From Rome to Paris - A Spring in 2012

[rbjhan]

Keeping up with the theme of old TRs, managed to find pictures of this trip in one of my backup hard drives.
This was however before I discover AFF or anything similar, so there will be no pictures of flights and very few of hotels I'm afraid....

Cathay to Europe, in Rome, out Paris.
Rome - Florence - Venice - Milan - Paris
Not the most innovative route, I know

 

[rbjhan]

This was my 2nd time in Rome, first time was something like 1999, might as well doing everything again....
Booked a small hotel on Via naz_onale iirc, not far from Piazza della Repubblica.
So the first stop was Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore

 

[rbjhan]

Santa Maria Angeli, built inside the ruins of Baths of Diocletian.

 

[rbjhan]

Piazza della Repubblica.


That's it for day 1, enough after the 25-hour flight.

 

[VPS]

Excellent - another TR and no Japan to add to my confusion of where I need to visit there.

 

[rbjhan]

Excellent - another TR and no Japan to add to my confusion of where I need to visit there.

For a first Japan trip I always recommend Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka as the main points.

 

[rbjhan]

Day 2 started at the Colosseum - I think I bought the Roma card and used it here and Castel Sant'Angelo.





Palatine Hill


Foro Romano

 

[rbjhan]

After lunch went to San Giovanni Laterano, seat of the Pope.
This was by far my favourite church of the whole trip (St Peters was magnificent of course, but it was so touristy while this one actually felt like a place of worship)




The Lateran Obelisk, largest in the world.


Holy Stairs

 

[rbjhan]

Day 3
Looking back, I have no idea how I survived....

The day started at the Vatican Museum. I had made reservations online which cost a few euros more iirc, but one look at the queue outside, I knew it was worth it.


The Laocoon and his sons


Crowded would be an understatement...


The School of Athens

 

[rbjhan]

After a quick slice of pizza, went on to St Peters.
Queue was long, at least it moved reasonably fast.


The Nave was super impressive...however as mentioned before personally I very much prefer San Giovanni Laterano.

 

[rbjhan]

The Dome
7 Euros iirc. Took the lift up to the roof and then climbed some more stairs. It was a difficult climb, in the sense that the stairs curve as it goes up...near the top it was super narrow and no railings...


views were magnificent though.

Half way, looking down the nave.


Finally there!


The Vatican Museum from above

 

[rbjhan]

I was exhausted at that point, however there's still Castel Sant'Angelo....





TBH I don't remember much about what's inside

Phew! End of Day 3.

 

[rbjhan]

Day 4
First stop, Galleria Borghese.


I'm a big fan of Bernini, so this museum is a must see. Personal favourite is probably Apollo e Dafne.
Caravaggio not so much I'm afraid....too dark!
Photos were not allowed inside though.

 

[rbjhan]

Next up Capitolini.
Didn't visit here the day I was at the Colosseum coz it was closed



Capitoline Hill, designed by Michelangelo.

 

[rbjhan]

The dying Gaul




Marcus Aurelius


Hercules apparently

 

[rbjhan]

Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara Coeli

 

[rbjhan]

Day 5 was only a half day in Rome, as I departed to Florence in the afternoon.
Didn't plan anything, just wandering around.

Santa Maria della Vittoria, Ecstasy of St Teresa.
I did say I love Bernini right?


San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane by Borromini.
Not that I love Baroque architecture that much, but such an iconic masterpiece is a must see IMHO.


Trevi




Back then I didn't even take many pictures of food, would you believe it!
This is the only one I found in Rome

 

[rbjhan]

I'm not sure how Trenitalia works now, but back in 2012 there were promo tickets on their website, the cheapest ones were called Mini. After spending quite some time working through the details, I booked Rome-Florence, Florence - Venice, Venice - Milan for 9 Euros each pad self on the back

 

[rbjhan]

When I got to Florence it was quite late already.
Only picture I can find of the hotel, taken on a different day....it was no more than 2 mins walk from Santa Maria del Fiore, other than that nothing much


River Arno at night

 

[craven morehead]

とても興味深い very interesting! Had to add a dash of Japanese