Saturday, May 31, 2008
Old Friends
After anxiously awaiting the big-screen return of my four New York friends, today was the big day. I saw Sex and the City today! It was great, and it's a good thing, because I waited through half an hour of commercials to see it! I finally saw two movie previews... just before they showed two more commercials before the movie started. It was so frustrating! I was like, "Bring on the girls, already!!!" It was strange, because the last movie I saw at that theater started without any commercials or previews at all. At any rate, the movie was good. I really miss the TV series, and it could have gone on for three or four hours and I'd have been enthralled the entire time. It's so much fun to watch the fashion and the New York lifestyle. I miss the Big Apple. I am wishing I'd made a trip up there before I left for Dublin!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Spiders
I have seen about a spider per day since I moved into my townhouse, and it's been driving me near mad. So I did some internet research this week to find out what I was dealing with, since pest control is not a realistic option here in Ireland. I found out a couple of important things as I scoured the web: 1) there are no poisonous spiders in Ireland (not sure I believe that yet, but it WAS slightly comforting); and 2) it is bad luck to kill a spider. Considering I have killed every one that I've been able to get to since I've been here, I figure I have enough bad luck to last a while. This might explain some of the mishaps in Rome? Soooo... I have decided to cease and desist with the arachnocide and begin mending my luck. Therefore, tonight I saw the first spider since my decision was made (Monday) and I put a jar on him, let him crawl in, then threw him outside. I didn't feel any luckier. Maybe just a little more like a hippy. I am happy to keep up the effort, but if I find one crawling on me anywhere, I may not end up so lucky. He won't be lucky so much either.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Nice, Relaxing Weekend
Other than a little walking around yesterday to return some library books and get some groceries, I have been at home relaxing all weekend. I've been reading and doing laundry, occasionally doing some internet surfing. Next weekend is a three-day weekend, and I'm trying to decide if I should find a short trip to take. Because it's a little last-minute, I think it's going to be too expensive. Just a few weeks ago I stumbled across a free flight to London (before tax, which made the total like €20) and it's not so free now... about €200. They account for the holiday weekends like everyone else, I suppose. I may have to find little day trips to keep me occupied.
The teams at work will begin processing "in parallel" with Jacksonville next week. Everyone is pretty excited, since they've been training for two months now. I am preparing for the little things that come up when you switch from a test or practice environment to the real thing. It should fill my days quite nicely.
Not much more to tell - I guess I'll make up for the humongo-blog from last week's trip to Rome by being shorter this time. You're welcome!
The teams at work will begin processing "in parallel" with Jacksonville next week. Everyone is pretty excited, since they've been training for two months now. I am preparing for the little things that come up when you switch from a test or practice environment to the real thing. It should fill my days quite nicely.
Not much more to tell - I guess I'll make up for the humongo-blog from last week's trip to Rome by being shorter this time. You're welcome!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Bruce in Concert - for free
I am listening to the Bruce Springsteen concert live... from the inside of my house!! He's playing 3 shows at the RDS this weekend (the first last night, the second tonight and the third Sunday). I can literally hear it as if it were happening on my street! It's actually 5 miles or so from my place, same place I went for the rugby game. I'm where the red dot is, RDS is circled.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Rome, In a Large Nutshell
Okay - here it is. It may seem long, but it is as abridged as possible, I promise!
What a trip it was, indeed. I saw most of the city, mostly on foot on the three suggested walks I found in a book from the library. Without the book, I'd have had no plan, so I am thankful I found it.
Wednesday:
9:00 AM: I took a shower so cold (boiler timing issue) it literally made my head ache. YIPES!!
9:45 AM: Caught the Aircoach to Dublin Airport.
10:30 AM: Breezed past the check-in counter, since I'd checked in online the previous day.
10:35 AM: Got through security.
10:40 AM: Walked about a mile (literally) to the Ryanair gates and found a good seat for the wait.
12:10 PM: Got in line to board with my passport and boarding pass.
12:20 PM (flight leaves at 12:30): *Debacle Alert!* Was denied boarding and told to go back to check in (no online check-in for US passports - would have been useful knowledge BEFORE I GOT MY PRINTED PASS).
12:30 PM: Arrived at the Ryanair assistance counter to discuss the issue with a service associate. No more flights to Rome that night.
12:35 PM: Went outside to wait for the bus back to the city, thinking of canceling my entire trip because I didn't know what else to do. Tried to call the B&B to see if they'd charge me anyway, but I wasn't able to figure out how to call Rome from my cell phone. I was livid to the point of tears - but I didn't cry. I don't know HOW, but I didn't.
12:40 PM: Came up with a plan. Went back into the airport and see how much a flight to Rome would cost. Went to the Aerlingus desk and bought a new ticket for 3:30 PM.
12:45 PM: Back through security, back to the gate which was much closer this time, and back to my book for two hours.
7:30 PM: Arrived in Rome
7:50 PM: Found train to Termini, which is Rome's main public transportation station.
8:15 PM: While en route to Termini, received call from the owner of the B&B wondering if I was coming. I told him I was on my way and should be there in half an hour. He said I'd better hurry if I was coming on the Metro, because it stopped running at 9.
8:30 PM: Purchased ticket for the Metro with little trouble and was on it by 8:45.
9:15 PM: Arrived at B&B with no trouble, as it was very close to the Metro station, greeted by Signor (Mr) Betti, who showed me to my room, where I noticed a sign on the shared bathroom door that showers could only be taken in the afternoons. Also found that I had a TV with nothing but Italian channels.
9:20 PM: Signor Betti walked me to a pizzeria down the street and told me goodnight.
9:30 - 10:30 PM: The place was very busy, and they barely understood English, but had an English menu. I sat at a table for two and shortly after I was seated, they seated a businessman at the table just next to mine. I ordered 1/4 litre of red house wine (about 2 glasses - only €1.50!!) and a margherita pizza. The pizza came - uncut - on its baking tray. The crust was thin and crispy and the pizza was delicious. The businessman ate his whole pizza in the time it took me to eat 1/2 of mine, and had polished off a tiramisu before I'd finished the pizza. I ordered a tiramisu at the recommendation of the waiter, who'd been very patient with me. It was all very, very good. I paid my tab and headed back to the B&B, exhausted from my stressful day.
Thursday:
8-8:30 AM: Washed up as best as I could without a shower (still no shower since my icy one the previous morning), and opened the window to let in a little air. I noticed there were rocks on the ledge but it looked like there had been some construction going on outside, so no worries. The air felt good in the room. I planned to hit the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica (a five-minute walk) first, then come back for a shower in the early afternoon.
9-10:30 AM: The Vatican was amazing: ornate details of the walls, ceilings and floors, statues and sculptures 500 years old, and of course the Sistine Chapel is the highlight. I was awed by it, really. I had to sit down on the benches along the sides of the room to just take it all in. Michelangelo's paintings practically looked alive, as if the figures were coming out of the ceiling.
10:30 AM-12 PM: Around a winding ramp with wide steps and out I went, on to Basilica di San Pietro just down the road from the Vatican. Amazed at the size of the place. It is like its own village. I sat at the base of a column. *Debacle alert!* Just as I was cooling down enough to get into the long line (it wound around the entire piazza), a bird pooped on me. I can't believe it finally happened. It's been years of fearing bird poop and it never happened until the day I was sitting at St. Peter's, waiting to go in. Stupid pigeon. I was able to clear away the poop without much effort using a napkin I had in my purse. The damage wasn't too bad. And I think I can qualify the incident as special religious poop since it happened at St. Peter's... so, literally, Holy Crap! The inside of the basilica was even more breathtaking than the outside. Most of the decorations are Bernini's, and the dome is absolutely beautiful to behold. Best of all, seeing the Pieta was unbelievable.
12:30-1:30 PM: After wandering for a fairly long time, I headed back to the B&B, eager to get cleaned up after the poop incident. It seemed like a long walk back, although it was probably worse because it was really heating up out there, with the sun blazing on me as I hiked. The cleaning service woman was in the middle of working on the bathroom, a delay I didn't mind since I was happy to use a clean shower. She told me she'd be five minutes and I said fine. *Debacle Alert!* As I started to open my door, I heard strange noises coming from inside my room. I wondered if maybe someone was inside cleaning it as well. Imagine my surprise when no one was in there. That's when I noticed the rocks all over the floor. In my hurry to get out to my sightseeing, I had left the window open and now the demolition was clearly again in progress, and quickly piling up on the floor of my room. Excellent! I rushed over to the window to get it closed, and had trouble with it due to the rubble in the window frame. As I struggled with it, dust and rubble continued falling as the heavier chunks pummeled my head. I was finally able to clear the way for the window to close all the way, and then set about finding a way to clean up the mess. I used a chair cushion to sweep it into an organized pile for the time being.
1:30-3 PM: After the shower, I made my way back out toward the sights. I got a little lost getting to the next place - Castel Sant'Angelo - from the B&B, and decided to stop for lunch since I was a little hot already and it would be a good chance to study the map and try to find my way. I went into a little deli and ordered a panini, and grabbed a bottle of water. The food and water must have helped me regain my wits, as I found my way shortly after departing the deli.
I got to Castel Sant'Angelo and paid for my ticket and walked up lots of steps to find a gorgeous view of Rome. I started snapping away with the camera, of course, and enjoying the breeze I felt from such a great height. I found a nice couple and offered to take a picture of the two of them with their camera and handed them my own for a return of the favor. They happily obliged. After a little further exploration of the castle, I decided to move on to the next part of the walk.
3-6 PM: Had a lovely (though very warm) walk past pretty piazzas, monuments, churches and fountains. The walk was along a beautiful road with low trees and plenty of wonderful views of the city. I had walked so far that all of the huge sights I'd seen earlier in the day were far away and tiny now, but part of a gorgeous and amazing scenery that made me forget how hot I was a few times.
6-7 PM: I took YET ANOTHER shower and got ready to go out for dinner. I told Signor Betti I wanted pasta, and he gave me a map and directions to La Soffitta, which was just a few blocks from the B&B. He even called them to let them know I was coming. After the shower, I made my way there.
7:30-9 PM: I was greeted by a very nice Italian man who spoke English, thank God, and seated me at a table near the bar, and it was a great people watching location. The restaurant was busy, and I was still treated very nicely as I ordered and then ate the DELICIOUS tortellini with meat sauce. It was so good, and I was happy to polish off the meal with a piece of cheesecake for dessert, that was like no other cheesecake I'd ever had. It was thinner and creamier, and seemed to have some sort of pastry on top. Yum. I asked my waiter for his name - Angelo - and told him I'd be back on Saturday night. I went home 'fat and happy' and read for a while until falling asleep.
Friday:
9-10 AM: Headed to the Metro, which took me directly to my first destination: the Colosseum, or Colosseo. When I came out of the station, the Colosseum was directly across the street. It was massive and extremely impressive. I got through the line and made my way through the enormous ruins in a state of amazement. It was unbelievable to be wandering around a structure that had been around since AD 72, and had seen bloody battles, countless spectators and wild animals, as well as survived earthquakes and pillaging to still be standing.
10 AM-12 PM: The next stops on my tour were the Palatino and the Forum. Ancient ruins are my favorite, so I was having a spectacular morning. Again, seeing the remains of structures dating back to hundreds of years BC was awesome. I had to pinch myself a few times as I imagined the ancient Romans going about their business in the places where temples and civic buildings used to stand tall and magnificent. Strangely enough, the song 'Gravity' by John Mayer was being played somewhere nearby at a fairly high volume so that it could be heard all around the area. I wandered until I felt that I needed to move on before I didn't meet the rest of my schedule.
12-6 PM: I continued wandering the streets of Rome, based on my walking guide. I saw the Area Sacra di Largo Argentina, where there are several temples in ruins and the probable site of Julius Caesar's 44 BC assassination. Oddly, it is currently a cat sanctuary as well, which you can observe in my photos. I also saw more beautiful fountains and ruins, including Teatro di Marcello, which looks a little like a smaller Colosseum. I saw the broken bridge (Ponte Rotto) on the Tiber, and the Templi del Foro Boario, two very well-preserved temples from the 2nd century BC. I stopped at Santa Maria in Cosmedin, where the Bocca della Verita (Mouth of Truth) is part of the facade. I waited in line to stick my hand in its mouth, which legend has it will close on a liar's hand. It turns out that I'm not a liar. My last stop was Piazza del Campidoglio, where the Capitoline Museum is. Great people watching and a nice place to have a rest on the steps before heading back to the B&B.
6-9 PM: Shower, dinner at the pizza place again (this time I had sausage and mushrooms and it was delicious!) and back to bed to rest up for my last day.
Saturday:
9AM-4PM: I toured the famous piazzas of Rome, including Campo dei Fiori, where I found a lovely market with food and vegetables and spices and jewelry and flowers and everything else under the sun, complete with loudly bargaining Italians. It was fascinating. Around the piazza were many sidewalk cafes, where the chairs were all turned toward the middle of the plaza as if to watch the 'show' going on at the market. Another one that impressed me was Piazza Navona, with three large fountains and bustling with people, including many street performers and guys dressed up like the ancient Romans to pose for photos with gullible tourists. The next major piazza on the list was Piazza della Rotonda, named appropriately for the Pantheon, a massive structure that is the highlight and most imposing feature of the area. Here I saw the tomb of Rafael and the amazing dome with the circle of sunlight pouring in from the roof. It was beautiful inside.The afternoon included the Trevi Fountain, which is the most famous one in Rome. It is literally a building with water pouring out to beautiful statues and many many folks enjoying the chance to toss in their coins, which is told to ensure another trip to the eternal city of Rome. I was also impressed with the Piazza di Spagna, which I glimpsed from blocks away as I noticed the mob of locals and tourists swarming around it. The Spanish steps within the piazza link to a French church at the top, and at the bottom sits the Fontana Barcaccia, where people were dipping their feet and water bottles for refreshment and relief from the hot sun. I finished my tour of the piazzas with a stroll along the Villa Borghese gardens, again with beautiful views of the skyline of Rome.
4-6 PM: I finished the day with a trip back to the Capitoline Museum, since I hadn't made it the day before. The statues were wonderful - the broken Emperor Constantine in pieces on a patio were the highlight for me, and the views of the Forum from the upper level were fantastic.
7-9 PM: I went back to see Angelo at La Soffitta for my last dinner in Rome, and was greeted with great enthusiasm and treated like a queen. I had veal cutlets with tomato and roasted potatoes, followed by a plate of Italian cheeses and antipasti. Toward the end of my meal, I started chatting with a Chinese couple from Canada who were wrapping up their honeymoon with a quick trip to Rome, and we got along famously and talked for about an hour. I gave them my e-mail address and she was planning to send me some info about trips she's taken around the world.
After dinner I headed back to the B&B and hit the sack early, already looking back fondly at the memorable moments in Rome - both the good and the bad. Despite the various debacles experienced in the first 24 hours, it was a magnificent trip that I am overjoyed to have taken. You'll be happy to know that my trip back to Dublin was happily uneventful.
What a trip it was, indeed. I saw most of the city, mostly on foot on the three suggested walks I found in a book from the library. Without the book, I'd have had no plan, so I am thankful I found it.
Wednesday:
9:00 AM: I took a shower so cold (boiler timing issue) it literally made my head ache. YIPES!!
9:45 AM: Caught the Aircoach to Dublin Airport.
10:30 AM: Breezed past the check-in counter, since I'd checked in online the previous day.
10:35 AM: Got through security.
10:40 AM: Walked about a mile (literally) to the Ryanair gates and found a good seat for the wait.
12:10 PM: Got in line to board with my passport and boarding pass.
12:20 PM (flight leaves at 12:30): *Debacle Alert!* Was denied boarding and told to go back to check in (no online check-in for US passports - would have been useful knowledge BEFORE I GOT MY PRINTED PASS).
12:30 PM: Arrived at the Ryanair assistance counter to discuss the issue with a service associate. No more flights to Rome that night.
12:35 PM: Went outside to wait for the bus back to the city, thinking of canceling my entire trip because I didn't know what else to do. Tried to call the B&B to see if they'd charge me anyway, but I wasn't able to figure out how to call Rome from my cell phone. I was livid to the point of tears - but I didn't cry. I don't know HOW, but I didn't.
12:40 PM: Came up with a plan. Went back into the airport and see how much a flight to Rome would cost. Went to the Aerlingus desk and bought a new ticket for 3:30 PM.
12:45 PM: Back through security, back to the gate which was much closer this time, and back to my book for two hours.
7:30 PM: Arrived in Rome
7:50 PM: Found train to Termini, which is Rome's main public transportation station.
8:15 PM: While en route to Termini, received call from the owner of the B&B wondering if I was coming. I told him I was on my way and should be there in half an hour. He said I'd better hurry if I was coming on the Metro, because it stopped running at 9.
8:30 PM: Purchased ticket for the Metro with little trouble and was on it by 8:45.
9:15 PM: Arrived at B&B with no trouble, as it was very close to the Metro station, greeted by Signor (Mr) Betti, who showed me to my room, where I noticed a sign on the shared bathroom door that showers could only be taken in the afternoons. Also found that I had a TV with nothing but Italian channels.
9:20 PM: Signor Betti walked me to a pizzeria down the street and told me goodnight.
9:30 - 10:30 PM: The place was very busy, and they barely understood English, but had an English menu. I sat at a table for two and shortly after I was seated, they seated a businessman at the table just next to mine. I ordered 1/4 litre of red house wine (about 2 glasses - only €1.50!!) and a margherita pizza. The pizza came - uncut - on its baking tray. The crust was thin and crispy and the pizza was delicious. The businessman ate his whole pizza in the time it took me to eat 1/2 of mine, and had polished off a tiramisu before I'd finished the pizza. I ordered a tiramisu at the recommendation of the waiter, who'd been very patient with me. It was all very, very good. I paid my tab and headed back to the B&B, exhausted from my stressful day.
Thursday:
8-8:30 AM: Washed up as best as I could without a shower (still no shower since my icy one the previous morning), and opened the window to let in a little air. I noticed there were rocks on the ledge but it looked like there had been some construction going on outside, so no worries. The air felt good in the room. I planned to hit the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica (a five-minute walk) first, then come back for a shower in the early afternoon.
9-10:30 AM: The Vatican was amazing: ornate details of the walls, ceilings and floors, statues and sculptures 500 years old, and of course the Sistine Chapel is the highlight. I was awed by it, really. I had to sit down on the benches along the sides of the room to just take it all in. Michelangelo's paintings practically looked alive, as if the figures were coming out of the ceiling.
10:30 AM-12 PM: Around a winding ramp with wide steps and out I went, on to Basilica di San Pietro just down the road from the Vatican. Amazed at the size of the place. It is like its own village. I sat at the base of a column. *Debacle alert!* Just as I was cooling down enough to get into the long line (it wound around the entire piazza), a bird pooped on me. I can't believe it finally happened. It's been years of fearing bird poop and it never happened until the day I was sitting at St. Peter's, waiting to go in. Stupid pigeon. I was able to clear away the poop without much effort using a napkin I had in my purse. The damage wasn't too bad. And I think I can qualify the incident as special religious poop since it happened at St. Peter's... so, literally, Holy Crap! The inside of the basilica was even more breathtaking than the outside. Most of the decorations are Bernini's, and the dome is absolutely beautiful to behold. Best of all, seeing the Pieta was unbelievable.
12:30-1:30 PM: After wandering for a fairly long time, I headed back to the B&B, eager to get cleaned up after the poop incident. It seemed like a long walk back, although it was probably worse because it was really heating up out there, with the sun blazing on me as I hiked. The cleaning service woman was in the middle of working on the bathroom, a delay I didn't mind since I was happy to use a clean shower. She told me she'd be five minutes and I said fine. *Debacle Alert!* As I started to open my door, I heard strange noises coming from inside my room. I wondered if maybe someone was inside cleaning it as well. Imagine my surprise when no one was in there. That's when I noticed the rocks all over the floor. In my hurry to get out to my sightseeing, I had left the window open and now the demolition was clearly again in progress, and quickly piling up on the floor of my room. Excellent! I rushed over to the window to get it closed, and had trouble with it due to the rubble in the window frame. As I struggled with it, dust and rubble continued falling as the heavier chunks pummeled my head. I was finally able to clear the way for the window to close all the way, and then set about finding a way to clean up the mess. I used a chair cushion to sweep it into an organized pile for the time being.
1:30-3 PM: After the shower, I made my way back out toward the sights. I got a little lost getting to the next place - Castel Sant'Angelo - from the B&B, and decided to stop for lunch since I was a little hot already and it would be a good chance to study the map and try to find my way. I went into a little deli and ordered a panini, and grabbed a bottle of water. The food and water must have helped me regain my wits, as I found my way shortly after departing the deli.
I got to Castel Sant'Angelo and paid for my ticket and walked up lots of steps to find a gorgeous view of Rome. I started snapping away with the camera, of course, and enjoying the breeze I felt from such a great height. I found a nice couple and offered to take a picture of the two of them with their camera and handed them my own for a return of the favor. They happily obliged. After a little further exploration of the castle, I decided to move on to the next part of the walk.
3-6 PM: Had a lovely (though very warm) walk past pretty piazzas, monuments, churches and fountains. The walk was along a beautiful road with low trees and plenty of wonderful views of the city. I had walked so far that all of the huge sights I'd seen earlier in the day were far away and tiny now, but part of a gorgeous and amazing scenery that made me forget how hot I was a few times.
6-7 PM: I took YET ANOTHER shower and got ready to go out for dinner. I told Signor Betti I wanted pasta, and he gave me a map and directions to La Soffitta, which was just a few blocks from the B&B. He even called them to let them know I was coming. After the shower, I made my way there.
7:30-9 PM: I was greeted by a very nice Italian man who spoke English, thank God, and seated me at a table near the bar, and it was a great people watching location. The restaurant was busy, and I was still treated very nicely as I ordered and then ate the DELICIOUS tortellini with meat sauce. It was so good, and I was happy to polish off the meal with a piece of cheesecake for dessert, that was like no other cheesecake I'd ever had. It was thinner and creamier, and seemed to have some sort of pastry on top. Yum. I asked my waiter for his name - Angelo - and told him I'd be back on Saturday night. I went home 'fat and happy' and read for a while until falling asleep.
Friday:
9-10 AM: Headed to the Metro, which took me directly to my first destination: the Colosseum, or Colosseo. When I came out of the station, the Colosseum was directly across the street. It was massive and extremely impressive. I got through the line and made my way through the enormous ruins in a state of amazement. It was unbelievable to be wandering around a structure that had been around since AD 72, and had seen bloody battles, countless spectators and wild animals, as well as survived earthquakes and pillaging to still be standing.
10 AM-12 PM: The next stops on my tour were the Palatino and the Forum. Ancient ruins are my favorite, so I was having a spectacular morning. Again, seeing the remains of structures dating back to hundreds of years BC was awesome. I had to pinch myself a few times as I imagined the ancient Romans going about their business in the places where temples and civic buildings used to stand tall and magnificent. Strangely enough, the song 'Gravity' by John Mayer was being played somewhere nearby at a fairly high volume so that it could be heard all around the area. I wandered until I felt that I needed to move on before I didn't meet the rest of my schedule.
12-6 PM: I continued wandering the streets of Rome, based on my walking guide. I saw the Area Sacra di Largo Argentina, where there are several temples in ruins and the probable site of Julius Caesar's 44 BC assassination. Oddly, it is currently a cat sanctuary as well, which you can observe in my photos. I also saw more beautiful fountains and ruins, including Teatro di Marcello, which looks a little like a smaller Colosseum. I saw the broken bridge (Ponte Rotto) on the Tiber, and the Templi del Foro Boario, two very well-preserved temples from the 2nd century BC. I stopped at Santa Maria in Cosmedin, where the Bocca della Verita (Mouth of Truth) is part of the facade. I waited in line to stick my hand in its mouth, which legend has it will close on a liar's hand. It turns out that I'm not a liar. My last stop was Piazza del Campidoglio, where the Capitoline Museum is. Great people watching and a nice place to have a rest on the steps before heading back to the B&B.
6-9 PM: Shower, dinner at the pizza place again (this time I had sausage and mushrooms and it was delicious!) and back to bed to rest up for my last day.
Saturday:
9AM-4PM: I toured the famous piazzas of Rome, including Campo dei Fiori, where I found a lovely market with food and vegetables and spices and jewelry and flowers and everything else under the sun, complete with loudly bargaining Italians. It was fascinating. Around the piazza were many sidewalk cafes, where the chairs were all turned toward the middle of the plaza as if to watch the 'show' going on at the market. Another one that impressed me was Piazza Navona, with three large fountains and bustling with people, including many street performers and guys dressed up like the ancient Romans to pose for photos with gullible tourists. The next major piazza on the list was Piazza della Rotonda, named appropriately for the Pantheon, a massive structure that is the highlight and most imposing feature of the area. Here I saw the tomb of Rafael and the amazing dome with the circle of sunlight pouring in from the roof. It was beautiful inside.The afternoon included the Trevi Fountain, which is the most famous one in Rome. It is literally a building with water pouring out to beautiful statues and many many folks enjoying the chance to toss in their coins, which is told to ensure another trip to the eternal city of Rome. I was also impressed with the Piazza di Spagna, which I glimpsed from blocks away as I noticed the mob of locals and tourists swarming around it. The Spanish steps within the piazza link to a French church at the top, and at the bottom sits the Fontana Barcaccia, where people were dipping their feet and water bottles for refreshment and relief from the hot sun. I finished my tour of the piazzas with a stroll along the Villa Borghese gardens, again with beautiful views of the skyline of Rome.
4-6 PM: I finished the day with a trip back to the Capitoline Museum, since I hadn't made it the day before. The statues were wonderful - the broken Emperor Constantine in pieces on a patio were the highlight for me, and the views of the Forum from the upper level were fantastic.
7-9 PM: I went back to see Angelo at La Soffitta for my last dinner in Rome, and was greeted with great enthusiasm and treated like a queen. I had veal cutlets with tomato and roasted potatoes, followed by a plate of Italian cheeses and antipasti. Toward the end of my meal, I started chatting with a Chinese couple from Canada who were wrapping up their honeymoon with a quick trip to Rome, and we got along famously and talked for about an hour. I gave them my e-mail address and she was planning to send me some info about trips she's taken around the world.
After dinner I headed back to the B&B and hit the sack early, already looking back fondly at the memorable moments in Rome - both the good and the bad. Despite the various debacles experienced in the first 24 hours, it was a magnificent trip that I am overjoyed to have taken. You'll be happy to know that my trip back to Dublin was happily uneventful.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
I'm Back!
Okay, folks - I'm back from my trip to Rome and working on a total blogathon for you. It's going to take some time though. For the time being, I had a great trip and have some good stories for you. I'll have it posted during the next couple of days. Here's a decent photo to tide you over. It's me in front of the Trevi Fountain - one of the most famous sights in Rome. More to come...
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Saturday Night Fever
Nothing much new to report. I've had a quiet weekend. Last night I went to a birthday outing and discovered that the best people-watching is on Saturday nights at the bars. They call bachelorette parties 'Hen Nights' and bachelor parties are 'Stag Nights.' Last night we were witness to a Hen Night that will stick in my memory for some time. The group arrived wearing pinstriped suits and fedora hats. One poor girl amongst them was pregnant. They all got their drinks and sat down toward the front of the bar. Not too long after that, an "NYPD officer" walked in. He proceeded to strip down to his tighty whities for the crowd of squealing hens. It was quite a sight. And the shoes girls wear around here... it's something else. They dress up pretty fancy to go out on the town, and they are probably wearing the same shoes that are worn in the states - super tall heels. It's probably so amazing to me because I cannot imagine 1) standing in them all night long and 2) walking home in them at the end of the night. I heard a radio talk show host talking last week about how many girls he sees walking home barefoot at 4 in the morning. The mere thought of that is utterly disgusting to me - the amount of dog poo and other random dirtiness is enough to put someone in the hospital. If they need to be coerced into never doing that again, they should take a look at the bottoms of their shoes every once in a while. YUCK!!! I watch the ground a lot around here. There's some pretty gross stuff just waiting for the bottom of a shoe or, for that matter, some idiot's bare foot.
Friday, May 9, 2008
The longest week ever...
Despite the bank holiday on Monday the 5th, this has been the longest week ever! I'm so happy it's Friday. Nothing big planned for this weekend since my trip to Rome is Wednesday. I will be resting my feet and making Roman tour plans all weekend, except for a birthday outing tomorrow night.
Even though this week was long, it was gorgeous weather. A little hot for my taste, but it's all anyone can talk about around here. It's been as warm as it usually gets, and the sun has graced us with its constant presence in the sky all week - until close to 10:00 at night!! Brilliant blue skies, nice cool breeze. I'm told it won't last, but it's hard to imagine I'll need a coat again any time soon.
Hopefully I will have a good story for you by the end of the weekend. It's been pretty normal around here.
May all the moms have a nice Mother's Day!
Even though this week was long, it was gorgeous weather. A little hot for my taste, but it's all anyone can talk about around here. It's been as warm as it usually gets, and the sun has graced us with its constant presence in the sky all week - until close to 10:00 at night!! Brilliant blue skies, nice cool breeze. I'm told it won't last, but it's hard to imagine I'll need a coat again any time soon.
Hopefully I will have a good story for you by the end of the weekend. It's been pretty normal around here.
May all the moms have a nice Mother's Day!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo
All those people who laughed at me about summer and warm weather are crazy. I was hot today!!! It started out rainy and overcast, but cleared up to a warm 70 degree day. I went to Phoenix Park, which is larger than Central Park in New York but quite similar in other ways. It seemed the whole city was there today. There was a 15-minute line to get in to the Dublin Zoo, which is inside the park. If you google map Phoenix Park and Dublin, you will see that the park itself is almost as large as the City Centre!
I think the zoo must have been busy because of the new baby elephant (you can see him lying down for a nap in this photo on the right).
The monkeys were really up to it today - they were almost all out and about in their areas and I didn't see any of them sleeping. I got some great pictures of them.
It was a lot of fun seeing all the animals, and even though I was hot, I think most of the city probably thought today was the best day in Dublin's history. It really did shape up after the initial showers this morning. I have been very lucky with the weather and my sightseeing. Keep your fingers crossed that I keep my good luck for my trip to Rome in a couple of weeks!
I think the zoo must have been busy because of the new baby elephant (you can see him lying down for a nap in this photo on the right).
The monkeys were really up to it today - they were almost all out and about in their areas and I didn't see any of them sleeping. I got some great pictures of them.
It was a lot of fun seeing all the animals, and even though I was hot, I think most of the city probably thought today was the best day in Dublin's history. It really did shape up after the initial showers this morning. I have been very lucky with the weather and my sightseeing. Keep your fingers crossed that I keep my good luck for my trip to Rome in a couple of weeks!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Finally scheduled!
After many weeks of hemming and hawing, I have booked a flight and hotel in Rome and I will be there in two weeks! I am so excited! I got pretty good prices on both, so I'm pleased. The people at work who have been there tell me I can get through it in 4 days, and I have three suggested walks from a book I checked out from the library last week. I guess I will have to try to learn at least a little Italian before I go. The b&b I booked is in the city near the Vatican. It's going to be great. I can hardly wait, so it's a lucky thing I don't have to wait that long!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
