Jen and Dave: Adventuring

Not built in a day, can’t be seen in a day, but we got the highlights.

We started by bussing from the port of Civitavecchia to where Rome and the Vatican meet, St Peter’s Square, a two hour journey that Jen slept through.

Once we arrived at ten o’clock, we were turned loose with instructions to return by quarter to four to meet the bus to go home. Five hours, forty-five minutes of chaotic walking, gawking, and getting overwhelmed began.

Entrance into Vatican City was a non-starter given the time restrictions, but we took some time to gawk before Dave led us in a crazy route to hit all of the highlights.

Everywhere we turned was ancient art, history, and rich culture. We walked first to the river, and saw Castel St. Angelo.

The first “big” site was the Panthenon, with its concrete dome – still the largest unreinenforced concrete dome in the world and standing since 125 CE.

Next came Fontana di Trevi. It was incredible and incredibly busy.

The Foro Romano was next, outstanding ruins and history. Amazing to think of how established and advanced they were.

The Colosseum was next (hello, 7 Wonders), and it was massive. A lot less complete than Nîmes, however, so we were not as disappointed as we would have been to not get more time there.

Palatino brought us back to the less-loved yet truly outstanding features of the ancient world.

Rocketing us back to opulence and unbelievable impressions came Piazza Venezia.

Then it was time to wind our way back to the meeting place, tired, overwhelmed and inspired.