Cruising Day 1: On Board

Monday, October 15, 2012

 We got up early to go again to St. Peter’s Basilica with Roger and Joyce.  I was excited to see everything we had already seen for another time before leaving Rome.  Unfortunately we found out as we walked into the Basilica that much of the area was closed to the public today due to a special mass at 9:00AM.  Chairs were being set up close by the front altar and there were cardinals walking around everywhere.  I was still able to take several pictures that I hadn’t taken before, particularly close-ups of the huge mosaics behind each altar that look like paintings with one particular shot that shows the tiny tiles perfectly.

Sorry it downloaded this way but it was special to be at the gates at 7:00AM when the bell sounded in the tower and the gates swung open to let the people into St. Peter's Basilica.

This detail shows the tiny tiles of this huge piece decorating the Basilica.  It is wonderfully amazing.

Ed took a picture of me with the Pieta in the background and I got several pictures of Joyce and Roger in the Basilica and on the porch with the Square in the background.  I also got several pictures of the Swiss Vatican guards in their plumed finery.

We checked out of the hotel, walked around the Villa Borghese park until it was time to meet our car to drive to the port at Civitavacchia and board our ship, the Holland America Noordam.  We have a wonderful room with a good nice deck.  It will be fun to meet the other passengers (the ship carries almost 2000 passengers and 800 crew), some of whom will be departing after 7 days and others who will stay for the full 21 days back to Ft. Lauderdale.

Holland America Noordam aft end where our cabin is on the 6th level. 

First funny story:  We went exploring to find the Tech Center to sign up for internet services onboard.  We waited for the elevator and when the doors opened there was a couple already on so we joined them and  started chatting as we pushed the floor we wanted.  The doors closed and we continued chatting and then the doors opened again but no one was there so we thought it was where they wanted to get off and we said did you want to get off and they did so they laughed and exited.  As the doors closed we realized that it was not the floor they wanted!  We felt badly because Roger had invited them to leave the elevator without looking at the floor we were on so this poor couple will have to travel a couple of floors to get where they wanted to be.  We laughed and said that with 2,000 other people on the ship we would probably never see them again.  We got to our floor and explored for about 5 minutes and then turned the corner and there was this cute couple!  Roger went up and began apologizing to them and we all told them how sorry we were but they laughed and were so cute, saying that it was fine….just an adventure for them to explore the ship.  I asked where they were from and she said “Houston”.  I couldn’t believe it!  I told her we were from Houston too and they wanted to know where so I said The Woodlands and they were so excited and said, “Oh we love Brio!  We go there to eat often….we live out by the airport!” 

It is a small world after all! 

Rome Day 5

We began the day trying to find the LDS Church.  It wasn't too bad.  We did get a taxi driver who didn't have trouble finding it using his GPS in his little Fiat.  (Most of the taxi's we have been in have been Ford Focus'.) We arrived early enough to introduce ourselves and meet several of the members and missionaries and a couple of members.  I was surprised at how many English speaking members there were.  There were 3 senior couple missionaries (one just coming and one leaving) and the translator (which didn't work very well) was an Air Force instructor at a NATO facility here.  We also met the Rome Temple Project Manager and the Rome Temple Architect.  (He was an interesting man; he has been designing temples for the Church for 20 years, his first being the Frankfurt Germany Temple.)  The Project Manager was from England.  He was very nice. 

The members were very nice and welcomed us well.  There were lost of babies.  One of the sister missionaries told me that there were 11 babies born in 2011 and so there are a lot of little children here.  We came on Fast/Testimony Meeting day and many shared their testimonies.  It was tender.  I was also asked to play the piano in Relief Society.  I got a cute picture of the RS President. 

One the way back to the hotel we asked the driver to take us by the temple site.  I got a picture of that too.  I was excited to see the place where it is being built so Ed accomodated me. 

We met back up with Roger & Joyce and had some lunch and then walked over to the Villa Borghese Park.  We had 5PM reservations to go inside the Museum and see the beautiful home and art treasures inside. It was breathtaking.  No photos allowed inside so can't share any, but much of what is there can be viewed online.  Even Ed was impressed with the vibrant colors of works that were so old. The sculpture was impressive as well. 

After the Borghese we found Giolitti's for gelato and then went on to Piazza Navona.  We finally found it, thanks to Roger, and after some photos, a view of the church and with some hunger starting we decided to eat close by. 

Members at the Ward in Rome.

Sister Missionaries chatted with us while we waited for the taxi.

Loved seeing another Bernini fountain in Piazza Navona.

Ed and I on an evening walk around Piazza Navona.

The Villa Borghese Museum

Lots of families together enjoying the Villa Borghese Park grounds on a lovely Sunday afternoon.  It was great to see families together.

A view of the construction of the Rome, Italy Temple.  The members I spoke with were so excited to have this temple here.  I am excited for them too.  A wonderful little ward.

We called Ashley after catching a cab back to the hotel and then we went to bed.  It's our final night in Rome so we enjoyed the sites and the people.  Tomorrow we go back to St. Peter's with Roger and Joyce and then head to the ship.  It will be fun to finally unpack everything for the next 21 days!  

Rome Day 4

Our fourth full day in Rome began early.   Not wanting to wait in the long security lines at St. Peter's yesterday we decided to get up and out early enough to get in line (or so we thought) before the opening time of 7AM.  We were very pleased (and a little nervous) to find no one in line.  In fact, there weren't any cars in front of the barricades and only a small group of people came into view walking to the very center of the circle facing the basilica.  We thought it was a tour group but quickly realized this was not a typical tourist group.  It was a group of people who were with two priests who were reciting things I did not recognize in Latin and the group would respond.  We had come to be with a group performing a religious walk.  Now I have no problem with joining in silently, but I was a little uncomfortable because I didn't want to intrude or detract from their devotional.  That feeling only held me back for a little bit until I realized that they were head toward the entrance and I saw many nuns and priest heading there as well.

We took the opportunity and went through the security check quickly and followed the crowd to the steps of the Basilica.  We had made it to the main gate and it was only 6:45AM and the sun was just coming up from the east.  We all stood on the porch and watched.  More priests and nuns came.  At one point we were surprised to hear some very definite American speak coming from a group of young priests.  What a thrill it must be for them to be priests here at the Vatican.   A few more tourists joined in and at exactly 7:00AM the bells rang and the big gates were opened.  

There was no pushing or shoving or jockeying for position, everyone was quiet and reverent because most of them were here for mass.  As we entered into the Basilica I realized that the young priests (and some older ones) were there to give mass to certain groups of people (families or traveling friends) by appointment.  The priests went into a back room and came back dressed in the lacy white priestly robe and had an altar boy with them and another assistant who was carrying the wafers and other things needed for the mass.  The priests would then be followed by a group (sometimes only one individual) and they would go to their assigned chapel part of the Basilica and begin the ceremony.  It was fascinating to watch.  I was touched by the devotion of these people.  I watched one older man trying to keep up with the quick walking priest;  he had both hands clasped together and his face radiated with a smile as he went past me.  Several older women followed behind.  He was so excited to be there.  

The expanse of the place was overwhelming.  It was huge.  It must be experienced to understand.  The artistry actually deceives you as you look around because everything was made to seem in harmony and not out of place.  Things that appear large and are close to you are made not to seem so big by the images above them being made larger.  (Did that make sense?)  

We walked around quite by ourselves for a time and then others began making their way but it wasn't crowded at all.  Our last stop was to see the Pieta which is one of the things I told Ed I had to see before I died.  (Sistine Chapel, the David and Chartres Cathedral are the others so after we stop in Florence in a couple of days I could probably go anytime.)

We returned back to the hotel and rested until Roger and Joyce (Ed's brother-in-law and sister) joined us.  They were pretty tired but they wanted to get some some viewing in before they rested so we walked to the Spanish Steps and then to the Pantheon.  This building is so famous for a reason.  It is amazing and very humbling to be inside.  What a thrill to be able to be here. 

We needed some food then so we stopped for pizza and when we came out it was raining so we made our way back to the hotel soaking wet.  (Ed and I have carried our umbrellas every day this week and it never rained on us.  Did we have them today?  No.....)

We rested and then we caught a cab to show them the San Clemente Church.  After we told them about it they wanted to see it so we went back.  I'm happy because I had forgotten to get a picture of it when we were there before.  Now I have one to show.  

After that we took another cab ride to the Santa Marie in Trastevere church across the river. 
It was a beautiful church, the first dedicated to Mary, and there was a mass in progress as we went inside.  There were many devotees there participating and I loved listening to the organ music for the remainder of the mass.  I got some good photos inside.

Joyce had been told by someone she met that the best Italian food could be found at a little restaurant called Augusto.  We had an address and it wasn't far from the church but it was so difficult to find.  Finally, ready to give up a young girl and boy opened a door I was standing in front of and I just blurted out, "Do you speak English?"  They both said yes and my next question was, "Do you live around here?"  He said no but said she did.  Come to find out she is a student here and is from Portland, ORE!!!  Anyway, she told us where to go to find this place and it turned out we were very close.  Unfortunately they didn't open until 8PM and it was 7PM and we were hungry and tired so we ate at a place right next to it.  We watched as the locals lined up to get inside.  It is definitely the place to eat.  There is no menu, just whatever the 3 Italian grandmas decide to make that day.  The best kind of places.  

We caught a cab back to the Via Veneto area and decided to stop for some gelato and then to walk back to the hotel.  Another wonderful day in Rome! 

St. Peter's Church in Rome at 6:30AM.  Too close to see the dome but it is beautiful still.

Looking eastward from the porch of St. Peter's Church at 6:40AM.

I can't figure out how to rotate the photos for the blog, but it you look sideways you can see where they say Peter is buried.

The Pieta

The Pantheon outside

The Pantheon inside

Santa Maria in Trastevere church outside

Santa Maria in Trastevere church ceiling motif

San Clemente Church.  You have to walk down from street level to get in to the 12th century church (shown below) and then walk down further to the 800 century church and descend even further to the 100-200 year Mithrian church.  It is fascinating.

Rome Day 3

Today I actually cried when we entered the Vatican Museum.  We hadn't seen anything yet, I just cried because I was there and I had been hoping to be there my whole life.  I think Ed was a little surprised when he realized I was crying while we were walking up the stairs!  hahaha  Who does that anyway?  Well...I just knew what I was going to see and it made me happy.  

The fear we had about waiting in line for 2 hours did not materialize for us.  The line was long but it moved very quickly and it was organized well.  My problem was that there was so much to see and I have an untrained mind so I was overwhelmed very quickly. What can be said about the Sistine Chapel except to simply sigh.  I was happy that the museum people kept telling everyone to be silent.  It helped enhance the experience.  After about 4 hours we left the museum and walked over to the Square.  The security line for the basilica was so long we decided to come early tomorrow so I can experience the Pieta.

We took a cab to the St. Peter In Chains Church to view the Moses by Michelangelo and then started walking to another church and the hotel but I got a blister on my foot so that was it for me.  Tomorrow I know we will be walking a bunch with Ed's sister and her husband joining us for the rest of our trip so I think it was a good day.  Ed is sleeping again so I think he was tired also.  There is so much to do here!! 

Pictures below show a bit of what we saw and liked today.

At the end of the day Ed brought me this flower.  It is a beautiful long stemmed rose with a glorious smell.  What a guy! My dream of seeing the Sistine Chapel before I die came true today AND I got a long stemmed red rose!

These are details from the mosaic floor from the Baths of Otricoli in Umbria which are now in the Vatican Museum.  I thought our girls would like the dragon.  It is huge and made up of tiles that are no larger than 3/8 inch in size.  Very impressive

These tablet from ancient Syria were interesting to me.  This one is sheathed in a wooden cover that is also written on.  There were examples of many sizes of records that were kept in ancient times.  Someone's journal or an account of the household purchases; which do you think?

The tapestry rooms/halls were so large and so detailed we wondered how many years it would take to complete.  Someone's entire life work would be only a part of one of these immense works of art. I took a picture of part of this scene depicting the conversion of Cornelius.

We went up and down so many stairs but this last one was so fun I wondered about it so I looking it up in one of the books I have at the hotel.  It seems that the long hallways were built to join the residence with an escape route in the event of an attempted siege.  This staircase was built so horses could come into the residence to bring help in removing the Pope to safety quickly.

Rome Day 2

We continue enjoying the sites here in Rome.  It is such a unique place.  Everywhere we go we see some kind of antiquity much older than most things in the USA!  What a place to live! I'm not so sure about the Romulus/Remus She Wolf mother thing though....never have been a fan of that tale.  Oh well....
They have uncovered what they think is Romulus' house which we saw up on Palatine Hill yesterday.  Definitely not decorated like the Augustus/Nero villa above it but what can you expect from a guy who was raised by a she-wolf and decided to kill his twin brother and then raised an army to go rape the Sabin women....just saying.....Anyway, we have fun until I drop from 8 hours of non-stop walking and standing and walking and standing (why didn't someone warn me about the steep steps at the colosseum? My torn meniscus is not happy today!).  

I loved going into the San Clemente church today.  That was something to see.  Walking into a 12th century church then going down to an 8th century church/crypt and down even further to the 100-200 AD Mithrian cult (men only) space.  It's amazing to me how they even find some of this stuff and how different periods would recycle so much of the prior occupants goods and sacred places.  I guess that is a show of power.  

We did finally find the Capitoline Museum this afternoon.  I am in idiot and took us on a street along the river instead of turning at just the right place (how do you know in Rome....?) to get there.  But it wasn't totally a waste, we found the "Jewish Ghetto" in Rome (Gerusaleme) and now know where to buy kosher food if needed.  

I am fascinated with the doors of Rome.  I love the big huge doors and the knobs/knockers high up on the door.  And when we walk by a door that is open....wow...to see the treasures of the inside courtyards!  My imagination just runs wild with all this fun stuff.  

Thought I should share a few pictures from today. 

Inside the Capitoline Museum is a sculpture of the She Wolf and the twins.

We were happy to see our most recent hero, Marcus Aurelius in the Capitoline also.  This used to be outside, but they brought the original in to restore it after beginning to deteriorate and made a copy to go out in front of the museum.  Good move.

I was excited to see one end of the circus maximus is being restored.  I can just see Ben Hur with his beautiful whites entering through this portal.

I asked Ed to take this picture for my mother.  I am standing where the floor of the track was years ago (many feet below me).  Many chariots raced here and thrilled the crowds 300,000 spectators there to watch and wager on the races, the animal kills and athletic contests. The little rise behind me is where the middle of the arena was.  This is a huge stadium about 650 ft wide and 1850 ft long.  While there we ony saw joggers and a few kids playing.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this picture almost at dusk from one of the windows of the Capitoline Museum.  The far dome is St. Peter's where we will go tomorrow.  The photo didn't come close to what I could see with my own eyes.  It was a great view.

First Time in Rome

We arrived in Rome yesterday about noon and walked around after checking in to the hotel.  We were close by one of the churches I wanted to visit to see a famous Bernini statue.  We were humbled going inside while many devout were praying and lighting candles but this is the way the churches are so we did get a couple of photos of the Ecstasy of St. Theresa. 



We walked around a bit after that and went to the fountains that are close by (Trevi and Tritone) and stopped for pizza for dinner across the street from the Tritone.  We walked a bit more and found our first gelato (not from the famous place yet) and it was very good.  I decided I would not be able to have another until Saturday when Joyce (Ed's sister) and Roger (her husband) join us because I know they will want some and my will power will probably not extend much longer than that!  We ate as we walked back to our hotel because we were so tired by this time.  By 6pm we were thrashed so we both went to sleep. I tried to get one email off and I fell asleep about 5 times in the middle of typing!

This morning we were up and ready to go.  We took our time because we knew we would have a long day so we didn't rush to breakfast.  We met some nice people from South Carolina who were headed to the Vatican today and getting on a ship (Celebrity) tomorrow for 12 days.  (Ironically, we met two flight attendants from Ohio at dinner tonight who are getting on the same ship.)  

We had planned to do the major attractions around the Colosseum today, fitting as much of the little individual things in as we could.  We went to Palatine first, then wandered through the Roman Forum with Rick Steves' book which was quite informative.  I also had the Rome is Love Spelled Backwards book which was great for the history.  We read that while we waited for our tour guide at the Palatine.  We are glad we got the guide there.  She was informative and very nice and I loved the accent. 

From the Forum we went to the Colosseum.  It was about 1:30pm by this time and we had not had anything to drink the entire day.  It was about 76-80 degrees here but the humidity was higher than we anticipated so we did not bring clothing that was good for this weather and we were both so hot and sweaty by this time.  Then I had to climb the steps at the Colosseum!  Oh my!  Uneven and slanted a bit without a handrail let me just say I was not my finest moment of the day but the view was worth it. 

We found another little restaurant and Ed had pizza again while I had grilled chicken and vegetables and then we walked back to the hotel returning at about 7pm.  It was a great day!

Ed among the throngs of people at the Colosseum today

Nora's feet standing on 2,000 year old stones.  Who else has walked here, I wonder.  My net thought is..."These are volcanic stones, there are volcano's in Ethiopia so why don't they use stones for their streets so Ashley doesn't walk in mud all the time?" ^_^            Just sayin'....

Standing at the Forum Square with temples and columns and rubble from other buildings all over the place!!