Italy Day 3 - Rome Day 2 (Fri., 9/6/13)

We started the day with the hotel's continental breakfast. Afterward, we met the tour bus and were transported to meet our day's guide, an Italian woman holding a flower-topped stick. She said we should always find our way back to the flower. It turned out this was a walking tour (more walking!). We first walked to the Opera House building where we had views of the Italian Government buildings. We saw where the Prime Minister's office was and where the Legislature convenes. Then we walked to the Fontana di Trevi where you are supposed to throw a coin in the fountain so you will be sure to return to Rome. (Remember the movie, 3 Coins in a Fountain?) Like that. We only had Euros, so first Dennis threw a coin, then I threw mine in for Betty.

After that, we walked to the Pantheon, which is a replica of the Parthenon in Greece. Then we walked through the Piazza Navone on the way to the Ponte Umberto I, a walking bridge over the Tiber River that winds through Rome. On the other side of the bridge is the  Piazza del Tribunali, the palace of justice or the Supreme Court. Turning left, we walked past the walking bridge that was in the Angels and Demons movie, sequel to the Da Vinci Code. The bridge, called Pointe Sant' Angelo, is across from the Castel Sant' Angelo, built as the tomb for Emperor Hadrian, but now used as a museum. Emperor Hadrian built Hadrian's Wall across Great Britain in 122 AD. Shows you how far was Rome's reach in those days. From there, we walked over the threshold (a line) that separates Rome from Vatican City. We walked around the right edge of St. Peter's Square and into St. Peter's Basilica. Michelangelo spent much of his long life working on the Dome, which was not yet finished at his death. We didn't see the Sistine Chapel however, which was another 15-20 minute walk. That pretty much ended the tour and the tread on my feet.

We caught a taxi back to the hotel for a much deserved rest. Did I mention it was HOT?

While I rested, Dennis walked to Termini (the train station) to find me someplace to buy shoes and do some shopping. When he got back, we went to lunch at "Wanted," a nice Italian restaurant. We were seated at an open window, which gave us a nice breeze. After lunch we walked up the hill for gelato. We walked back down and ate our gelato on the steps around a fountain where people seem to gather. Then we went back to the hotel for awhile. Later in the evening we went out again for some dessert at a nice outdoor restaurant a few blocks away. 

We walked back to our hotel for the rest of the night.