After 2 long weeks without a car and half that time Jamie was in the U.S., we got a rental car and took off for a day adventure to Rome. Now that is something I won't be able to say in 3 more years, but it is certainly fun to say now!!
Rome is only a short 2 hour drive, so easy for a day trip!
We left early Sunday morning, Jamie (being Human MapQuest) had a plan for our day, with parking options and a walking tour that had a few variations... with kids you always have to plan alternatives just in case!
We parked right by the Colosseum... just driving upon that was amazing! You can see a million pictures but to see it with your own eyes is beyond spectacular.
Call us crazy but we decided to not wait in the hour-plus long line to go in, figuring we'll have many more opportunities to go inside with visitors (who's coming to visit us first??) and because Rome is so close.
From the Collosseo we went along Via Dei Fori Imperiali, which was closed off to road traffic which made it that much better for Riann and Lincoln to walk a lot. We checked out views of Foro Romano (the Roman Forum) eventually stopping inside the Monument of Victor Emmanuel II... a small name for such a massive structure!! Jamie & Riann stopped on the steps for me to take a few photos but had the Vigilanza (rent-a-cop/security) blowing the whistle at them to stand up - oops, no sitting here!!
We stopped at Colonna Traiana and headed to Piazza Venezia, "the center of all national celebrations in Rome" snapping photos along the way.
We found our way along Via del Corso making our way to Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain) with a stop, for what else, gelato!! Sadly, Lincoln slept through this tasty part of our visit, but it also saved a big clean up.
Trevi Fountain was, as I'm sure it almost always is, packed with tourists. Once again, pictures do not do justice to this place. Said to take 30 years to build, it is an amazingly detailed, beautiful fountain.
We left the fountain and worked our way to Piazza di Spagna (the Spanish Steps) finding ourselves first at the fountain of Barcarccia (Old Barge). Riann and I walked up the Spanish Steps together while Jamie stayed with Linc who was still taking his little siesta.
On our way to the Pantheon, we took a few side streets where it was a lot less crowded and more shade to get a break from the sun. We arrived at the Pantheon... wow!! Even being under refurbishment on the outside, it was well beyond what I expected. And the inside... not bad for being built nearly 1900 years ago!! Really though, it was incredible!
We grabbed a bite to eat and sat behind the Pantheon before we called it a day. We took a few more pictures on our way back to the car knowing that we will be heading back to Rome again soon... many more times to see ALL of Rome.
