Rome, Italy - Week 4

Hello Family and Friends,

You guys, I really didn’t think we were going to get to enjoy anything in Rome. The heat wave that started in Zurich followed us to Rome. Some of you may have heard about the European heatwaves hitting Germany, France and Italy. We were reaching temperatures of 100F. Before beginning our travels Brett and I did live in Florida. So it’s not like 100F is something we haven’t dealt with. However, the way we manage 100F in the states is we stay in the air-conditioning. When you’re trying to see the sites of Rome, there is no air-conditioning to be had. For example, we were determined to find someway to not let the heat relegate us to our hotel room. We decided to do a Big Bus Tour because the inside of the coach is air-conditioned. I have done a handful of Big Bus Tours and except for the one that we took in DC they are all terrible! I stopped booking them because they are the biggest waste of money. But I was willing to have a terrible tour if it meant I could see something and not spend all my energy trying to stay cool. But the Big Bus Tour lived up to all expectations: it was terrible. The inside bottom floor of the bus was 30C(86F) and the outside was 35C(95F). Not only did we not see anything because we were sitting in the coach, I couldn’t even try to begin to recognize the sights that the audio guide was pointing out because I was too hot. The heat was even too much for Atlas. The moment we would step out into the sun he would start crying and I would cover him with his shade cover. Then I would have to keep checking on him because he was completely silent. We would look for dinner restaurants based on whether they had air-conditioning or not. Some places would claim they did, but then they would have all the doors and windows open, making the air-conditioning meaningless. One of our servers had visible upper lip sweat. I told Brett that I don’t know one American who would work in these conditions. Rome had a heat advisory and a complete lack of understanding in how air-conditioning works. We had a running joke that the sound track of Rome is the almost constant sirens of the ambulance. They were probably rescuing people from heat exhaustion. For example, we were at the Vatican Museum and I witnessed security kicking people out of chairs to give to a tour guide because she was on the verge of passing out. Unfortuneatly the frustrating joke became sad as we learned of the hundreds and eventually tens of thousands of deaths experienced in Europe by what appears to have a simple solution. Even many of the hospitals don't have airconditioning meaning the Drs are at risk and those brought in for heat stroke have no reprive.

Atlas eating gelato. A delicious technique for staying cool.

After two days of failing to tough it out we decided to treat Rome like we would the USA. We rented a car and drove. Brett would drop us off, take a circle or two with Atlas while CeCe, Ian and I were taking photos. Then he picked us up and we would get some reprieve from the heat in the car AC. Using the tried and true method of driving, we were able to see the Coliseum,

Visiting the outside of the Coliseum.

There was a bridge facing the Coliseum that had locks on it. Feels like this has become popular over lots of bridges.

Trying to capture the height of the Coliseum.

Victor Emmanuel II Monument,

Built to honor the first king of united Italia and houses Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Cooling off in the fountain in front of Victor Emmanuel II Monument.

Palazzo Senatorio

Climbing steps towards the Palazzo Senatorio, the city hall of Rome.

Still climbing towards Palazzo Senatorio.

Roman Forum,

The Roman Forum was the historical center of ancient Rome.

Pantheon,

One of the best preserved ancient Roman buildings.

St. Peter Basilicus

St. Peter Basilicus viewed from the historic avenue Via della Conciliazation. This avenue was commissioned as a celebration for establishing Vatican City as an independent sovereign state.

 And the Spanish Steps.

The Spanish steps were under construction and didn’t make for a great photo.

View of Rome form the Spanish steps.

Don’t think most people go inside of the church at the top of the Spanish steps. I went in, hoping it would be cooler than outside. It wasn’t but, it was surprisingly ornate.

 Trinita dei Monti: the church at the top of the Spanish steps.

As our car day went on the rain came and cooled the city significantly. I have never wanted it to rain when trying to site see. But the cloud cover and then the rain made everything cooler.

Brett and Atlas were finally able to get out of the car post rain at Castel Sant’Angelo.

One of the bridges crossing the Tiber River to reach Castel Sant’Angelo.

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Catching some of the vibe outside of Castel Sant’Angelo.

Also visited Villa Borghese and walked around the gardens.

Passing through the Villa Borghese gardens.

The Galleria Borghese is now an art museum.

Our car day created an opportunity for putting ourselves in some of the iconic places of Rome. Honestly, I had to use AI just to know what I was looking at. We did decide that no matter the heat conditions we had to visit the Vatican. We got the skip the line tickets to the Vatican Museum so we wouldn’t have to wait in the heat. I was only interested in going to the Sistine Chapel and then getting back to the hotel. But the powers that be know that everyone is trying to do the same thing. So in order to get to the Sistine Chapel you have to wind your way through most of the museum...for about an hour.

Being turned to stone by Medusa. In myths she is considered so hideous that anyone who looked upon her would turn to stone. Talk about shaming someone for eternity.

 Passing through the maps room. Brett likes this kind of stuff.

Interesting photo on the ceiling of one of the rooms. Golden Jesus on the cross and broken stone statue of Caesar. The symbolisms seems to represent that the church has now replaced Caesar.

Probably weaved through the Vatican Museum for an hour or so just on the way to the Sistine Chapel. Then when we finally get to the Sistine Chapel, we’re not allowed to take photos! Furthermore, the famous “The Creation of Adam” photo by Michelangelo is not a focal piece of art in the chapel. It is a smallish painting on the ceiling located off center. Let’s just say that I had to look for it to find it. I was a little mad that “The Creation of Adam” gets so much attention considering it’s position in the chapel. However, Brett says it’s very much like man to focus on itself. Even the image itself shows God really reaching for man and man is barely putting forth any effort. Can’t even hold his own arm out. The most he can do is prop is arm on his leg and reach a finger.

Internet Photo of “The Creation of Adam” because I actually followed the rules and didn’t take a photo while in the Sistine Chapel, boring.

The Sistine Chapel was air conditioned! The only part of the Vatican Museum that has what I believe is central AC.

 A very old school and LARGE elevator that had an attendant to operate and along with seating.

Now that I have gone on about the heat, I must end with the food. We had Italian for every meal! This is a big deal, because Brett doesn’t like Italian cuisine. He really doesn’t care for pasta or red sauce. But even he agreed that when in Italy, you have to eat Italian. Brett still didn’t order not one pasta dish, but I did. Three of the Five days we were in Rome, all I ate was pasta! And all of it was delicious! I think we also had gelato every day. It didn’t matter if we had just eaten dinner, if we passed a gelato spot, which if course we did, I stopped and ate gelato! I could probably live off of pasta and gelato.

PASTA!

Our final location with CeCe and Ian will be Milan. There is still a heat advisory so not sure how much we will actually be able to do. Brett has already decided that Milan is going to be chill for him. He’s done suffering through the heat. Atlas and I will see if we can drive him mad enough with our hotel energy and get him to adventure out of his air-conditioned cave.