So It Begins
The tour began in the afternoon with a group meeting and orientation with Cecilia, our guide for the next 9 days. Following her waving hand, with her voice in our earbuds (va bene. Andiamo!), we rode the metro, walked to the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona (a great place for people watching, we returned here several times). During the walk Cecilia gave us an overview of Roman history, culture and architecture. Dinner was a lively affair as we all started to get to know each other, aided by wine and a delicious meal which ended with a wonderful lemon cake. The evening was capped with a stroll across the Ponte Sant'Angelo where we saw the Vatican all lit up. Then a bus ride to the hotel, an experience in its own right, where we collapsed for a good night's rest before the Vatican tour in the morning.
Highlights:
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The Vatican
This was the most intense part of the tour. I am so glad it was at the beginning. It was totally worth it and we'll probably never do it again. Here are some quick impressions.
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Colosseum and Forum
We were headed to Volterra but first we met up with local guide Alessandra to see the Colosseum and the Forum. There seem to be some people who are unimpressed with the size of the Colosseum. I don't know what they were expecting but I thought it was pretty amazing. After some time to explore, we walked to the Roman Forum for some ancient history lessons. We both have read the Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCollough so this area was of particular interest. I wish we had had more time here but alas it was time to get to the bus and move on to Volterra.
Highlights:
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