OUR FAMILY HOLIDAYS
0229 Overseas Holidays – Rome, 1976
In the second week of our two centre holiday, after the first week in Rimini, life got much more interesting - when we went down to Rome. The coach journey down to Rome was interesting in itself, since we went down the spine of the Pennines.
It was rather spoilt, however, by the fact that Sarah had very bad earache and spent the whole journey lying with her head on my lap whimpering quietly.
In Rome we had a hotel on the outskirts which was small, and older than the ones we had become used. Never mind, it was reasonable, though I was a bit alarmed that the shower room was actually built - as an extension - out on the balcony. It was also right next to a travelling funfair and we had a lot of trouble keeping the children from spending all their time there.
Once more we did
the obligatory tour of Rome visiting all the sites -- St Peter's, the Vatican
and the Colliseum. We had a week, so we spent the next few days actually going
round sightseeing
on foot; having taken the public bus from the hotel. That
was
much more fulfilling. St Peter's, for example, is interesting
when you get to rooftop level and you realise just how complex the structure
is.
On top of St Peters
The Vatican and its museum took up another half day. Of course it is really just an excuse to look at the Sistine chapel. I hesitate to say it, but I wasn't really impressed with Michelangelo ceiling there. Perhaps I would be now, having seen many more paintings. Equally it's now been cleaned, so perhaps it is also somewhat brighter.
Perhaps I was getting blasé with age, but even the Colliseum somehow seemed less impressive.
The Colliseum
What was
impressive, though, was when we went up onto the Palatine Hill, to look down on
the forum and also look at all the ruins on the hill itself; including the
chariot racing arena. Incredibly the paths there were almost grassed over
because so few people, allowed
just
a few minutes off their tour buses, go up to the top. Up there though you do get
a much better feel of how Rome really had been.
The hippodrome (horse racing circuit) on top of the Palatine Hill
Of course we did the traditional tour to Castle Gandolfo, though this was only meaningful as the pope's summer residence. Equally we did the outing to the Villa d'Este, and this was as magnificent as it ever was.
Assisi
Sarah was okay for the journey back and we stopped off in Assisi to see St Francis' cathedral. It was very impressive although we only had a couple of hours to see it; as well as have a meal. Regrettably two members of the party decided that they were going to spend four hours visiting instead. Accordingly we had to sit for hours in the boiling hot coach waiting, and nearly missed our plane. This has always the danger of taking such coach trips.
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