Europe Part II - Roma

We went on a little side trip to Rome while we were in Germany. We flew from Luxemburg to Rome and took a train from the Fiumicino airport to the city. Our hotel was in walking distance from the Train Station. We bought tickets for an open bus tour. The bus took us all over the city. We just rode around on the first day and made notes on what we really wanted to see and where to get off.
Our 1st stop was the Hard Rock Cafe. It must have been the most expensive coke I've ever had!! The place was packed just like any other Hard Rock Cafe around the world.

These are some pictures we shot from the bus. We didn't get off on every stop. We had to save some things for next time.

The buildings are georgeous. The architecture is so incredible.
We went to the colosseum early in the morning. We saw a show on the travel channel before we left and they suggested we go early. By noon the lines were way too long!

Since we got there early it didn't take us long to get in. A quick security check and we walked up the stairs. The stairs were pretty worn out and steep. Going up was tiring, but coming down was just as bad. Once you started to walk down, there was no stopping. It is so amazing how those romans built all this stuff without the technology we have these days. All the marble was taken out to build the Vatican. So we had to go see what they did with it. St. Peter Square, it is huge!! The line to get in is really long. We joined an english speaking guided tour. It was a little more expensive, but well worth it. We got to go thru the group entrance, which wasn't as crowded and the guide did a really good job explaining everything. The inside was just amazing, so much to see. They said if you look at everything in there for 1 minute you would be in there for 8 years!!!
The tour included the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter Basilica, which is gigantic. This is just a picture I found online. No one was allowed to speak while in the chapel nor take pictures. You know how people are . . . some have no respect and did it anyway. These are the swiss guards. They may look funny but I wouldn't mess with them, they know 5 kinds of martial arts and they are allowed to kill. Here are some of their duties if you are interested: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/swiss_guard/swissguard/compiti_en.htm You can't go to Rome without visiting Trevi Fountain and toss a coin over your shoulder to make sure you'll come back to Rome again.

The food was incredible. It was sooo good and so not like what the italian food is like here in the US or even in Germany. On our last night we found this cute little restaurant called "L'Antica Terverna" a few streets from our hotel. It had this great brick oven. We ordered Gnocci and a Pizza so we could share both. It was so good, we asked the waiter to bring us something else. He fixed this steak-like meat with salad, tomatoes (the best I ever had!! I ate them all!!), mozzarella, mushrooms and artichoke. Our mouths water everytime we talk or even think of this restaurant.

We had a really good time and will definitely go back one day. Rome isn't overly expensive. Make sure to have some Gelato and a Panini at one of the street side cafes. Oh and did I forget to mention the espresso.