How I spent my 4th of July

Amber — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Left my house around quarter til 5am to make it to Sacile for the 5:22 train. Arrived in Mestre around 6ish with just enough time for a quick bathroom stop then it was off to board the Eurostar for Roma. A pretty uneventful train ride down -- just me and 5 Italians all reading our newspapers and playing Sudoku (or at least I was). Arrived shortly after 11am and then spent the next hour or so trying to locate the Post Office across from binario 24 so that I may purchase my Roma Pass -- offers unlimited transport, free access to the first 2 National Museums (including the Colloseum) and discounts thereafter. After waiting in line for what seemed to be forever, eventually secured the pass and then went to locate the Orange line Metro.

Initially went in the wrong direction, but that was easily fixed and then hopped the Metro in the other direction and arrived at the Repubblica stop. Left the station and figured out where my hotel was and was able to check in, despite the fact that it was only noonish. After divesting myself of the backpack, I went out in search of the Colloseum. Took the Orange line back to the Termini station and then hopped the Blue line down to the Colloseum. Played frogger with the traffic and eventually made my way to stand in line. Luckily once I cleared the security check point I was able to bypass the ticket line and just scoot on in with my Roma Pass. Walked all around the Colloseum, just didn't get a good vibe from it, although there were some interesting views towards the Forum. Still not sure what the big shiny silver piles of whatever were, but didn't feel like going exploring in that direction once I left the Colloseum. They also had an exhibit Eros, which had some nice statuary and frescos.

The ventured towards the Palladine and the Forum and wandered all over the gardens and grottos, overlooking the city and then climbed down into the Forum. Took tons of pictures as ever and then wandered up to Capitol Hill. Didn't go in any of the museums, but after I got back to the hotel and actually read what was inside, I wish I had. Wandered down and around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and then back up towards the Colloseum. Made my way back to the hotel via the Metro, stopped off at McD's and then took a tepid shower and promptly collapsed on the bed. Woke up a bit later by very bad karaoke downstairs and read the guide book -- discovering exactly what it was that I had seen that day.

Mad dash - Amber

How I spent my 4th of July