Roman holidays
My family and I visited Rome for 60 hours at the end of August. This is how I remembered the trip a week after returning home.
First of all, 60 hours is not nearly enough to see the whole of Rome. The city impresses you with its grandeur from the moment you enter the airport and see antique statues with stickers on a protective glass box saying "original artwork".
Before this trip my answer to the question "How often do you think about the Roman Empire?" would be "not much", but this last week it occupied my mind constantly.
First thing in the morning we visited the Vatican, to see the famous Sistine Chapel. The chapel is hidden like a precious pearl in an oyster, so it's been a challenge to reach it with a stroller up and down the stairs, but we met helpful people who heroically helped us carry it in the crowd. I noticed this helpfulness, politeness and patience throughout the journey, as if the city itself humbles you and shows how each of us is just the tiny speck in human history.
After the trip I noted a few tips for our next time in Rome to make the experience smoother:
- Let the taxi driver know in advance you're going to pay with the card, if that's the case. They're obliged by law to accept it, but it will save you from a hassle and the driver from disappointment if you agree beforehand.
- Tiqets.com is a legitimate service. Yes, it's going to be a bit pricier, but it's better than missing out on attractions because of sold out tickets.
- Gelato is better to be enjoyed in a paper cup rather than a waffle cone, it melts so fast, so carpe diem.
Although I did not toss a coin into the Trevi fountain, I am sure I will return to Rome. All roads lead us there, after all.