Rome #5

Clearly the weather forecasters around here also get it wrong around here. Up at 6:15 on an apparently clear day, showered
and into a cab at St Peters at 7:00 (that would be just me). Had plenty of time to wander St Peter’s. Other early arrivals mostly headed for various chapels for mass. The church is still impressive in its massiveness (if there’s such a word) and decoration but doesn’t have the impact of somewhere like a Ely. But there again maybe it’s something to do with not being a catholic. Pieta stunning behind its protective glass. Then to the entrance for the cupola climb. Would have been first up had I not stopped to take a photo and thereby allowing four Germans to get past. The climb wasn’t that difficult and fortunately didn’t
produce the need to change my undies feelings of Köln Cathedral. Got a good look down into the body of the church from the interior at the base of the dome. Then out onto a roof area behind the statues you see from the square. Then climbing up within the dome. Great views over Rome from the top – except the apparently fine day in the centre of the city was actually quite smoggy and of course the sun was rising from that direction. Still those photos will be all ethereal and atmospheric by the time photoshop and I are finished. Around the rest of the dome clear views especially into the Vatican gardens and around.

Once down headed back towards the hotel along the Tiber.

In the meantime Ju had headed over to the Victor Emmanuel memorial which she had missed last time around. As happens most parts of the interior were closed off so she missed the joys of Cavours death mask etc.

We met on a bring over the Tiber and then walked through to Campo de’ Fiore which was a large flower, fruit and veg, other foodstuffs market. That rounded out the morning.

At 12:30 we headed off to Castel Romana which is an amazing sort of cultural centre about 45 minutes drive from the centre of Rome. A chance to check out and buy if you want all sorts of Italian products. There really are some amazingly talented people in this country. Forgot to take my camera!

Drive out and back also served to remind us that beyond the centre there are some pretty ordinary apartment buildings etc. Sometimes it was a bit Brazilian. Countryside very dry – not many signs of agricultural activity. Drove through EUR on the way back – a massive 1930s interpretation of Roman grandeur.

Plan to pop around the corner for dinner tonight. A restaurant with an outlook over Trajan’s forum.