Today is Saturday, September 9, 2023, Erika’s and Jon’s anniversary! Happy Special Day to both of you! Today is also Rome Day for us!
We took a tour called “The Best of Rome” through Holland America. Tours through Holland America are a good way for us to see the sights because the ship will not leave us behind should we return late (within reason): if the ship must leave without us, it will get us to the next port at their expense. We docked in Civitavecchia and from there took a tour bus to Rome.
This is a major city in this itinerary, and ironically, I will probably say the least about it because most people know the highlights we went to see. We stopped at the Trevi Fountain, and we threw three coins in the fountain. Three coins mean that we hope our wish will come true. The coins are collected at regular intervals and given to a charity for local peoples’ needs. The fountain itself is huge, but it is not round. It is an imposing structure, with large statues. I do not believe that Rome does anything in a small way.
We drove to a local restaurant for a Roman lunch. We were served salad, lasagne, and tiramisu; white and red wine; and coffee. Now, when we walked around near the Trevi Fountain, we saw plenty of other possibilities for an authentic Roman meal, and we will have to return on our own to savor each of those delights.
We traveled to St. Peter’s Basilica. This is where St. Peter was martyred, where he is buried (strong evidence), and where Pope Francis speaks to the people who gather to see/hear him on Sunday at noon (from the Papal Residence window) or on Wednesdays, I believe. The Basilica is where one can view Michelangelo’s original sculpture, La Pieta.The actual body of Pope John 23 is visible through a glass coffin (Popes who are canonized Saints are exposed for public viewing). The Pope’s altar is situated directly above St. Peter’s tomb. Other popes are buried either throughout the Church itself or in underground crypts around the Church. Outside of St. Peter’s are the Swiss Guards whose job is to protect the Pope. Btw, Pope Francis does not live in the Papal Residence adjacent to the Basilica. All other Popes have lived there. Pope Francis has chosen to live in a hotel in the Vatican, instead. St.Peter’s Basilica is a truly splendid place! Nothing more can be said to capture its importance to Christianity and its all-around splendor!
We boarded the tour bus once again to ride to the Flavian Amphitheater in Rome. Most people have come to know it as the Colosseum! An earthquake destroyed much of the structure, but much remains in its original state. This massive circular structure was built in the first century A.D. as a place for entertainment. Entry was free to the public, but everyone sat according to their social rank. The emperor sat at a site by the arena marked with a large cross. In the mornings, animals would fight to the death. Mixed animal breeds, such as elephants, giraffes, lions, tigers, horses, and so on fought each other to death. In the afternoons, humans fought against animals, such as trained professional hunters against the animals, to death. In the afternoons, gladiators would fight each other, each armed differently according to one of 11 different types of gladiator. They fought to death. The gladiators were criminals/prisoners or slaves. Occasionally, public executions, to include Christians, took place at around lunch time, as the public, who was required to watch, ate their lunch. This is when the person to be executed would be brought to the arena in chains so as to render him or her incapable of defending oneself or escaping and a lion would be released to attack and kill the person. The underground tunnels where the animals brought from Africa were kept are still visible. These tunnels were sometimes filled with water where boats would sail. Few people survived, due primarily to drownings. Few people, living a distance from the coast, could swim. Part of the arena where the entertainment took place and some of the marble spectator seating can be seen. This huge limestone, marble, and sand structure remains an intriguing and dominant historical complex in Rome.
Naturally, we passed the historic Tiber River, ruins of public thermal baths, ruins of Circus Maximus (where the hippodrome was, where chariot races took place), monument built by Claudius’ wife to honor Claudius (even though she had poisoned him), several of the seven hills of Rome, the Esteveria (where a vibrant nightlife entices tourists and Locals alike), and so on. Rome has so much historical prominence that would take someone many more visits to begin to take everything in.
Tomorrow, we travel to Portovenere and the Cinque Terre in Italy.
Our Travels 