Rome - Day 1

     We have arrived in Rome! The flight was long, but good. I am not the best traveller. Don't like to fly. Can't sleep on planes and don't like the food.  I thought about Paul's trip to Rome and how different it was from mine and was reminded that I certainly have no reason to complain! 
     Paul travelled by foot, donkey, and ship, but never by plane! For many years, Paul's heart desire had been  to travel to Rome . But the trip certainly did not take place as he had expected. Against all odds, he survived a horrendous storm that had blown his ship off course, was then lost at sea for 14 days, and was forced to swim to shore where he was bitten by a poisonous snake... and miraculously survived! After 2000 miles and 5 additional months of travel after the shipwreck, Paul arrived in the grand city, not as a tourist, but as a prisoner who had been falsely accused and imprisoned. 
Paul entered Rome around 60 AD.  At that time, Rome was a magnificent, wealthy, powerful city, the capitol of the ancient world with 2 million people.  
     Today there are 2.7 million people in Rome. And... today I saw my first ruin as we entered the city - the Aurelian Wall, which surrounded the ancient city of Rome.  This wall was built around the city in the 5th century.  The Porta Pinciana , one of the main gates of the wall (pictured below),  is right outside the window of our hotel room.  

     After we arrived, we took a 4 hour nap and then had delicious pizza  on the via Veneto, served by a delightful waiter whose English was better than our Italian . They have had unusually cool weather and are waiting for summer. A little on the cool side, but pleasant. Not too cool for me. After a long relaxing lunch, we took off to explore the city.

  Our navigating skills were not the best. The Italian people are very friendly. The city is beautiful with its colorful buildings and cobblestone roads. There are a lot of motorscooters that ride everywhere with no apparent rules. Very crazy!

These are the Spanish Steps, located in the Piazza di Spagna. Named for the Spanish Embassy to the Vatican, it has resided here for over 300 years.  Romantic writers Keats, Wagner, Goethe, and Lord Byron all wrote and lived in this section of Rome.

     Next, we ventured to Trevi Fountain which was created by Baroque sculptor Nicola Salvi in 1762. This fountain takes advantage of the abundance of water brought into the city by the great aqueducts. Tossing a coin over your shoulder into the fountain is supposed to make your wish come true and assure your return to Rome.

 Finding our way back to the hotel, we had to stop and get a gelati to top off the day!  Hope to get one everyday!   After fighting with the computer to post this blog, we are now going to bed  to rest up for our next day's adventure.

     Buona notte!