I'm back!! Spring Break 2011 - Rome

[Casinomeister]

Just got back from a nine day excursion in Rome - totally wore the kids out and OD'd on art and history.

There is no way in hell to cover Rome in nine days - it would take months.

Highlights - all the must see sights in Rome: the Pantheon, the forum, Vatican museum, St. Peter's Basilica, Colosseum, the countless churches...some of the catacombs are very interesting, dating back to 200 AD

We walked at least twelve + hours a day, dragging the kids around - some day they'll thank us

Spent a day in Pompeii - and another day in Tuscany visiting the Giardino dei Tarocchi

And then there was the food - absolutely fantastic.

And you haven't really driven until you've driven through Rome. It was like bumper cars without the bumping

Some photos here:

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[rainmaker]

Nice pictures ! Thanks for sharing

 

[cpdnd31]

Great Pics. Do you speak Italian? Did you find yourself having trouble or did they pretty much speak English to you. Planning a trip and thinking if I need to hire a tour guide to help while I'm their with kids.

 

[Casinomeister]

Great Pics. Do you speak Italian? Did you find yourself having trouble or did they pretty much speak English to you. Planning a trip and thinking if I need to hire a tour guide to help while I'm their with kids.

I can speak enough to order a meal. My wife speaks a lot more than I do, so she's my crutch. In the major cities like Rome, English is spoken by many people (except at our hotel ), but in small towns, don't count on it.

 

[Papa-ya]

Do you have more pics? You take some great pictures, the scenery is awesome. Your kids look a bit tired sitting on the steps, lol.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Casinomeister]

Do you have more pics? You take some great pictures, the scenery is awesome. Your kids look a bit tired sitting on the steps, lol.
Thanks for sharing.

I have a ton of photos - perhaps tomorrow I'll upload some more

 

[chayton]

Those pics are awesome, the ones of the bodies in Pompeii, wow. It's a little spooky in a way.

 

[Nifty29]

Welcome back Bryan.

My daughter is going over there on Friday. I asked her to bring back some gnocchi and ravioli but she didn't seem keen. I've made her take a Tupperware container in case she changes her mind.

I believe its quite expensive there?

 

[jod5413]

What I would have given to get a vacation over there when I was younger. Absolutely stunning pics, Bryan! Thanks for putting them up.

 

[Casinomeister]

Welcome back Bryan.

My daughter is going over there on Friday. I asked her to bring back some gnocchi and ravioli but she didn't seem keen. I've made her take a Tupperware container in case she changes her mind.

I believe its quite expensive there?

It's pretty cheap actually. You can get a three course meal to include a half liter of wine for 13-15 Euros if you look around hard enough. If you are not that hungry, a pasta dish runs about 7-8 Euros, same goes for Piazza.

A "Rome Pass" costs 25 Euros and gives you a bus/metro pass for three days and free entrance to the Colosseum and two museums. Make sure she purchases her tickets to the Vatican museums online beforehand. The line for the Vatican tickets is about three hours long standing in the baking sun. You can get them here:

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If she goes there, she should bring a small pair of binoculars for the Sistine Chapel. She'll be glad she did so.

Pompeii is worth the trip too. You can take a train there or rent a car. Or you can spend endless hours wandering around Rome. There are tons of things to see there.

 

[Casinomeister]

Those pics are awesome, the ones of the bodies in Pompeii, wow. It's a little spooky in a way.

That's nothing. We went to a burial chamber for the Capuchin Monks. You can't take picture there, but this guy did:

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They have decorations all over the ceilings and walls made from bones of the monks. The lamps are made from ribs and vertebrae. Shoulder blades are formed as wings around skulls making them angelic death heads. Quite a few of the monks are standing or lying in the crypts. Truly bizarre.

 

[chayton]

urk...wouldn't want to have barbequed ribs after visiting there.

 

[samoas]

That's nothing. We went to a burial chamber for the Capuchin Monks. You can't take picture there, but this guy did:

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They have decorations all over the ceilings and walls made from bones of the monks. The lamps are made from ribs and vertebrae. Shoulder blades are formed as wings around skulls making them angelic death heads. Quite a few of the monks are standing or lying in the crypts. Truly bizarre.

There was a documentary on TV (Discovery or National Geographic maybe?) where I saw this place. Amazing! Can't imagine the reaction seeing it in person.

Welcome Home Bryan and thanks for sharing.

 

[Glunn11]

Truly incredible!

Thanks for sharing, Bryan. I need to run off to foreign lands, too.

 

[Casinomeister]

Added a few more photos
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