I headed to the Roman Forums, my last item on the list for this trip. This time it was backpack in tow. I keep saying how much I love this pack...best money I spent before I left the states. I know it sounds like I'm back in college talking about backpacking across Europe. But it's perfect for a weekend - carries exactly what I need and means that I don't have to deal with stairs and a rolling suitcase.
The Roman Forums were given 3 pyramids by RS. I also needed to use my Roma pass again, although, I think the ticket for the Roman Forum was a combo with the Colosseum, so I'm pretty sure I lost a free museum. Not sure how worth it the Roma pass is. I agree with RS - 3 pyramids for sure. Here are some of the sites from an early morning stroll through the Forums. Unfortunately, RS let me down...the walking tour was not very easy to follow so I'm not entirely sure what each is. When I do it again, I will get the audio guide, but even that looked hard to follow. Most tourists looked lost in this huge park where ruins just kept appearing.
Roman rubbish lying around. Middle of the sidewalk where you were supposed to walk!
Arch of Titus. Only 1/3 of the original structure - next picture provides scale with small person in front of large Arch.
Arch of Titus from afar.
Top of Palatine Hill - St. Peter's in the background
After the Forum, I headed back to the train station to catch my express to the airport. That was a fiasco. First, I couldn't find where the Metro was at the Colosseum. I really felt like I walked around 2 whole times before I found it. Map was not useful. On the way around, I got harangued by multiple street vendors, this time with increased gusto from Gladiator dressed guys wanting money for a photo op. These guys were mostly Italian and super annoying. After I made it to the Metro, it was relatively simple but I was paranoid about pickpockets having seen one getting arrested the night before, reading about it in RS and in general just tired of all the madness. Nothing happened, but those trains are crowded enough to cause issues. Luckily it was only 3 stops. I jumped out at Roma Termini and that's where it got strange.
I got there earlier than I needed to because I wanted to grab my ticket and then grab lunch close to the train station (around 11:30). At first, I couldn't find the platform. Italy is really bad about signs for the same thing pointing in 2 different directions. I chose the wrong one every time. Once I found the platform, I could only find one automated machine. Which was fine. There was a family ahead of me who was completely confused by the automated machine but I wasn't in a rush. When they finished, I stepped up to the plate. The machines all have English options on them, so it's really not tough. But apparently a kid thought I needed help. This kid was about 13-15 years old and apparently had been standing "assisting" other passengers for a while. The family in front of me had been "assisted". He started to push buttons for me on the machine, including selecting the wrong time for the train I wanted. I told him no very firmly and continued trying to do the transaction by myself. He would not let up! I read about this in another guidebook where sometimes they are looking for a hand out for helping and sometimes they are stealing your credit card number and pin while they "assist" you. I almost had to swat this kid's hand away. In hindsight, I should have just picked another machine after the first button was pushed by this kid, but I wasn't really thinking very straight. I paid and so far, I haven't had any money stolen from my bank account, but I didn't feel right about the whole thing. There was definitely a scam going on, I just don't know what it was. 30 minutes later, after my lunch, he was gone. Police probably ran him off.
I got lunch at the train station, hopped on the Leonardo Express and made it back to the Hague in time for dinner. Crazy to be home from Italy in time for dinner.
Having now completed the trifecta of Paris, London and Rome, I rank them: 1. Paris. 2. London. 3. Rome. Paris - I love the feel of the city. Have you seen Midnight in Paris? I'm as romantic about Paris as Owen Wilson's character. I just love the feel of strolling the Siene at night, enjoying a baguette at an outdoor cafe, or lounging in the nearest park. It seems cleaner and calmer than both the other cities. London - It's growing on me with each trip. I love the fact that the signs are in English, the city is well marked and generally, people are very friendly. There is always something to do it seems as well. I hate that it is SOO busy. 3. Rome - Not in English, sooo busy, and just generally dirty. Oh and the vendors. But SOO historical, moreso than London or Paris.
This list will probably change after each visit, but Paris will always have my heart. My first European love. Would be interested to hear how you rank them!
Thus concludes the Roma 2012 Thanksgiving Extravaganza. Thanks for your patience with me as I delayed writing this out.
London from last weekend coming up!
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