Tour Rome is always beautiful (continued). Part 2. Roman adventures.
The tour of Rome is always great.
Part 2. Roman adventures.
Morning in Rome, what could be more beautiful! Despite the late check-in at the hotel, the group leader made, in my opinion, the right decision - the group gathered at 9-00 (well, they didn’t come to Rome to sleep). We woke up early, having had breakfast at the hotel restaurant (it must be said that breakfast at the hotel is a buffet, very good) and were ready to explore Rome. It was more than an hour before the group gathered, so we decided to walk around the residential area in which the Idea Hotel was located and look at the life of ordinary modern Romans. By chance we met with our group leader Vladimir. He searched tobacco shops for Metrobus tickets. He explained that a group of 50 people on a 10-minute trip in a city bus would not even theoretically be able to buy tickets from a bus machine, and he did not want problems for his tourists. We have united. Seeing the working office, we decided to ask where you can buy tickets. To our delight, they spoke English in the office (the guides spoke and we ourselves saw that Italians are very reluctant to learn English and other languages). Realizing what the problem was, the office owner provided her car with a driver (completely free of charge) and Vladimir found what he was looking for near the metro station. We have seen more than once that the Italians, at least the Romans, are very friendly people, always ready to help.
Having gathered at the appointed time, the group went together to the bus stop 250. At each stop there is an information sign with the bus timetable. Usually we waited for the bus for about 10 minutes (returning to the hotel in the evening around 20-00, we waited for the bus for 30-35 minutes). Behind the wheel, alas, not Barnaba, but also not a bad driver. Buses are comfortable with air conditioning, which is important in summer. The driver does not sell tickets, and does not announce stops. A ticket can be bought on the bus using the services of a vending machine - a silent, but very rude seller - does not give change, simply forgives you. Therefore, it is imperative to have a small change with you, the cost of a ticket is 1.5 euros. The validity of the ticket is 100 minutes. It is valid for metro travel and later when transferring to a bus. There is another automatic machine on the bus - a composter, without which the ticket is invalid, and the fare is considered unpaid. Some tourists were cunning, but I think "this game is not worth the candle. " Get off at the sixth stop, its name is consonant with the metro station "Santa Maria del Soccorco", 10-15 minutes on the way (depending on the number of stops). Do not try to count the stops - there are from 2 to 6 stops along the route for each stop name, the bus does not stop at each, only on request, so do not forget to raise your hand or press the buttons to stop the bus. All buses have (but not all work) a silent information monitor, which indicates the route and the name of the stops. If it is difficult to navigate, you can ask the driver, maybe this is not accepted, but we applied. Communication in English is meaningless, only Italian.
The metro has its own jokes - trains run along different routes on the same metro line. When descending into the subway, you must know the final metro station of your route. In the metro, you can buy a ticket for the return trip of the metro-bus (only you need to validate it immediately before the trip).
Now about excursions. All proposed tours of Rome can be done independently. Comes out twice - three cheaper. But - in the season there are a lot of tourists and, without exaggeration, you don’t want to stand in the heat for half a day, and the time of three days to explore Rome is ridiculously short. Therefore, we decided to take a sightseeing tour of Rome with a visit to the Colosseum, the Forum and an excursion to the Vatican. The Vatican has been celebrating a religious holiday for a week now. Five nearby metro stations are closed. Travel by bus only. Tourists alone have very little chance of getting in. We changed the excursion to Naples for the whole day (this is with our slow-moving drivers) for a day of independent sightseeing.
So, 30 minutes (10 stops) on the metro and we are at the Colosseum. It is located opposite the subway exit. His appearance is impressive, emotions overwhelm. If there is someone to hold you by the arm, close your eyes and exit the subway, open it!!!!!!!
We met with our guide Elena. Armed with a good audio guide with a very comfortable headset, we started our tour of the majestic Colosseum in a kilometer-long queue without any loss of time. Elena led the tour just fine.
It turns out that the conduct of political agitation among the population in the past is no different from our days. Previously, in order to earn votes, officials staged gladiator battles, campaigning for themselves. Colosseum oval. Gladiators rarely fought to the death, and they never fought animals at all. Gladiator is a highly paid profession in case of popularity. There were shops on every level. Under the stage, the scenery was kept and the animals used in the productions lived. Well, the concept that each tier cost differently is reminiscent of the current system in theaters. Having admired the Colosseum, we went to the Arch of Constantine.
Then there was one of the Roman forums, in front of the entrance everyone was detained for 15 minutes by thirst, terrible heat and humidity. At the beginning of the inspection is the arch of Titus, erected in memory of the emperor's victory over rebellious Jerusalem. Through which not a single Jew has passed, but as you know, there is no such Jew who could not do something. The Ambassador of Israel, under the cover of night, with the permission of the authorities of Rome, passed under it! No, did you hear? Exit from the forum to the Capitol Hill, to the “inner courtyard of the Altar of the Fatherland”. Antiquities are impressive. We barely have time to shoot video and take photos.
Police cortege. The delegation arrived. I went up to a policeman, obviously not an ordinary one, with a request - a photo with my daughter. Yes, what a delegation - a photo, yes please, and all with a sincere smile.
Then Piazza Venezia and the Altar of the Fatherland, Mussolini's palace with the famous balcony. Navona Square, Fountain of the Four Rivers, Fountain of Knowledge. On Piazza della Rotonda there is the Pantheon - the temple of all the gods, in which Raphael is buried and the tomb of the first king of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II, the tomb of the second king of Italy, Umberto I. Here is the tomb of his wife, Queen Margaret. There is a huge hole in the dome for sunlight; there is no other lighting in the temple. The “pillar of light” looks especially impressive at noon. Everything is located nearby. Come and see, everything except the Colosseum and the Forum is free.
Then the Trevi Fountain in Piazza di Spagna. There are 20 minutes of free time here. But it is "chronically" not enough. We hand over the audio guide, separate from the group and go for a walk ourselves.
Next to the fountain is a shop where they make (you can peep) and sell Italian Gelatto! We choose, in our opinion, the most optimal glass for ice cream for 4 euros. Four balls are placed there, you can choose different varieties. Try any, everything is very tasty and unusual. From the heat we hide in a shop, eating ice cream. We find a “visitor's corner”, on napkins attached to the walls, messages from tourists to their compatriots. Well, the geography is very wide, there is only a message from Umka from Antarctica. We honor the tradition and leave our message.
We go around the Trevi Fountain, throwing coins “to return”, and on the right side we move towards Plaza Españ a. We look at the fountain. We climb the famous staircase and admire the majestic huge dome of the Vatican Cathedral of Peter. We go to the church of Trinita dei Monti.
After a little rest, we moved from the side of Piazza Barberini. On the square we inspect the Triton fountain (surprisingly very unkempt) and the Bee Fountain. Discovering the dates of the founding of sights, we do not get tired of wondering how it could be preserved and reach our days. Fountains and other landmarks also contain information about the founders, in many cases these were Popes who wanted to leave a memory for generations.
The sun is hot, 31-33 degrees, each tourist has a plastic bottle of 0.33 or 0.5 liters. for the vodka. You can't die of thirst in Rome, almost all drinking fountains, if the fountain is fenced, then you can’t drink from it. It is impractical to collect water in thermoses, it blooms in 4-5 hours and is completely unsuitable for storage. In addition to fountains, there are many drinking springs.
From Piazza Barberini we go along the street of four fountains. On the way, we do not stop from entering the ice cream shop, we find that here it is a little cheaper. We reached the crossroads, where at each corner there were those same four fountains - allegories of the seasons. We drink water, wash our faces and turn left onto Via Nazionale towards Piazza della Repubblica. There are many more beautiful sights and unusual fountains along the way. On the square of the Republic Square, they could not resist and lowered their tired legs into the fountain, following the example of other tourists. It's not allowed, but the authorities make allowances for the heat.
Having rested, five minutes later we were at the railway station. Termini station. We could not resist buying a suitcase and a handbag from black merchants in the square near the station. Bargain, they are reluctant to let go, they discount significantly (a suitcase came out 22, a handbag 14 euros). We took the subway and an hour later we were at the hotel.
