Italy 2005, Rome, Wednesday 31.08.2005
Via one of the many hostel seach and book engines on the internet I found and booked the Mona Lisa hostel in Rome. The hostel is located in the scenic center of Rome, less than a 10 min walk from the colosseum, spanish steps, trevi fountan, and the Palentino. The hostel itself is a beautiful place which is well kept and professionaly runned. The ceiling was handpainted in the 1300's in a cottage in Tuscany, and later transported over to this building. In the 1700's the building served as offices of the vatican. All of the tiles on the floors and in the bathrooms are handmade. The caretakers are a friendly, english speaking couple who are more than happy to give you any information to help you enjoy and appreciate Rome the best that you can.Anyway, leaving Frankfurt with blue sky, I arrive in Rom with rain. From the Airport I take the Airport Express which costs me 9,50€ and brings me right to Stazione Centrale Roma Termini. From here it's just a ten minute walk to the Mona Lisa Hostel as described above.
Nationalities in the hostel: Canadian, Scottish, Brittisch, German, French, American, Australian, Irish and one Dutch guy (me:-))
Italy 2005, Rome, Thursday 01.09.2005
After getting up early and having breakfast the first thing to visit in Rome is the Colosseum. I line up at 08.45h and am one of the first to enter the Colosseum which by that time is (off course) still completely empty from tourists. The English speaken tour at 09.30h I booked at the entrance helps quite well to understand how the Colosseum was build and what it was used for.
The ticket giving entrance to the Colloseum also holds the entrance fee for the Palentino which must be one of the most quiet places which can be find in Rome as up on the hill no traffic is heard anymore. Also a great view over the Forum Roma and Rome itself is given.
After visiting the Palentino I walk through the Forum Roma heading for the the Piazza del Campidoglio. Here the Campidoglio and the Musei Capitolini are located. Walking down the steps (by Mchelangelo) which lead to the Piazza del Campidoglio I head for the Piazza Venezia where you can enter the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II. As I arrive, the change of guards takes place.
From the Piazza Venezia I walk through some side streets to the Pantheon. On the Piazza della Minerva I have a look inside the Basilica S.Maria sopra Minerva.
After visiting the Pantheon I head to the Piazza Navona were some very beautifull fountains are located. On the Piazza Navona self street artitsts and a lot of people selling „art“ can be found. In between them the african people selling fake dolce & gabana, gucci, etc. bags. The police standing around everywere however doesn't seem very interessting in it. However, recent news coverages learn that buying these fake articles does interest them very much. Tourists caught are fined with up to 6000,-€. The seller walks free.
On the Piazza Navona I enjoy lunch. Then head back to the Pantheon again as my book tells that the great artist Rafael is burried there and I somehow missed this before lunchtime.
From the Pantheon I want to get a glimps of the Mausoleo di Augusto as the book describes it as a must see if you're around. I however find that here the book makes it's first and only mistake.
Right after the Mausoleo di Augusto I walk up to the Piazza di Spagna. The spanish steps, and yes I also can agree on: „it sucks, but you've got to see for yourself to get to the same opinion“:-).
From the Spanish steps its not far from „the bones“ which are located at the Via Vittorio Veneto in the but unfortunately closed on Thursday. So I need to get back there tomorrow. Back to the steps again.
In front of the Spanish steps, the street „ Via die Condotti lies. One of the streets where the more expensive shops of Rome can be found. Also here the Antivo Caffe Greco is located. Accordingly here Goethe, Wagner, Leopardi and many more already drunk their coffee, and so did I.
From „the Greco“ I walk down the via Mario de Fiori to the famous Fontana di Trevi which is really beautifull but not to say, crowded with tourists.
After having a nice ice cream or better said „Gelateria“ from the Antica Gelateria Pasticceria Giolitti in the Via degli Uffic del Vicario I decide to go back to the hostel after visiting the Santa Maria Maggiore wherefor I needed to cross Rome.
In the hostel rumours go around that on Saturday evening Elton John holds a free concert in front of the Colloseum (which somehow explains the huge stage I saw this morning).