Once Upon a Time in Europe

Date of these events - March 31st took off for Rome, landing on April 1st. Sights seen in this blog were seen on April 1st.

I don't know how I actually pulled off this fabulous trip, but I know it started with, "I'd love to go see Brandon and the grandkids while they are in Switzerland. Hey! Why don't a make a trip out of it and see some other things I've only dreamed of seeing. I had never been to Europe before today! I also had never had such a long flight, to the "other side of the planet."

At SeaTac airport ready to go with 16.6 pound suitcase.

I didn't sleep on the plane even though I took an Ambien, two Tylenol PM, and a Valerian Root capsule. It was a beautiful sight coming into London as the sun came up. I got really tired while waiting in London/Heathrow airport for my connecting flight to Rome.

But I made it. I found my way from the Leonardo Di Vinci airport, which is quite a ways from where I'm staying, by finding the train station, getting my ticket, hauling my suitcase and backpack up and down stairs, get to one station only to have to get across the station to catch another train to get me close to where I'm staying. More stairs, and lots of questions. Most people were really helpful. But I was surprised that the train riders didn't know which train to get on for my connection. Hmmmm. I got off the St. Pietro station and it was too far to the monastery - Residenzia Madri Pie - when I'm staying. More stairs, cobbled streets, crowded sidewalks, One nice man helped me with my suitcase getting to a seat in the second train.

I'm staying in a simple but delightful monastery. As soon as I cam into the room and went right for the window, threw open the curtains and the window to a beautiful view of St. Peter's Cuppola. What a treat!

My room with a view.
My accommodations while in Rome: Residenzia Madrie Pie - a lovely monastery

In order not to fall right into bed and take a nap which would throw me off the rest of the week, I decided to go for a walk and see what I could see. Vatican City, St. Peter's Square and the Basilica were so close - a very easy walk. Ate at a couple of bistro and bar type cafes with outside street eating and listened to all the different languages pas by. Went into one church I didn't know anything about and it was beautiful!

San Maria del Carmelo in Transpontina
 

I walked along the Tiber River, decided to visit the Castle Sant' Angelo, and then walk slowly back to St. Peter's Square. So many cool things to see!

One of a bunch of beautiful bridges (ponte) over the Tiber River

Castel Sant'Angelo

Some original ruins

One of many artistic ceilings of Castel Sant'Angelo

 

This was my goal - the angel I first saw in the movie "Angels & Demons"

So up and up and up the stairs I went!

I was richly rewarded with beautiful views as I got higher.

The view of a part of Rome.

At last, I arrived! So cool!

What a beautiful view of Rome, with the Victor Emmanuel Monument and the Colosseum in the distance.

As I started down I ran across this angel.

The angel I saw atop the the castle is not the original. Castel Sant'Angelo was built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian (AD 130-139). That was just the start. It has been bot a prison and a papal residence, sometimes both at the same time. A secret passageway was built that connects Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vatican. Pops used to go to the castle through the passageway if they felt they were in danger at the Vatican. Legend holds that the Archangel Michael appeared on top of the Castel, sheathing his sword as a sign of the end of the plague of 590. In 1536 Raffaello da Montelup created a marble statue of Saint Michael holding his word after the plague. This particular (the one above) resides in an open courtyard inside the Castle.

As I walked back to my monastery, the lights were all on outside the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica cupploa.

And that completes Day 1 in Rome. Wow, blogging a trip like this one takes patience and time. Just getting all the pictures I took uploaded into my computer, and then uploading to the blog takes time and effort. Then there is the writing - a description and my feelings. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up. I think I'll date the day each event / events took place because the blog will date it per the date it posts. Right now I'm a day behind. And believe me, what's coming up drained me of energy and gave me a couple of beautiful blisters on my feet. Just another day in the life of a Roman!