THE ROME ROLLERCOASTER

Never has the saying “when in Rome do as the Romans do” been any truer than when driving through the bustling coble stone streets of this ancient city center. It’s as if there are no rules, two lanes turn into four and if you still can’t get through its acceptable to cross a double white line onto the wrong side of the road to get ahead and push back in just in time to miss a head on collision. It seems the aim of the game is to break as little as possible regardless of intersections or traffic and if you are stopped, heaven forbid, well that’s why they install horns in cars isn’t it?

We’re so proud of Mum, navigating the rollercoaster while I did my best with directions. After driving through the outskirts of town we found a parking spot about a kilometer from the Vatican to start our sightseeing in Rome, a perfect spot to stay the night too.

A walk, with a couple of detours, to Saint Peter’s Square took us to our first real crowd of the trip. Joining the line to get through security to see Saint Peter’s Basilica we thought we would have a longer wait than we did for the Uffizi but were pleasantly surprised when we were inside in about half an hour having passed the time taking in the square and trying to work out what the thousands of chairs lining the center were for, given it was a Friday.

The Basilica really is a must see. Though like us you will probably see it shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other tourists it is spectacular and worth the effort. The largest church in Italy, there is a lot to see, marble, more stunning painted ceilings, intricate gold detail and beautiful sculptures. Some Popes are even lucky enough to be buried and on display here.

Leaving the Basilica we were on a mission to get tickets for the Vatican Museum the next day, hopefully avoiding queues. We took the first chance we saw, right outside the doors, three tickets for 59 euro, big mistake as at the visitors center we could have bought the same thing, tickets to the museum for the next day at an allocated time slot eliminating queues, at the tourist information center or better yet online for about 44 euro.

The next day we did avoid lining up to get in and after seeing the line at 9:30am we were very happy we’d spent the money to buy the tickets in advance. We said when we had finished touring the museums that we were so exhausted and probably wouldn’t have been able to get through everything if we had had to wait in line as well.

Wandering through the Vatican Museum we saw many artistic wonders, sculptures, ancient relics and artifacts and the rooms are just as spectacular as the things kept in them. A few of our favourites were the map gallery, Van Gogh and Dali paintings and the ancient collections from the 4th to 7th centuries BC, not to mention the famous Sistine Chapel of course.

Inside the Sistine Chapel they request silence, unfortunately this is hard for people to grasp and impossible to achieve when the room is jam packed with people and so much to discuss. While staring up at Michelangelo’s amazing fresco there is lots of shushing going on and shouts of “no photos” from the guards. How Michelangelo achieved such immaculate detail and make his subjects appear 3D is astounding, genius.

Full of more memories and knowledge we disembarked from the museum famished and straight into the nearest restaurant with WiFi, where we were luckily seated next to a power plug! In need of recharging, pardon the pun, we filled up on gnocchi, pasta, pizza and potato chips, all delicious, before heading back to the car to move and find a spot in ancient Rome.

On the way back to the car we had another experience to tick off the bucket list, we saw the most famous person in the world. Trying to get back to the car via Saint Peter’s Square we were constantly stopped by road blocks and forced to detour. Eventually we snuck our way into the crowd to get through to the other side. Intrigued at such a huge crowd for a children’s concert we realised that the Pope must be in attendance. Sure enough he was and we caught a glimpse of him on the big screen. Skirting closer around the crowd we ended up getting a good look through a couple of columns. Not someone you see everyday!

Photo can be found on Facebook in the album ROME

SENSATIONAL SIENA

Back to it and off we go to Siena. We wander the streets that many have walked before us, down and up the paved narrow passages between tall buildings, all beautiful and romantic. Eventually we come across our destination, you guessed it, the Cathedral Duomo, yes another one but this could possibly be the best we have seen yet, the jury is still out, but definitely in the top 5.

It is a black and white marble structure that is so intricately decorated. Within the black marble gives a mysterious atmosphere we have not felt before. The girls describe it as ‘cool’. The decoration is so elaborate and the floors are a work of art with many inlaid marble panels each telling a different story, all coming together to create a masterpiece. We call it the stripy cathedral for the black a white marble columns and walls that hold the place together. So different from anything we’ve seen before.

The museum attached gives us the opportunity to view from the roof the entire town (after another lengthy wait), gazing over the Piazza Del Campo, the orange rooftops and the green valleys beyond. We met two Aussie gals travelling here too and it was so nice to hear our accent, or no accent at all as they put it!

Our art gallery fatigue seems to come quicker now, with so many beautiful pieces and memories to store away in our minds. We found ourselves skimming through the museum, glancing but not taking anything in before gazing upon a stone carving of Madonna and child by Donatello and another painted on wood by an unknown artist, priceless treasures and more to remember. Bringing to our attention that though we may be seeing so many Madonna and Childs, paintings, sculptures and buildings each is a priceless treasure that we are lucky to witness.

We wandered down to the Piazza to soak in the atmosphere of this ancient space and tried to imagine the famous annual horse race around the square and fear for the horses safety. We then wander back along the streets carried along by groups of school children who seem uninterested in the treasures that are on their doorsteps.

We realize one could spend much more time exploring Siena, but it is the countryside that calls us. Between all these town we have driven and walked through the most beautiful green valleys, forests and fields, impossible to describe but all we can do is advise you, like all the other tourist books, to visit and experience it for yourself. You will find your own pathway and your own treasures in an area of the world that we really want to return to one day. Don’t stick to the tourist pathway, that is what everyone does and it gets so crowded. Hire a car and just get lost between the villages, picnic with a view to die for, wander the streets where time stands still and just love it all.

We end our journey through the region on a magnificent Lake, just a quick break before heading into Rome. It is the perfect end to the beautiful breathtaking views we have been treated to in the last week. The afternoon is calm and we find a spot right on the waters edge, literally. We relax and read a little and take in the view. The sun sets over the choppy water, a stiff breeze cooling us down, later calming to glass on a perfect night of stars. The twinkling lights of the small towns surrounding the lake add to the beauty and we feel refreshed. We make a late start the next day, after lunch, to head to Rome. How can anything be as impressive as this time has been, but we shall see.

Photos can be found on our Facebook page in the album TUSCANY

THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA AND FLORENCE

Today was perfect blue skies, though not too warm, a lovely backdrop for the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Another site not to disappoint, the tower is quite extraordinary. For me it is a trip down memory lane as I remember my first visit here with my parents when I was about 7, walking up the tower with my dad as my mum waited on the ground because of her fear of heights.

The best part of the visit is to watch every group of tourists trying to get the perfect shot of people pretending to hold up, kick over or carry the tower, hilarious! We too have the obligatory efforts on record. The cathedral was another of exceptional beauty with fabulous marble work, my favorite parts being the very modern alter tables and an exceptionally detailed marble pulpit. More bones on view here too, we’re guessing there will be more to come in Italy.

Moving on the next morning we are keen to explore Florence. After a cruise around town, very difficult in Vincent, we manage to find a parking spot and walk into the tourist centre.

We pass the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge, it’s original butchers shops now a trove of gold and silver. Our first effort was to stand in line for nearly 3 hours for entry to the Galleria Degli Uffizi, housing famous Renaissance art by the likes of da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Titian and many more. The time spent in the queue was yet another chance to meet some new friends, a lovely family from Alabama, Mum, dad, daughter and son. The perfect way to fill the hours with tales of their travels and ours.

The Uffizi was quite wonderful but we felt we were over art for a while as we ventured back into the streets, we call it art gallery fatigue. We decided we had time to go to the Cathedral. WOW. This is the hugest structure of red green and white marble we’ve ever seen. Within the detail is amazing but it is the marble floor that grabs your attention, nice to look down instead of getting a neck ache from ceiling staring for a change.

Still time if we hurried to get to the Galleria Dell’accademia, home of Michelangelo’s David. We had seen the copy outside the Uffizi but knew we just had to see the real thing. To muster up some energy we find the Lindt shop selling ice-cream. This is just the thing to give us a little energy boost and the resulting flavor was the best we have ever had.

Luckily the late hour meant walking straight into this gallery without the queue. We walked around the rooms in order savouring the moment we would set eyes upon David. Admiring other works of Michelangelo, some unfinished. The girls lead me in with my eyes closed and there he is before you, simply perfect. Standing over 5m tall he really is a vision of beauty. Having the luxury of few people we spend at least ½ hour just sitting and taking him in from every angle, a sight one will never forget, before we are thrown out at closing time. A really full day of sightseeing and back home to drive out of town to sleep, exhausted but exhilarated.

Another day begins as we drive on to San Gimignano, another recommended site in the region. We stop across the valley and eat our lunch overlooking the town of 14 towers, admiring its beauty. Looking across to the town we could see the shine of all the cars glinting in the sun, a mecca of tourists. We did drive over to the town but the volume of people turned us away and we headed on to Volterra, the town depicted in New Moon, for all those Twilight fans.

Here we could move at leisure through the towns ancient walls and enjoy the atmosphere of days gone by, much better than fighting for a space with the throngs. We visit the cathedral, baptistery and crypt and then move on to a palace that is still lived in by the descendants of the original owners and enjoy the walls filled with treasures collected from all over the world. We drive a short distance from town and find a private little spot that we end up staying for two nights, shattered from so much sightseeing and needing to recharge, a PJ’s day in Italy before setting off for Siena.

Photos can be found on our Facebook page in the album TUSCANY