Kini & Kimi study the mapRome, Italy
Kini, Kimi, Bob, and Amy Roamin' Rome in July 1998
Only 4,722 miles from home!
Kini & Kimi study the map
As soon as we arrived in Rome Kini and Kimi started making plans. Kimi (on the right) pointed to our hotel, Hotel Gorgio and thought we should stay close to home. Kini, however, wanted to go to the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica right away. Amy voted for bread at the train station - then decided NOT! when a bag-lady tossed a coffee drink at her and started yelling in Italian. (Never let Bob tell you he can't move fast, his new sneakers faired well compared to Amy's.) Okay Kimi - you win. We've been up for 25 hours, it's early afternoon here and they don't eat in Italy till 7:00pm - lets explore close to home this afternoon!
The Colosseum (Il Colosseo)
The first place K & K took us was the Colosseum. We found a guide and she was wonderful! Click on the picture to read a mix of what she said and what we researched later on.
Poor Kini!
It is a little hard to see in the picture, but Kini is about to be beheaded by a Roman soldier - his poor little eyes are bugging right out of his head! Of course, Amy ran in to rescue him - and grabbed Kimi at the same time! Whoa! Let's git movin' Bob!
Next Stop ... Saint Peter's Basilica & The Vatican!
St. Peter's Basilica is the largest Christian church in the world! It is almost 700 feet long (the nave) and it's widest point (the transept) is 450 feet across. These corridors are about 150 feet high. The church forms a cross shape and at the center is a dome which is approximately 400 feet high and is 138 feet in diameter! The basilica can hold over 50,000 people.
Bob and Kini decided to ride the elevator up to the inside of the dome - so Kimi and I followed. Oh Boy! As Bob said, "You could base jump the inside of this church!" Kimi and I stuck to the wall...
On the Top of the Basilica
Then Bob wanted to climb the 320 steps (straight) up to the outside ring of the basilica, so we followed. Nice view but we still stuck to the wall... Click on the picture to learn more about St. Peter's Basilica.
On the Way to Pompeii
In the afternoon of August 79 AD, Vesuvius began an eruption that would last for 3 days and nights. Pompeii was completely buried. Of 20,000 residents only 2,000 died because they refused to leave. Centuries later the city was rediscovered and excavated. The frescos were still bright and beautiful in many homes and streets worn by wagon wheels were still intact.
The Streets
Some of the streets were very narrow like this one, others were huge avenues. Stepping-stones were added to the streets to allow the pedestrians to cross without getting their feet wet. These stones were cut narrow enough to allow the carts to pass. Also, the high curbs had holes cut in them where people could tie their horses.
Under the Ashes
During the excavations archeologists found empty cavities which they did not understand. A small hole would be poked in the top of these cavities and cement poured in. When the volcanic rock was chipped away a cement cast of the space was revealed. These turned out to be figures of the people who died during the eruption. So precise are they, and so quickly did the people die, that the casts show the expressions of the individuals. To find out more about Vesuvius and Pompeii, click on the picture.
The Fountain of Trevi
Can you tell that this picture was taken by a tourist who either didn't understand English or misses most of his shots? He got our heads but cut off the top of the fountain. Oh well.... We did toss our coins into the fountain - which, by legend, means Bob and I will someday return to Rome. I don't know... maybe they mean Rome, Georgia.
Will He or Won't He?
Although this statue is one a pontiff's sarcophagus, it is inspired by the Bocca Della Verita. It was used by the judges of Rome to see whether an individual was lying or not. When a person put his hand it the mouth and told a lie he would lose his hand. Many believe that the judges may have "helped" God to pass judgment when the thought the accused guilty. So Bob, are you having fun in Rome?
A Great Place to Hang Out
Vino! So much wine, so little time! Kini and Kimi had to get the manager to help them pick out the wine to bring home (and drink there, of course)! As they say in Rome, "In vino verità!" or "In wine is truth"! But as Bob found out, sometimes tying to understand people in foreign countries can be tough... While at dinner, Bob left to go to the bathroom. He asked for the restroom and got instructions to a restaurant down the street. When he finally got his point across and found the stairs to the basement, there was a line. So, he tapped the guy in front of him and asked, "Is this the line to the toilets?" The guy looked at his real funny and said, "Hang on mate - I don't speak Italian but I'll find someone who does." Huh? Evidently Bob still has a Rocky Mount accent. :)
The Catacombs
Rome is riddled with catacombs dating back to the 1st century AD. Some of the largest cover 90 acres of land with galleries 12 miles long. Many of the catacombs would be dug to 4 levels - about 66 feet deep. Popes to paupers could be buried in these tunnels. The bodies were usually wrapped in linen and put in niches carved out from the volcanic rock called tuffa. The chambers were sealed with marble slabs engraved with the person's name and occasionally an epitaph. Most catacombs are narrow and low roofed, however if space was needed the workers would simply dig down until another body could be accommodated. 500,000 Christians were buried here.
For Sandy Wambach
While we were in Rome a very good friend died skydiving. We said a prayer for her in the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and every other holy site we visited. We toasted her life with wine and told stories to each other and anyone else who would listen.
While in the catacombs we had the opportunity to light a candle in her memory. Such a little light for such a great soul.
Some of us travel farther then others but the adventure never ends.
To the beginning of a new trip...
Bob and Amy