Roman Holiday! (Part I)

I want to chime in with Erica Jong, ”What is the fatal charm of Italy? What do we find there that can be found nowhere else?….”

Been to Italy thrice this year and have been, not to exaggerate, fatally charmed.

Well, I’ve been smitten by Rome since a long long time. Before crossing the manned borders, beyond my motherland’s, I’ve been taking these liberties virtually and vicariously. Seeing traveler photos of friends and friends of friends, reading travel books, a subscription to Outlook Traveler and of course films.

Watching movies was one few feasible entertainment options available during my years in dental school. And I exploited it to the fullest possible. Result : A longing to travel. A long list of places to see. And still counting.

So the first summer destination was unequivocally – Roma, to once and for all find out, what is so bewitching about Rome anyways !

Once again, the hotel booking sites declared in red that we were too late to get an accommodation reasonable by all means. Further search led us to this apartment style boarding called Dolce Vita Residence. The name struck. Location was perfect. And the idea of doing some cooking outside the kitchen I’m accustomed to, was appealing, (though not at first). So Dolce Vita it was.

We nudged each other out of bed for an early morning, short, cramped flight from Geneva to Rome. Reaching ahead of check-in time, we had to leave our luggage with the reception. To make the most of the day, we freshened up, slathered sunblock, grabbed some quick breakfast and marched in the scorching sun to where it all started – The Palatine.

The legend has it, that a pair of twins Romulus and Remus were brought by a wolf on the Palatine. Romulus killed Remus and founded the village that was destined to be Rome, as we know it today.

From this speck it just grew and grew, all four ways, almost reaching India!!

I saw it beautifully depicted in four different plaques on boundary wall of the Palatine, while walking to Colosseum. I’ve combined it into one picture here .

First to strike off was Colosseum. Walking towards Colosseum from Dolce Vita Residence, we crossed Piazza Venezia, the  Victor Emmanuel Monument, Trajan’s column, Roman Forum, Julius Ceaser…under a brilliant sky, by brilliant blooms and being flanked by sculptures, statues and architectural legacy was too much to take in, for first hour in Rome!

 

 

 

 

It is given that writing about places like Rome is more or less a challenge. You don’t know where to begin, how deep to dive and when to call it an end. Then you wonder whether you’ve been fair in your deal.

So let me set it straight at the outset that this is how ‘I’ know Rome and how ‘I’ saw Rome!

A few meters away from Colosseum we could see the frighteningly long queue under the sun. First thought was to give it a pass if this is the queue. But we had pre-booked tickets so went ahead hoping there would be a separate and short queue for the people who have pre-scheduled their visit as opposed to people who decided impromptu, to see Colosseum now that they were in Rome.

Greeted by a ‘Gladiator‘,who said ‘nice shoes’  just as we reached was amusing and delightful 😀 More delight followed to see there was hardly any queue for us.

So my advice is take the ‘cue’ to buy tickets online and skip the queues, for such immensely popular and expectedly congested tourist sites.

Colosseum is the uncontested greatest amphitheater of Rome (and arguably of the world too). It also has a place in the list of wonders of the world. You MUST see it, to understand the justification.

 

 

This building (‘building’ really feels like very inappropriate word, really, for this) stood on the intentions of hosting and staging, I’m quoting my guide book here, ‘gladiatorial combats and fights’. Think of the movie Gladiator.

But, what engineering and design! To see it beyond an exquisite photographic and photogenic object, I would highly recommend a guide, which could be a person or a device. We preferred a device for the degree of control over it.

 

 

You really need Romanesque strength to walk in Rome, so make sure to be hydrated and keep your feet happy. You know what I mean.

 

 

The huge arena in the centre is surrounded by network of corridors, lifts and cages to let in wild animals which were liberally used in the fights.

 

 

I wouldn’t be totally amiss if I call it one of the oldest, largest most popular slaughter house, for these grounds have sponged up the blood of more than 9000 wild animals in the first event itself. It must have only got better from there. Despite what happened inside it, its a marvel! Should rightfully be on a travelers bucket list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think we had some lunch after this and rounded up this area with the neighbouring Palatine and Roman Forum.

Palatine is the site of the ‘seed’ from where the once majestic, Roman empire branched out. It is the site where huts, houses, gardens and palaces of emperors looked over the rest of the spread.

Today, they are just a patch of ruins in lush landscape with trees that kept reminding me of trees that I’ve seen in the classic picture of Serengeti!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Besides Kings’ palaces/houses, there was a very pretty rose garden. It’s not only beautiful but very pleasantly fragrant too! You can get some good city views from the garden. After walking the uneven paths of Palatine, time spent here is going to re-boot your senses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How these gargantuan, massive structures were built, without any machines – is not only incredible but beyond my imagination!! I mean look at me and look at that structure!! And these are just the left overs!!! Amazing.

 

 

 

 

By the time we reached the exit of Roman Forum, sun was low in the sky. Having spent almost the entire day on foot in ancient Rome, it was time we grabbed an early dinner and catch all the sleep for the next day.

Rome was not built in a day. Certainly. By the same analogy, it’s not possible to tell all about Rome in a day! Will come back soon with more on my Roman Holiday!

 Stay tuned!! 

♥