We got the early morning train to Rome. The journey took 4 hours. We passed one part of Italy where it was snowing, very beautiful, too bad i didn't take a pic of it...was just too tired. I can't sleep in the train cos the seat wasn't comfortable. Basically im restless sitting in that kind of seat. The moment we reached Rome we bought the metro (underground) tickets from the nearby tabachi (grumpy old italian lady at the counter>:( ) and gt the metro to Village Roma which is really far from the main part of Rome. Imagine its like zone 2 of London, easily accessible by underground but yet still far from the centre. From the name of the 'hotel' i thot it was kinda like a villa. Guess i was worng. Check it out.
Our room
On the same day, after a couple hours of sleep and had our light pizza afternnon snack we went straight to Piazza Barberini where Fontana Del Tritone and Fontana di Trevi were situated. Tritone was in the middle of a roundabout, quite a good spot for a minor fountain compare to the Trevi.
The trevi was magnificent, beautiful from every angle. Trevi refers to three roads that converged there and people believe, if you toss a coin, it ensures another return visit to Rome.
We were hungry still so we grab a bite at the nearby gelateria and tried their Gelato. It was really nice i must say tho it was quite pricey. But we didn't care. This is the best time to try the original Gelato. Bila lagi kan?
After trevi we went to the Termini (Terminal station). Like Victoria in London, Termini is always busy. Apparently theres a halal restaurant nearby the Termini station (as told by chip). So we search and search and luckily we found it. We were really hungry by this moment cos we haven't had any proper food to eat. The restaurant isn't entirely Italian tho. The chef is from Palestine. We ordered Lasagna and Spaghetti Bolognese n mkn rumah. Nyaman. Well, everything is nyaman when you're hungry. Then I realized, my mobile batt is low, critical level dh. Took out my charger and to my frustation and annoyed, the plugs in Rome are the same in Paris, its only a two way socket! Sasakku. I think this is one of the most annoying things in Rome. So sabar sja, no mobile thruout the trip. I even went to the nearby electrical store the next day and nadabah bejual any socket plug. Only for two way socket plug. So to whoever ke european countries (besides uk), bring your own socket plug. Buy it in the uk. Ada tu d dixons.
The next day we had a full day. Our journey was from Il Vittoriano in Piazza Venezia to Santa Maria in Aracoeli to the Piazza del Campidoglio up on the Capitoline Hills. From there we head to the amazing Roman Forum. Then we went to the colosseum. The last destinations were San Clemente and San Giovani in Laterano. Il Vittoriano is MASSIVE. Behind all those massiveness, the monument is only a tomb. So we were asked not to make too much noise and not to sit on the steps.
View from the Vittoriano
Next was Santa Maria in Aracoeli, a 14th century church which has a suprisingly lavish interior, as the outside looks very dull. Artist like Donatello, Pinturicchio and Cavalini had decorated the interiors. This church is also where Francesco Totti got married. The church however was famous for its Bambinello, a wooden baby Jesus believed to have healing powers. I think this is beneficial to the locals cos they need to heal their feet since it takes 120 steps to get to this church. Cubatah modern kn ckit ada escalator hahahah kebesaran.
The church's ceiling.
Down steps n up another hill as we were about to go to Michaelangelo's Piazza del Campidoglia, arguably the world's most perfect public space, like an elegant outdoor ballroom. To me, i think it wasn't all that. Well, maybe different from an artist's perspective. We went further onwards and to our surprise, the Roman Forum was insight. The view of it from Capitoline Hill was beautiful.
View of the Roman Forum
The Forum is like a normal piazza but during the Roman times of Julius Caesar. There were lots of remnants everywhere. One of em look like a library. The forum was really big. We didn't finish it cos we were afraid that we didn't have enuff time for the Colosseum.
Constantine's Arch
No more further introduction of the Colosseum as i believe you all know what it is. Apparently there were some gladiators outside of the colosseum, pulling tourists to tak picture with them. Yg sialnya these people, after taking pictures with them whom initially approached the people, will ask for payment, 10 euros EACH. Baru ia. Penipu. Gladly a friend of mine warned me about it. Drg kana. Sianlah. The q to get in the colosseum was very long. The only way to avoid is when you hire a tourist guide. However we had and insiders tip:to buy the tickets at the Palatine. So after Lydia and I bought the tickets, we brushed along the q to get in. For a while we were kambang lol. As you can see you can get quite useful insider tips from reading my blog for the next time you visit Rome.
Temple of Venus and Roma, viewed from the colosseum.
After finishing the visit of the Colosseum, we moved on to San Clemente, one of Rome's most extraordinary church. Its a 12th century Basilica built over a 4th century church, built over a 1st century Roman house that contained a 2nd century pagan temple. The main attraction was the mosaic which glimmered the church. The ceiling also has a very beautiful and detailed sculpture. Unfortunately it was dark inside the church. Google it.
About San Giovanni, i forgot what was there. It was another ancient Roman church. Hunger strikes and we thought that we could go another round to the Halal restaurant. I ate the Salami Pizza while Lydia had the Beef Cannelloni. I only ate half the pizza cos i was so full. So i asked then to put in a container and i can bring it home. They put it in a pizza box but they didn't have a plastic bag big enough for the box. Lydia and I were planning to go to another church but with a pizza box in hand looks silly. We ended buying a very big paper bag lol. Bejasa tu paper bag ah.
The final church we went to for the day was the Santa Maria della Vittoria in Barberini. The church was famous for Bernini's Ecstasy of St Teresa. Its a sculpture of a saint in rapture as a teasing angel pierces her repeatedly with a golden arrow. The sculpture was mentioned in Dan Brown's Angels and Demons as a representation of the fire element.
Since we were in Barberini, we visited the trevi for the 2nd time while chilling out and have some Gelato, but from another shop. On our way we were stop by some guys who were asking to buy their pashmina. At first we avoid but Lydia, since fadz bought one in venice and lawa, she wanted one also. We turn back and asked for the price, it was 10 each. Fadz gt for 13. Its a bargain tho so we wanted to buy one but the seller insist us to buy two cos Lydia took a while to choose. So, like all consumers do, we bargain. Dpt 16 for 2 hahahahah untung2. Nada gambar pashmina tho but aiskrim ada.
and a random picture...on how the italians like their sandwich.
Sorry readers but im sleepy now so...End of part 2
Continuation will be on Vatican City, Spanish Steps n Journey back home.
About San Giovanni, i forgot what was there. It was another ancient Roman church. Hunger strikes and we thought that we could go another round to the Halal restaurant. I ate the Salami Pizza while Lydia had the Beef Cannelloni. I only ate half the pizza cos i was so full. So i asked then to put in a container and i can bring it home. They put it in a pizza box but they didn't have a plastic bag big enough for the box. Lydia and I were planning to go to another church but with a pizza box in hand looks silly. We ended buying a very big paper bag lol. Bejasa tu paper bag ah.
The final church we went to for the day was the Santa Maria della Vittoria in Barberini. The church was famous for Bernini's Ecstasy of St Teresa. Its a sculpture of a saint in rapture as a teasing angel pierces her repeatedly with a golden arrow. The sculpture was mentioned in Dan Brown's Angels and Demons as a representation of the fire element.
Since we were in Barberini, we visited the trevi for the 2nd time while chilling out and have some Gelato, but from another shop. On our way we were stop by some guys who were asking to buy their pashmina. At first we avoid but Lydia, since fadz bought one in venice and lawa, she wanted one also. We turn back and asked for the price, it was 10 each. Fadz gt for 13. Its a bargain tho so we wanted to buy one but the seller insist us to buy two cos Lydia took a while to choose. So, like all consumers do, we bargain. Dpt 16 for 2 hahahahah untung2. Nada gambar pashmina tho but aiskrim ada.
and a random picture...on how the italians like their sandwich.
Sorry readers but im sleepy now so...End of part 2
Continuation will be on Vatican City, Spanish Steps n Journey back home.
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