Trevor and Amber

Our last day in Rome was a full one. We got up early to head to the Vatican, it opened at 8:30 so we wanted to be there by 8, so our plan was to leave by 7:30. Well, we didnt end up leaving until 8 and we decided to take the bus, because our hostel employee guy, Justin, said that it was faster than the metro, and that it would only take 20 minutes. So we jumped on the bus, and then we hit rushhour traffic, maybe we should have considered that? So the bus took 45 minutes, but it was air conditioned, so it wasnt that bad, even when it was stuffed full of people.

We got to the vatican and there was a huge line outside, but it went really quick, because we got there right after it opened. We were amazed at the efficiency that they pumped tourists into the place. We were through the line in 10 minutes, then going through security, getting our tickets, getting our audioguides, and entering the museum, all that only took another 5.

The vatican museum was pretty cool, we saw a mummified mummy, that was pretty cool, and tonnes of cool statues, but architecture still takes the cake on being the most impressive. We were a little bit astounded at the amount of egyptian materials that the vatican posseses, especially those related to "idols and gods".

I was a little mad at myself, about 5 minutes into the vatican, our camera battery flashed "low", why in the world didnt i charge it? I realized after that i hadn't checked it at all in the last 5 days in Rome. So i couldnt take very many pictures.

The Sistine Chapel did live up to the hype, when we walked in, it just hits you like nothing else. I don't think Amber felt quite like that, but she did think it was cool. We loved how the paintings on the roof have so much dimension, and they just jump out at you, and how you can tell that the roof if curved, but cant determine its exact shape because of the paintings.

After the Vatican Museum, we went to check out St. Peter's Square and Basillica. Again the square was huge and alot to take in, very impressive. There was a long line to get into the Basillica, but they just pumped the people right through. The basillica was very impressive as well. Very orante, very beautiful. We loved the openness of it, especially around the alter, which is unusual.

There was 2 things that bothered me about the basillica.

1. Why was there not a single crucified Jesus anywhere on the alter? or anywhere in the church for that matter (that we could find)? Isn't that a requirement of all Catholic churches?
2. Why was there SO MANY statues of old dead Popes in the Basillica? It bothers me because it looks like the Popes are trying to "glorify themselves" by commisioning such extranvegant 20 foot tall statues.

After that we were so hot, it was 30+ in Rome again today. And we were hungry, we headed towards Castle St. Angelo and we stopped at one of the first places we saw. BAD idea! It was kinda overpriced, the pasta wasnt too bad, but i was kinda sick of that, so i got a hamburger. No big deal, except that it was 15 Euro and it was the biggest peice of crap of I've ever tasted. I was so grumpy after this, the waiter didnt help, he let our food sit on the counter, waiting for it to be brought to us, for 5 minutes, but what do i say? and its not like I cant tip him, tipping in Italy is automatically added to your bill, at a rate of 15%. So this jerk wad, got 5 euro from us, that he definalelty didnt deserve.

So i was uber grumpy when we left to go to Castle St. Angelo, we actually decided to check out this store that Amber wanted to go to first though. Amber was looking for a leather purse, but this place was way too overpriced, but right outside was just some guy selling guys shirts. And for the past 2 weeks, Ive been looking for a sleevless shirt, so that my arms and shoulders could actually get some sun. And this guy had some, and it was only 5 Euro, so i bought one! And then I went to rip the tag out because it was scratching me and I ripped the shirt! not too bad, we should be able to patch it up.

So finally we got to Castle St. Angelo and we toured around that. It was interesting, but dont do it on the same day as the Vatican, it will seem boring in comparison. But the one cool thing is that we got to go to the very top and look out over the city and see various things.

Next we headed to the Pantheon, because last time we were there, it was closed for a wedding (if Amber ever gets around to writing her blogs you would know that). It was pretty cool, the dome looked amazing, especially how the light traveled through it.

We were then in serious need of some Gellato. Amber looked up a place that was famous for it that was near by and we headed out. I got us lost, then Amber corrected our course, and then we ran into a protest. We think some people were on strike, but they we all kinda gathering and the police were there, but nothing was really happening. But we needed to go around a few blocks to get to this ice cream place.

We got there and I got an amazing 3 scoops, while amber settled for the double scoop. It was so delicious and messy (for me) because the ice cream was melting really fast and it got all over my hands, and i had to eat it quick, so i was sloppy and got it all over my face. Amber said i looked like a 5 year old and wanted to stand else where so she wouldnt been seen with me. I didnt care, my ice cream was delicious.

as we were getting ready to go, the protest started and we heard a lot of yelling, its a good thing we were going the other direction.

So we ended our day (our last day in Rome, and essentially traveling because we are staying with Ambers family in holland) with some shopping. we took an hour or so to go down this street which had a lot of stores. I got a pair of swin trunks (i couldnt try them on, and when i got the hostel and put them on, they are 1 size too big) and some bright blue underwear (i know you care) and Amber got a shirt and she bought a real Italian leather purse in a store, so she was really happy about that.

We headed back to the hostel, had our supper, packed our bags, showered. Then i wrote this blog, and I am going to bed.

written by

Trevor and Amber on June 16, 2009 from Rome, Italy

from the travel blog: Europe Trip

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This has started as the worst day of our trip so far.

We woke up and packed no problem and headed for the station. But first we wanted to take out cash. So Amber went to the machine, but it only took credit cards and we didn't want to do a cash advance. Meanwhile I was lookin at the departure board and the only times to La Spezia were 5 minutes ago and an hour from then, even though the sheet that we got the day before said there would be 4 that hour. A train pulled up on the other side of the tracks (not the directio we wanted) but Amber heard someone say that that was actually the train, so we ran, underneath the tracks and back up and jumped on the train and found a seat. I asked the ticket checker right beforen we got on to make sure it was going to La Spezia. Because we were running we didn't get a chance to fill in the dates on our dates on our Eurorail pass, I wasn't even sure what he date was and my iPod was in the bag. So when the ticket lady came around, I asked her why the date was, and unlike of the 13 other times we rode the train before, instead of telling us the date she said "now I have to fine you" and took our passes. She tried to explain that we have to fill it out BEFORE we get on the train or it's a 50 euro fine. (our ride to LaSpezia was only 10 montes). I tried to explain that we never had to do that before and that we ran for the train (she was the agent I asked about the driection) and that we just didn't know the date, and that we were catching another train to Rome, so I obviously wasn't trying to get away with a free ride, I even showed the ticket, but she didn't care. A decent human being would have cut us some slack, we were just doing what we did the previous 13 times. She told us 50 euro or she has to call the police. We had no money of course because if the bank machine. She told us to go ask people who were getting off at that stop to borrow money, by this time it's 5 minutes away. I asked her twice the amount 50 of 15 because of the accent. I thought twice she said 15 EACH. So I went in one direction and amber went in the other trying to ask people, of course to them it sounds like a scam, people just shook their head at me, or didn't speak English. I went throguh everyone of the two cars ahead of me with no luck and amber had none either. By then the train was pulling into the station, so she said 10 Euro and we didn't even have that much. I was furious by then, stupid lady on a power trip, it's not like didn't have a ticket and were scamming the train. Finally a couple, that amber talked to asked if we got it all sorted out, we said no they were going to call the police and thenthe said they had cash. So we paid the lady and she wrote us a ticket and gave our passes back. Now that we had he passes back in our hands and we were off the train, I told the lady that she didn't have a soul and thanked her for being on the power trip that she felt she needed to be on, etc. etc. (I left out a few obsenaties). Finally Amber got me to shut up, but I had every right to yell at her, they weren't going to call the police now. She totally ruined my day! I don't actually care about the money, that just how much it costs to stay 1 night anywhere. It was the power that she was dangling over us and her refusal to even try to understand that the previous times we did it exactly like that, wrote he date in in front of the conducter. Amber went with the nice lady who bailed us out to get some money to pay her back ans i stayed with the luggage and the hsiband. He was trying to make small talk, but I hate that in the best of situations, but I tried since they bailed us out. Finally they came back and We still hadn't eaten, but I was too angry to eat, so we just waited for our next train.

On this train, we got to our cabin and it was full with 6 people inhere, but whatever if there is no seats then that's fine. after a few hours I asked the ticket agent if there was a resuraumt car, he said yup car 3, we were on 9, so I made my way down there. It took 10 minutes and along the way I passed at least 3 cars that there was no one in, stupid train company, let's cram eveyrone Together when there are open cars everywhere. I got to the end of the train and there was no resturaunt car, thanks for wasting my time buddy, and I walked all the way back. Then another ticket guy asked me for my ticket, of course amber had it, and it had already been checked twice, I am surprised he didn't escort me back to check judging by the compentense of these Italian ticket agents.

There was also an agent in Venice that wanted to check our ticket as the train was coming to a stop and we were standing (again it was already necked twice). More people were just getting back on, he would just have to check everyone again then. They seem to be lacking some basic logic and the abilty to reason.

Finally we got to Rome. No shortages of problems after that, but nothing that disasterous. So we went and took out money, the machine only gave us 50s but wewere getting our metro pass, so no problem. We ant down to purchase it and there was no people only machines and the machines only gave a maximum of 4 euro change, so we walked all the way back upstairs to buy ice cream to get change. Finally we get on the metro and get to our stop for our hostel. And wow we get off the metro and we are in the sketchiest of areas. Nothing looked dangerous, but very dirty, very bare, but we decided to only pay for 2 nights and see how it goes.

The place seemed decent enough, it was hot, no a/c, but it had a kitchen and it was 2/3 the price of other hostels.

So we got settled and then headed out to find hue tourist information. It was close to the train station. So we headed back there and followed the signs (and I had the address) and it was no where to be found. We walked around the block twice. So finally we were dying of thirst so we ant to this cafe. We asked about the tourist place, they said oh yeah they moved it, it's now down this other street. Great, stupid city, take down the signs then.

So we followed our new directions to the place and guess what? They weren't right either. So we ask another guy and he said "1 euro and I'll tell you where it is". NO. "20 cents". NO. And then he told us anyway, it was just a few more blocks.

The tourist info only had a bunch of useless info, well the museums hours where good, but we wanted brouchures for tour companies and they didn't have anything, which kind of sucked.

So we headed back towards the metro and somehow Went through this huge long tunnel and we ended up at the "Fontana di Trevi".

It was packed with people. I remember doing a puzzle of it when I was younger, I looked it up for our trip and I thought it was in Lyon, which we never got to see, so I am glad that it was in Rome. We took picuters from a few different angles and then made our way to the bottom for the money shot. I had given the camera to Amber and turned my back to the fountain. I had my knees pressed up aginst the edge and ... ooops, up came my feet, I had slipped in the water on the marble, and nearly fell into he fountain. Luckily my butt caught the edge and I only ended up with a wet bottom. But how cool would it have been if I, Trevor -> (shortened to Trev) -> (Italianized by adding an i) to Trevi fell in the "Fontana di Trevi", I kinda wish it did happen.

We were starving so we ate at this super classy place called McDonalds. It made us feel a little like home.

Next we actually made our way to a metro stop and made it to Plaza del popolo, which was the plan in he first place. The Plaza would have been very nice, great statues, but we couldnt see them because of this ginormius stage they were setting up. And there were rainbows all over it. It seems hat Pride week had followed us from Zurich to Rome. Here we were bombarded by street guys apparently giving away roses for free. We of course waved them off, but I did overhear girls and they didn't pay anything, so we were a little confused.

So we walked to the Spanish steps, and we were totally unimpressed. From the street and from the top you couldn't even see the whole thing, so we just walked up them, sat for a while and that was it. We did come to the conclusion that these rose guys (thy were everywhere here too) were litterally trying to woo the female tourists, they obviously didn't see me as a threat.

So we went back to ridicuously hot room, found out that there was a bar right outside our window, how awesome is that when you need to sleep with the window open. So the bar started playing music around midnight and ended around 3 or 4. Thank God for good ear plugs, I slept ok, but Amber had a rough night. We were also super ticked because after the bar had stopped playing music, these people had come back from the bar and it was still smokin hot in the room and this girl shuts off the fan and closes the window. Everyone else is sleeping without covers and you close the window, dont be so inconsiderate, so I opened it when I woke up.

That was the end of our "most adventerous" day in Europe.

written by

Trevor and Amber on June 12, 2009 from Rome, Italy

from the travel blog: Europe Trip

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Trips:

Shorthand link:

Day 1

Rocky Mountain House, Canada

Nordegg Camping Trip

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Our Flight Back Home

London, United Kingdom

Last City ... Amsterdam

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with Uncle Perry

Ermelo, Netherlands

The Netherlands!

Hoogeveen, Netherlands

Vatican City and final day in Rome (by Trevor)

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Day Trip to Pompei (by Trevor)

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Rome Days 2 and 3 by Amber

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1st Day in Rome (by Trevor)

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Heading South?