Day 16

Train from Rome To Naples 12:17PM 7/6/10

We are sitting on our train to Naples. Yesterday was our big day in Rome, we got up, had free breakfast at our hotel, more like a buffet than a continental breakfast, then we rent and rented a vespa. Troy was a natural at driving it, but the streets of Rome are crazy! Our bike did not like second gear and it kept stalling. We first went to the Colosseum and the Dom de Aurea. The Colosseum was amazing and loomed over us as we rounded the turn towards it. We drove out toward the catacombs but they were closed so we came back toward the city and parked. We walked the circo massimo (Circus Maixmus) and the forums of the emperors ad lastly the Colosseum again! We walked by all these ruins that were being excavated and then by the Tiber river on the way back to the vespa (in between each site we got completely lost for about twenty mintues). We read the Italian guide to scooter rental and it said to just go with the flow because Rome was not designed for car, that's just what we did, we let Rome decide where we should go. Next we tried to find the Vatican but took the road too far and ended up way outside the city. We stopped, looked at the map, realized how far we had gone and turned back. Again we tried to get to Vatican City but finally we had to stop and ask for directions. It turned out we were right next to our hotel, so we went back to our room, showered and went out to dinner. We found a Cinese/Giaponnese restaraunt (Chinese/Japonese) with amazing food and we celebrated our one month marriage anniversary. I had fried Nuttella (amazing!) for desert while Troy had sushi.

We didn't have to return the Vespa until 10am the next day so we decided to get up early and take it to the Vatican. In the morning Rome was cool and the streets were empty. It was a completely different place. We were able to find our way easily and were the first ones to the Vatican at 6:08 am. We walkeda round and took pictures of the quiet, empty plaza. More people began to show up and at 6:30 they opened a gate to the inner plaza. Troy and I went in. We walked around and looked at all the Saints (presumably) that stood atop each pillar next to St. Peter's basillica. They opened another gate and we went through a security check, up the steps, and waited on the doorstep of St. Peter's until they let everyone in, about 20 people. I wondered why more people don't come early when its not hot or crowded. We couldn't go in with our vespa helmets so Troy stayed outside while I went in. It was a beautiful ornate church, so large and quiet with several sevices going on. I walked through and went out to give Troy a chance to go in. He didn't want to but I made him. And he came out five mintues later, angry at the money wasted on decadence when it could have gone to a better cause. After returning our vespa, we had breakfast at our hotel and took some food for lunch. Then we found out check-out was'nt til' noon so we took a nap. We packed up, walked to the train station and bought tickets to Naples. To be continued. . .