Day two in Rome

Day two in  Rome

 Here we are in the eternal city!!  Our hotel (Hotel Adriano) is in the city centre (in Centro as they say in Italy) on Via Pallacorda 2.

The day started slowly.  We rose at 7 a.m. and took our time getting ready.  Breakfast is from 7 to 10 a.m. each morning and we were there at around 9:30 a.m.  Good food!!!  Eggs, bacon, cereal with yogurt, croissant, toast, pastries, fruit, etc., etc.  We won't go hungry here.

After breakfast we visited the Pantheon - built by Marcus Agrippa in 27 BC - 14 AD (during the time of Augustus) and rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian about 126 AD (Hadrian was a building maniac). 

Almost 2,000 years later, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome.  The Roman's loved concrete.  The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved of all ancient buildings in Rome.  Today it is the church of St. Mary and the Martyrs and has been since the 7th century.  Rafael is buried in this church.

 

Pantheon Dome

We came back to our room and I put on more clothes.  It was 13 today but felt colder. You'd think I'd be happy with warmer temperatures.  Albert was sweating and I was freezing.  Go figure??!!  We then made our way to the Vatican.  We had to make sure we knew where to go and how early to leave to make our rendezvous with the tour  group at 7:55 a.m. We crossed the Tiber River. It's pretty disgusting but it is the famous Tiber. Ah!! history in this city is something else.  You can understand  Italians being proud of their history and especially Romans.

The dome of St. Peter's is visible in the distance as you walk up the Via Della Concilliazione. 

 

St Peter's in the Distance

 

Hawkers on all sides of you.  We had some trouble finding the entrance to the Vatican Museums. We were plainly lost and managed to get ourselves to the entrance  reserved for employees and special visitors to the Vatican. Luckily we met a very nice young guard who as it works out loves to surf and has been to Hawaii 3 times. Happily he pointed us in the right direction.
 Our walk back was lovely (more hawkers) and as we drew nearer to city centre, got lost again. The streets are so narrow and look pretty much the same. We finally found our way.  Stopped in for some delicious pizza and wine before coming home for a welcomed nap.  Ah!!!  The 5 hour difference in time is catching up with us.  Tonight we head out to ristorante da Antonio di Pantheon.  Stefania, our Italian teacher, recommended it. After dinner, it's early to bed.  We rise at 6 a.m. and get ready for our 8 a.m. tour of the Vatican.  Can hardly wait.  Ciao.