When in Rome...

Colosseum (Personal Photo)

My Italy trip would not be an adventure without further misadventures, would it? By the time I arrived in Rome, it was late, so I headed straight to my B&B.

Small problem: it didn’t exist.

I found the building described by my directions, but there was no sign. No name plaque. I buzzed the only occupant with a name and was told no B&B existed in the building, that it was mostly for psychologist and doctors' practices (later, I tried emailing and calling, but never received a response).

I was stranded in a foreign city with sore feet and nowhere to sleep.

Roman Forum (Personal Photo)

I heard singing from a nearby building and entered it, thinking it was a youth centre. Regardless of what it was (I later learned it was a photography studio), the man there took pity on me and gave me water and access to their computer so I could seek accommodation. I eventually found a place to stay. With all the excitement and anxiety, I slept fitfully—even though I was exhausted.

(I also got my ass groped on a crowded subway train on the way to my new hostel... nothing like forward Italian men.)

* * *

My first day was relaxed. I did a hop-on-hop-off bus tour around the city, which was a fun way to orient myself. I sat on the top of the open-air double decker bus and let the Italian wind whip through my hair. I visited a few churches, ate at a nice Italian restaurant, and saw the outside of all Rome’s fabled tourist attractions.

* * *

Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele (Personal Photo)

My second day was action-packed. First I hit the Colosseum, which was definitely worth seeing, although the cloudy weather was not ideal for snapping beautiful photos. As I was meandering over to the Roman Forum, I asked a group of American girls to snap a photo of me in front of it. They thought I was really brave for travelling by myself. (I suppose I was).

When we noticed a Japanese lady standing beside us, looking like she wanted her own picture of the Colosseum, we courteously stepped away. She gestured for us to come back. Apparently she wanted us in the photo, too!

Uh, sure?

The Roman Forum was one of my favourite places in Rome, and I ended up touring it with those American girls (read: conversation buddies and convenient photographers). I love Greek and Roman mythology, and the architecture was a feast for my eyes. I took so many photos that my camera’s battery was half-dead by the time we parted ways (they were headed to the Colosseum, which I had already seen).

Pantheon (Personal Photo)

So I decided to visit the Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele (pictured). It is, according to the outside signs, a sacred place. You are not allowed to sit on the steps: security will whistle at you if you do. At the top there are two bowls that emit flames. Up a few more steps are two soldiers in uniform whose job, I suppose, is to stand there.

Another highlight that day was the Pantheon. Unfortunately, it was crowded, although it was awe-inspiring. Its dome was so huge that I couldn’t get a picture that included the oculus (the hole in the ceiling) and the floor! 

On my way to the Trevi Fountain, I noticed a girl who seemed disoriented. She was looking for the Pantheon, and so (rather than try to give her directions in an area filled with tiny streets), I detoured and walked her there. She asked me where I was from and I proudly said I was Canadian. (Canada represent!). 
 

Getting lost is no problem for me—I have two maps, and since I am familiar with how streets are signed in Nice, I know where to look here (i.e on the sides of buildings). To check my bearings I will ask people in tourist shops. Our conversations often go like this:

- Mi scusi...
- Si? 
- Parla inglese? 

Trevi Fountain (Personal Photo)

If I get “si,” I proceed in English. If I get “non,” I can say “Dové ____?” and point on the map. Graztie is something I use often, to which I hear “Preggo” in response. I feel like a tourist (as opposed to in France) because I am forced to rely on my English, but I am proud of what Italian I can say. However, I find myself slipping into French.

The Trevi Fountain, albeit pretty, was so crowded that it was hard for me to snap a picture of it, let alone with me in it! I noticed rose petals floating on top of the water and men selling flowers—as well as a bride in a wedding dress, lifting the bottom of her gown while descending the steps.  

Speaking of steps, I then headed toward the Spanish Steps, which were also super-crowded. I couldn’t get a decent picture. Considering all the other gorgeous sites in Rome, I didn’t understand why it was so popular. By that time, my feet were getting sore, so I returned to my hostel. Nobody else had booked for that night, so I ended up having the six-person dorm all to myself!

 * * *

St. Peter's Square (view from the dome) (Personal Photo)

The third (and final) day began with a tour of the Vatican museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. I avoided bringing a backpack, since they make you check it, and managed to fit everything into my fanny pack—my water bottle conveniently fit into the knee pocket of my purple scrubs. Some advice for would-be visitors of the Vatican: book in advance. The line is enormous. (I booked and smugly entered right as the museums opened.) At the end of the tour, I climbed the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and had a wonderful view of St. Peter’s Square... which is a circle, but whatever.  

I bussed (HOHO) to Circus Maximus and wandered around a bit, finding two interesting churches. While asking for directions, I met a girl named Flavia who showed me to the Roman baths (which had unfortunately closed) and walked me along Circus Maximus to the Mouth of Truth. The legend goes that slaves were made to out their hand in the slot and if they didn't tell the truth, their hand would be bitten off.

 It reminds me of the trials for witches. 

At night, Rome looks completely different, so my bus ride back was spectacular, even if most of my photos did not turn out. Every time I ride this bus, however, it seems to take a slightly different route. I’m not sure if I was crazy or whether there was simply construction or heavy traffic the bus driver was trying to avoid.  

Anyway, there were other things I could have seen, but ran out of time as energy for. I have no idea how you could do Rome in a day. Two, I imagine, would be pushing it.