernini, along with Titian, Caravaggio, and Raphael.
Along with the amazing gallery there was a lot to see within the Borghese Gardens. We strolled along the wide and shady pathways passing the National Gallery of Modern Art, Villa Medici, and the Piazza di Siena along with various monuments, statues, gazebos, and theaters. We stopped for a quick snack at a food truck selling paninis and enjoyed the opportunity to slow down and relax a bit in the shade. Along the way we also passed by the American Embassy and walked through the Porta Pinciana.
"What is the fatal charm of Italy? What do we find there that can be found nowhere else? I believe it is the certain permission to be human, which other places, other countries, lost long ago."---Erica Jong
Andiamo Italia
Two wheels, four wheels or pedal power, Romans and tourists alike find a way to get around.
Two wheels, four wheels or pedal power, Romans and tourists alike find a way to get around.
Our Tour Begins
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After returning from the Borghese we checked out of hotel #1 and checked into our Rick Steves hotel. Our new hotel, Alimandi Tunisi, was on the other side of town across the street from the Vatican. This afforded us a chance to see the sights across the Tiber River in the Trastevere and Prati neighborhoods. We met our group on the rooftop lounge and the fun began. Our amazing guide, Caterina, started things off with instructions on how the tour would work. She was very organized, incredibly patient, extremely well versed in all things Italian, and a whole lot of fun. We each took turns introducing ourselves and selecting our tour buddies. Our buddies were Brian and Josie from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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our amazing guide Caterina
Our buddies, Brian and Josie
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Our hotel in Rome. Hotel Alimandi Tunisi
Our group
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The first order of business.....our evening passeggiatta
The Pantheon
With our headphones firmly in place we head out for an evening stroll (passeggiatta) through the old city. Caterina is determined to turn us into independent travelers so we brave the subway system to our first stop. With her guidance we wander down cafe lined streets no wider than 20 feet, past government offices, cathedrals, fountains, and finally to the Pantheon. What a truly glorious building. The age, the architecture, and the history were astounding. I felt privileged just to be in its presence. Think of all the kings, presidents, emperors, artists, and writers that preceded us. It provided the inspiration for Brunelleschi & Michelangelo's great domes that helped catapult Europe out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance.
Did you know? Italy holds the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most elevators in the world.
The Trevi Fountain
And then with a strategic zig and another zag we reached the Trevi Fountain. Even though the fountain was undergoing major renovations we were able to walk out over the scaffolding for a close up view of its many sculptures. And not to be denied, we were still able to throw a coin with our right hand over our left shoulder to ensure our return to Rome (or is it left hand over right shoulder???).
Did you know? Every day 3,000 euros are thrown into the Trevi Fountain
The Piazza Navona
Our stroll then took us to the busy and beautiful Piazza Navona where we climbed aboard a city bus for a jostling ride to our first group dinner at La Rustichella da Carlo. As we ate our dinner and drank our wine we became better acquainted with our fellow tour members and looked forward to the adventure that lay ahead.
During Holly Niemiec's group introduction she said, "We are here celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary",
for which David Niemiec chimed in, "Yep, the best 10 years of my life".
for which David Niemiec chimed in, "Yep, the best 10 years of my life".
Along the Way:
The Hardworking and the Hardly Working Romans
The Hardworking and the Hardly Working Romans
In Hindsight: I wish we had time to go back to the Piazza Navona and see the Pantheon in the daylight. It was hard to take pictures inside at twilight. And I wish we had used the audio guide at the Borghese. We were able to find the written English description of each room's artwork, but I'm sure the audio guide would have been more comprehensive.
