Italian Adventures-Rome

Well we finally returned to the land of my ancestors and the land of my birth-Italy.  My sister had a milestone birthday this year and to celebrate, five of us left Canada and braved air travel to visit Italy (Rome, Sorrento and Amalfi Coast, and Venice).

Was it worth the hassle, the jet lag, the worry of missing a flight?  Yes, yes, yes!  We loved every minute of our adventure and we braced the travel with a sense of fun, wonder, and friendship.  Would I travel every year to a foreign land-no.  Would I travel to a foreign, or not so foreign land in a few years?  Yes, yes, yes!

Our adventure started in Rome, the eternal city, the showcase of Western civilization, the magnificent and the brutal all in one.  Is Rome chaotic, yes!  Is is beautiful and awesome, yes!  This was my first time on a Rick Steves' guided tour and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves to travel at a comfortable pace, rest in a cozy hotel, and seek companionship with fellow like-minded travellers.

Here are a few photos of one of the greatest European cities-Rome, land of the "dolce vita"  Rome is a cacophony of ancient empire, cats, traffic, and 3.4 million Romans all living and working surrounded by stupendous sights.  Highlights include the Colosseum, Roman Forum, St Peter's (seeing the pope), Borghese Gallery, Campo die Fiori, and the romantic Spanish steps.

Roman Forum where Caesar was murdered

The majesty and horror of the Colesseum, we could see it from the balcony of our hotel room as well!

Two thousand year old temple in the Roman forum

The iconic umbrella pines that say Roma

The Pantheon-beauty of symmetry

Pope Francis greeting his people

The magnificence of the Pantheon's ceiling

Campo dei Fiori (Fresh flowers in abundance Monday through Friday)

Enchanting fountain in Roman neighbourhood

Inside St. Peter's, the Pieta by Michelangelo

Bernini's sculpture inside Borghese Gallery

Details, can you believe this is marble?

At the top of Victor Emmanuel monument

The view of the eternal city from the top of the monument

 We enjoyed our week in Rome immensely.  We loved the sights, the "beautiful chaos", the people watching and did I mention the food!  Next, on to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast!