London, Paris, & Rome
We opted for a small wedding so we could enjoy a spectacular honeymoon. Thus our second big trip was our honeymoon to Western Europe. We decided to do a package deal for a multi-city tour (London, Paris, Rome) with a large tour company. In my eagerness to book the trip, I was less frugal than I should have been. Dare I say we spent waaaaay too much on this trip! It was definitely a learning experience for the two of us and would forever change the way we embraced travel. Lessons about finding the best tour rates, booking local tour operators, occupying rooms without air control, and gently stepping into the great debate between the east and the west: to booty wash or not. We opted for "not."
Day 1: London
The first leg of our trip took us to London. We had three full days planned – and when I mean full I’m not just talking sun-up to sun-down.
Wheels down at Heathrow found us both too giddy for words. We grabbed our luggage and hailed a taxi. As we arrived at our hotel, I was transported to a scene from Harry Potter. We quickly stowed our luggage at the hotel and took off on foot to explore. We hadn’t a clue where our stroll would lead us. As it turned out, we found ourselves in the Westminster district marveling at the likes of Big Ben (built in 1834) and the popular London Eye (one of the world’s tallest Ferris wheels) and the ginormous Palace of Westminster where the House of Commons and the House of Lords operate the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
We returned to the hotel just in time for dinner and to meet our tour group. Though we were tired and needed to get settled for the night, Adam wanted to visit the English pub next door to our hotel to see if it lived up to the hype of an epic watering hole that served fermented malt to the neighbors as they sat in soft lighting beneath dark beamed ceilings and heavy oak panels. Upon our entry, Adam called out “Oye! (“hi, listen!”) to which the old men inside began cheering and chanting soccer (football) cheers. Adam is a stranger to nobody and this held true at the pub. By the end of the evening, he had numerous dinner invitations from a handful of blokes we’d met just a couple hours earlier.
I was ready to settle in for the night so Adam walked me to the hotel and then strolled a little longer in exploration mode. Sometime in the night I got up to get a sip of water and found him hiding in the bathroom so as not to wake me with the light. He was eating "the best" lo mein from the Chinese restaurant down the street. I suspected his culinary assessment had less to do with real flavor and more to do with enjoying a pint or two too many. The next morning as we got ready to start our day, we laughed at the dried noodles stuck on his chest and the scattered broken noodles on the floor.
Day 2: London
After starting the morning with tea and crumpets, we boarded a tour bus and headed out. Our list of visited sites included buildings that were targeted and heavily damaged by Hitler during the Blitzkrieg in 1941 and a building that survived the Great Fire of London in 1666. We saw the London Bridge and its prettier sister bridge right next to it. Side note: Many people confuse the two. To think that the heads of executed traitors and others condemned to death used to be placed on the spikes at the old bridge! We saw countless dragon statues around the city; those dragons were placed strategically around the city to protect it from evil and to mark territorial lines.
We saw a replica of Geoffrey Chaucer’s (the Father of English Literature who lived during the Middle Ages) home. We walked around the famed St. Paul’s Cathedral (built in 1675). St. Paul’s has hosted many significant world events such as the wedding of Prince Charles to Diana and the funerals of people like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. But hey, given that it’s nearly 350 years old, it’s seen far more events than we’ll ever know! We observed the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Boy those lines of people waiting to see the change made for quite the spectacle. It was complicated by the Royal Baby Watch as Prince George was due (and in fact arrived) while we were in London.
We managed two classic photo ops – in front of Buckingham Palace and in one of the iconic red phone booths.
We then walked to Piccadilly Square where we saw a crazy hair contest, the filming of a movie, and a multitude of street performers. We also picked up some macaroons to share.
You’re probably thinking by now “what a day.” But you’d be wrong. It’d be “what a morning!”
Day 1: London
The first leg of our trip took us to London. We had three full days planned – and when I mean full I’m not just talking sun-up to sun-down.
Wheels down at Heathrow found us both too giddy for words. We grabbed our luggage and hailed a taxi. As we arrived at our hotel, I was transported to a scene from Harry Potter. We quickly stowed our luggage at the hotel and took off on foot to explore. We hadn’t a clue where our stroll would lead us. As it turned out, we found ourselves in the Westminster district marveling at the likes of Big Ben (built in 1834) and the popular London Eye (one of the world’s tallest Ferris wheels) and the ginormous Palace of Westminster where the House of Commons and the House of Lords operate the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
We returned to the hotel just in time for dinner and to meet our tour group. Though we were tired and needed to get settled for the night, Adam wanted to visit the English pub next door to our hotel to see if it lived up to the hype of an epic watering hole that served fermented malt to the neighbors as they sat in soft lighting beneath dark beamed ceilings and heavy oak panels. Upon our entry, Adam called out “Oye! (“hi, listen!”) to which the old men inside began cheering and chanting soccer (football) cheers. Adam is a stranger to nobody and this held true at the pub. By the end of the evening, he had numerous dinner invitations from a handful of blokes we’d met just a couple hours earlier.
I was ready to settle in for the night so Adam walked me to the hotel and then strolled a little longer in exploration mode. Sometime in the night I got up to get a sip of water and found him hiding in the bathroom so as not to wake me with the light. He was eating "the best" lo mein from the Chinese restaurant down the street. I suspected his culinary assessment had less to do with real flavor and more to do with enjoying a pint or two too many. The next morning as we got ready to start our day, we laughed at the dried noodles stuck on his chest and the scattered broken noodles on the floor.
Day 2: London
After starting the morning with tea and crumpets, we boarded a tour bus and headed out. Our list of visited sites included buildings that were targeted and heavily damaged by Hitler during the Blitzkrieg in 1941 and a building that survived the Great Fire of London in 1666. We saw the London Bridge and its prettier sister bridge right next to it. Side note: Many people confuse the two. To think that the heads of executed traitors and others condemned to death used to be placed on the spikes at the old bridge! We saw countless dragon statues around the city; those dragons were placed strategically around the city to protect it from evil and to mark territorial lines.
We saw a replica of Geoffrey Chaucer’s (the Father of English Literature who lived during the Middle Ages) home. We walked around the famed St. Paul’s Cathedral (built in 1675). St. Paul’s has hosted many significant world events such as the wedding of Prince Charles to Diana and the funerals of people like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. But hey, given that it’s nearly 350 years old, it’s seen far more events than we’ll ever know! We observed the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Boy those lines of people waiting to see the change made for quite the spectacle. It was complicated by the Royal Baby Watch as Prince George was due (and in fact arrived) while we were in London.
We managed two classic photo ops – in front of Buckingham Palace and in one of the iconic red phone booths.
We then walked to Piccadilly Square where we saw a crazy hair contest, the filming of a movie, and a multitude of street performers. We also picked up some macaroons to share.
You’re probably thinking by now “what a day.” But you’d be wrong. It’d be “what a morning!”
While others turned in for a nap, we headed to the British Museum of History. We hadn’t a clue how large the museum nor did we have time to explore even a smidgen of their exhibits. But let me tell you that place was really cool! Notable items we saw included the Rosetta Stone, mummies, and artifacts from all over the world.
We hopped a famous British hackney carriage cab (I rode backward which I thought was so cool) to St. Margaret’s Church. Originally founded by the abbot of Westminster in the mid-12th century, the present-day church was finished around 1523. This church is still in use with locals attending a number of scheduled worship services weekly. This UNESCO site is where Sir Walter Raleigh (1552 – 1618), the early explorer of Virginia, was executed and buried. Poet John Milton (1608 – 1674) the author of Paradise Lost is among the many who are eternally laid to rest on the grounds. It’s an important area – Westminster Abbey is just next door!
Our day still wasn’t over! Some of the members of our tour group decided to join us for dinner. We found a local diner that had fish-n-chips. Sidebar: In London, our chips are their crisps and our fries are their chips. Confused? After filling up on yummy food, we set out on foot to squeeze in a few more blocks of sight-seeing before the sunset. We limped back to our hotel exhausted and exhilarated at the same time.
We hopped a famous British hackney carriage cab (I rode backward which I thought was so cool) to St. Margaret’s Church. Originally founded by the abbot of Westminster in the mid-12th century, the present-day church was finished around 1523. This church is still in use with locals attending a number of scheduled worship services weekly. This UNESCO site is where Sir Walter Raleigh (1552 – 1618), the early explorer of Virginia, was executed and buried. Poet John Milton (1608 – 1674) the author of Paradise Lost is among the many who are eternally laid to rest on the grounds. It’s an important area – Westminster Abbey is just next door!
Our day still wasn’t over! Some of the members of our tour group decided to join us for dinner. We found a local diner that had fish-n-chips. Sidebar: In London, our chips are their crisps and our fries are their chips. Confused? After filling up on yummy food, we set out on foot to squeeze in a few more blocks of sight-seeing before the sunset. We limped back to our hotel exhausted and exhilarated at the same time.
Day 3: London
We spent day 3 exploring on our own. We visited the local bus station and learned to ride like a local. We hopped a double decker and headed to the Tower of London, built in 1078 by William the Conqueror. After watching the HBO series The Tudors, we were stoked to visit the tower! It was eerie seeing where many London prisoners were beheaded and learning that lions were kept around the perimeter of the tower to catch prisoners trying to escape. A Yeoman Warder helped us tour the towers. The Yeomen not only take visitors on tours but also protect the towers and property. In fact, the royal jewels are stored here and some of the collection is displayed for visitors. We saw the towers King Henry VIII built for Anne Boleyn when he fell in love with her. Tragically, the only time that Anne lived at the towers was when she was awaiting her death by beheading.
We were shown the private area where Anne Boleyn and Kathryn Howard, both of Henry VIII's 6 wives, were beheaded. The Yeoman showed us the church in which both Anne and Catherine were buried. We visited the Bloody Tower home of a famed torture chamber and the location at which Sir Walter Raleigh resided until his execution. Some of the torture equipment is still there; it was gut-wrenching to consider the horror that was experienced in those rooms. The impenetrability of the Tower is evidenced by the record that only two prisoners ever escaped. Sidebar: Adam is a distant relative of King Henry VIII making the visit even more exhilarating!
We found ourselves in a Cuban restaurant for lunch. After sitting down, we noticed the walls covered with posters of the Argentine Marxist Che Guevara and machine guns chained to the walls. It was a bit weird eating with revolutionary Cuban artifacts everywhere, but gosh, was the food delicious! In desperate need of a nap we returned to our hotel. We overslept and woke up at 9:30 p.m.! Since the next thing on our itinerary was an early morning ride to Paris, we ordered room service and watched terrible tv. We called it that because the quality of productions just wasn’t the same as what we have back home in the States. And the shows were a bunch of American-knockoffs. They even had their own version of Jersey Shore!
We spent day 3 exploring on our own. We visited the local bus station and learned to ride like a local. We hopped a double decker and headed to the Tower of London, built in 1078 by William the Conqueror. After watching the HBO series The Tudors, we were stoked to visit the tower! It was eerie seeing where many London prisoners were beheaded and learning that lions were kept around the perimeter of the tower to catch prisoners trying to escape. A Yeoman Warder helped us tour the towers. The Yeomen not only take visitors on tours but also protect the towers and property. In fact, the royal jewels are stored here and some of the collection is displayed for visitors. We saw the towers King Henry VIII built for Anne Boleyn when he fell in love with her. Tragically, the only time that Anne lived at the towers was when she was awaiting her death by beheading.
We were shown the private area where Anne Boleyn and Kathryn Howard, both of Henry VIII's 6 wives, were beheaded. The Yeoman showed us the church in which both Anne and Catherine were buried. We visited the Bloody Tower home of a famed torture chamber and the location at which Sir Walter Raleigh resided until his execution. Some of the torture equipment is still there; it was gut-wrenching to consider the horror that was experienced in those rooms. The impenetrability of the Tower is evidenced by the record that only two prisoners ever escaped. Sidebar: Adam is a distant relative of King Henry VIII making the visit even more exhilarating!
We found ourselves in a Cuban restaurant for lunch. After sitting down, we noticed the walls covered with posters of the Argentine Marxist Che Guevara and machine guns chained to the walls. It was a bit weird eating with revolutionary Cuban artifacts everywhere, but gosh, was the food delicious! In desperate need of a nap we returned to our hotel. We overslept and woke up at 9:30 p.m.! Since the next thing on our itinerary was an early morning ride to Paris, we ordered room service and watched terrible tv. We called it that because the quality of productions just wasn’t the same as what we have back home in the States. And the shows were a bunch of American-knockoffs. They even had their own version of Jersey Shore!
Day 4: London and Paris
We awoke to the jubilant news Prince William and Princess Kate had their first baby. We felt pretty special to be in London among all the revelry albeit for a very short time. Happy birthday, sweet Prince George of Cambridge!!
We bid London Cheerio and headed to Paris.
Salutations, Paris! (Greetings, Paris!)
After a two-hour train ride which took us under the English Channel, we arrived in Paris – the City of Love, dropped our luggage and hit the roads to explore. We’d been looking forward to trying all sorts of cuisine in Paris. Our first find was a crêperie. C’est magnifique! Oh my heavens! We then headed to Moulin Rouge. You see, I’m a vocalist. I love singing. Moulin Rouge is one of my all-time absolute favorite musicals. I’ve visited art exhibits of Toulouse-Lautrec and even have some reproductions in our home. So, oui oui, we absolutely had to visit Moulin Rouge. I was singing the entire way. And then we arrived. Let’s just say sometimes there’s a disconnect between our imaginations and reality. Moulin Rouge was smooshed between two other buildings. The show was super expensive, too, so we didn’t partake in that. Bummer!
We grabbed a quick but tasty dinner at a darling café and headed to the Eiffel Tower for a night viewing. Navigating the train station was a little more difficult in French compared to the station in London but we soon mastered it and were on our way. C’est fantastique! What a purdy site to see! The expansive lawn around the Tower was perfect for blanket lounging and many couples were doing just that. It was delightful and relaxing, exhilarating yet comfortable. We were exhausted and had another early morning in our plans, so we left the charming Tower grounds and returned to the hotel. And to the hardest bed upon which I have ever lain.
We awoke to the jubilant news Prince William and Princess Kate had their first baby. We felt pretty special to be in London among all the revelry albeit for a very short time. Happy birthday, sweet Prince George of Cambridge!!
We bid London Cheerio and headed to Paris.
Salutations, Paris! (Greetings, Paris!)
After a two-hour train ride which took us under the English Channel, we arrived in Paris – the City of Love, dropped our luggage and hit the roads to explore. We’d been looking forward to trying all sorts of cuisine in Paris. Our first find was a crêperie. C’est magnifique! Oh my heavens! We then headed to Moulin Rouge. You see, I’m a vocalist. I love singing. Moulin Rouge is one of my all-time absolute favorite musicals. I’ve visited art exhibits of Toulouse-Lautrec and even have some reproductions in our home. So, oui oui, we absolutely had to visit Moulin Rouge. I was singing the entire way. And then we arrived. Let’s just say sometimes there’s a disconnect between our imaginations and reality. Moulin Rouge was smooshed between two other buildings. The show was super expensive, too, so we didn’t partake in that. Bummer!
We grabbed a quick but tasty dinner at a darling café and headed to the Eiffel Tower for a night viewing. Navigating the train station was a little more difficult in French compared to the station in London but we soon mastered it and were on our way. C’est fantastique! What a purdy site to see! The expansive lawn around the Tower was perfect for blanket lounging and many couples were doing just that. It was delightful and relaxing, exhilarating yet comfortable. We were exhausted and had another early morning in our plans, so we left the charming Tower grounds and returned to the hotel. And to the hardest bed upon which I have ever lain.
Day 5: Paris
Our day started out on a disappointing note. In this city of food, we had a boring hotel breakfast! But we were soon off on a tour bus. My first notable was the University of France which was adorned with a large rendition of the French Revolution Slogan “liberty, equality, fraternity!" We passed gorgeous, impeccable gardens and adorable, quaint streets. We were eager to get started on foot! Our tour guide pointed out an area in the middle of a busy street where the guillotine had once stood. My spontaneous Adam darted across the street while I bobbed between vehicles playing a real-life version of Frogger in the Parisian traffic.
The guillotine which ended the lives of thousands is long since gone and replaced by a pair of fountains at the Place de la Concorde completed in 1840. The Fontaine des Fleuvesis is on the north side for the rivers and represents the harvests of France. The south fountain Fontaine des Mers represents the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. In between the two fountains stands an Egyptian obelisk decorated with hieroglyphics exalting the reign of the pharaoh Ramesses II given to the French in the 1800s by the Egyptian government.
After making it back across the traffic alive, we visited Pont des Arts aka the lock bridge. We wrote our names on our lock, locked it to the bridge (locking away our love forever) and kissed the key and threw it into the river. Sidebar: Since our visit, locks have been banned but lovers young and old still visit the site.
The backdrop was a delightful blend of live accordion music, intoxicating fragrance of fresh pastries, and amazing views of gifted artists dancing with their easels as they captured the scene for posterity. We strolled along the Seine savoring the experience and then headed to the French gardens. We fed the ducks and swans which delighted Adam as he is fond of all creatures.
We wove our way through the tight streets and met our group at the Sacre-Coeur Church (Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris) – an absolute must see! Built in the 19th century following the Franco-Prussian War, the church is perched on a hill. Visitors climb 300 steps and are rewarded with the best view of Paris. It’s a must visit and very popular. We even observed a movie being filmed.
We found sandwiches and pastries for dinner and I called it a night. Adam, however, still had energy to burn so ventured out into the city. He reported meeting many new people, enjoying local brews, and receiving offers of ooh là là from some unaccompanied women (which he, of course, politely declined). He made it back to me before the night ended and was refreshed by sun up.
Our day started out on a disappointing note. In this city of food, we had a boring hotel breakfast! But we were soon off on a tour bus. My first notable was the University of France which was adorned with a large rendition of the French Revolution Slogan “liberty, equality, fraternity!" We passed gorgeous, impeccable gardens and adorable, quaint streets. We were eager to get started on foot! Our tour guide pointed out an area in the middle of a busy street where the guillotine had once stood. My spontaneous Adam darted across the street while I bobbed between vehicles playing a real-life version of Frogger in the Parisian traffic.
The guillotine which ended the lives of thousands is long since gone and replaced by a pair of fountains at the Place de la Concorde completed in 1840. The Fontaine des Fleuvesis is on the north side for the rivers and represents the harvests of France. The south fountain Fontaine des Mers represents the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. In between the two fountains stands an Egyptian obelisk decorated with hieroglyphics exalting the reign of the pharaoh Ramesses II given to the French in the 1800s by the Egyptian government.
After making it back across the traffic alive, we visited Pont des Arts aka the lock bridge. We wrote our names on our lock, locked it to the bridge (locking away our love forever) and kissed the key and threw it into the river. Sidebar: Since our visit, locks have been banned but lovers young and old still visit the site.
The backdrop was a delightful blend of live accordion music, intoxicating fragrance of fresh pastries, and amazing views of gifted artists dancing with their easels as they captured the scene for posterity. We strolled along the Seine savoring the experience and then headed to the French gardens. We fed the ducks and swans which delighted Adam as he is fond of all creatures.
We wove our way through the tight streets and met our group at the Sacre-Coeur Church (Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris) – an absolute must see! Built in the 19th century following the Franco-Prussian War, the church is perched on a hill. Visitors climb 300 steps and are rewarded with the best view of Paris. It’s a must visit and very popular. We even observed a movie being filmed.
We found sandwiches and pastries for dinner and I called it a night. Adam, however, still had energy to burn so ventured out into the city. He reported meeting many new people, enjoying local brews, and receiving offers of ooh là là from some unaccompanied women (which he, of course, politely declined). He made it back to me before the night ended and was refreshed by sun up.
Day 6: Paris
Our first adventure of the day meant getting in line early at the Louvre, the most visited art museum in the world. The Louvre was originally a fortress built in the 12th century. To see Mona Lisa, you absolutely must arrive early and then go directly to her exhibit once you have bought your museum tickets. Just as the Moulin Rouge had a disappointment factor, the Mona Lisa does for many people. The portrait is just 30 inches by 21 inches. Viewing Mona Lisa in person was on our bucket list so we didn’t mind. Once we’d seen her, we took off on a whirlwind foot tour which included seeing the works of artists such as Leonardo de Vinci. Just like we’d experienced in London, there was just no way to see even a smidgen of the exhibits. But we gave it our best effort.
A must-see for many – especially for Roman Catholics – was the Notre-Dame de Paris, the Notre Dame Cathedral. One of my favorite experiences of the trip, we experienced confession and lit prayer candles. I labored over my rosary selection ensuring I chose the one with the most significance to me. And we received a marriage blessing from Father Michael A. Perry who serves as the English-speaking priest each summer. Sidebar: Father Perry is from New Jersey! How cool, right?! The spiritual experience was overwhelming and I was in happy tears by the end.
I’m not sure why we got our heads turned around at this point. Fatigue? Language barriers? Hunger? At any rate, we were a little loopy. We were trying to visit a location on the recommendation of my brother who spent some time in Paris a few year ago. But we got turned around. When we left the church we thought we were going to another church based on my brother’s recommendation. The Parisians we asked thought quell idiots (you idiots!) when we insisted there was a church we wanted to visit. Eventually we realized that they were right. The church was actually a really darling street full of people and activities and well worth the confusion. Adam was intrigued by a man making crepes. After an animated conversation, the fellow allowed Adam to swirl the wand and make a crepe of his own.
We decided to see more of the city using the hop-on-hop-off bus. We passed the Arc de Triomphe which was constructed in the early 1800s to memorialize those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars. It is another iconic site often featured in movies. Beneath Arc de Triomphe lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. We visited the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel which is a smaller arch in Paris built a little earlier than the Arc de Triomphe to commemorate Napoleon's military victories the year before. Afterward we admired the Eiffel Tower from another spectacular view. We never went up in the Tower as we were told it’s not as great as admiring it from afar. Fun Fact: The Eiffel Tower was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel whose company designed and built the tower. It was built in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair. Not everyone was a fan, however; many Parisians grew tired of it looming in the sky and voted for it to be removed. Eiffel immediately devised a plan to safeguard the structure: He installed a wireless telegraph transmitter on top to help the French military communicate with ships in the Atlantic and to intercept enemy messages during WWI. Eiffel’s plan worked. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Our last night in Paris was spent on an evening river cruise. The Seine really was lovely and provided quite a different vantage point from which to see the sights. It was heart-warming to see the multitude of Parisians picnicking on the river bank. Our tour guide had a merry time, drank a little too much de vin or cognac, and proceeded to encourage Adam and I to commence our merrymaking as the last night in Paris – the city of love – as it would be a perfect night to start a family. But he wasn’t the least bit subtle! I’m not prude but it was a little embarrassing as we’d just been married two months and had great adventures planned for our immediate future. And besides, his discretions weren’t made discreetly!
Our first adventure of the day meant getting in line early at the Louvre, the most visited art museum in the world. The Louvre was originally a fortress built in the 12th century. To see Mona Lisa, you absolutely must arrive early and then go directly to her exhibit once you have bought your museum tickets. Just as the Moulin Rouge had a disappointment factor, the Mona Lisa does for many people. The portrait is just 30 inches by 21 inches. Viewing Mona Lisa in person was on our bucket list so we didn’t mind. Once we’d seen her, we took off on a whirlwind foot tour which included seeing the works of artists such as Leonardo de Vinci. Just like we’d experienced in London, there was just no way to see even a smidgen of the exhibits. But we gave it our best effort.
A must-see for many – especially for Roman Catholics – was the Notre-Dame de Paris, the Notre Dame Cathedral. One of my favorite experiences of the trip, we experienced confession and lit prayer candles. I labored over my rosary selection ensuring I chose the one with the most significance to me. And we received a marriage blessing from Father Michael A. Perry who serves as the English-speaking priest each summer. Sidebar: Father Perry is from New Jersey! How cool, right?! The spiritual experience was overwhelming and I was in happy tears by the end.
I’m not sure why we got our heads turned around at this point. Fatigue? Language barriers? Hunger? At any rate, we were a little loopy. We were trying to visit a location on the recommendation of my brother who spent some time in Paris a few year ago. But we got turned around. When we left the church we thought we were going to another church based on my brother’s recommendation. The Parisians we asked thought quell idiots (you idiots!) when we insisted there was a church we wanted to visit. Eventually we realized that they were right. The church was actually a really darling street full of people and activities and well worth the confusion. Adam was intrigued by a man making crepes. After an animated conversation, the fellow allowed Adam to swirl the wand and make a crepe of his own.
We decided to see more of the city using the hop-on-hop-off bus. We passed the Arc de Triomphe which was constructed in the early 1800s to memorialize those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars. It is another iconic site often featured in movies. Beneath Arc de Triomphe lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. We visited the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel which is a smaller arch in Paris built a little earlier than the Arc de Triomphe to commemorate Napoleon's military victories the year before. Afterward we admired the Eiffel Tower from another spectacular view. We never went up in the Tower as we were told it’s not as great as admiring it from afar. Fun Fact: The Eiffel Tower was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel whose company designed and built the tower. It was built in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair. Not everyone was a fan, however; many Parisians grew tired of it looming in the sky and voted for it to be removed. Eiffel immediately devised a plan to safeguard the structure: He installed a wireless telegraph transmitter on top to help the French military communicate with ships in the Atlantic and to intercept enemy messages during WWI. Eiffel’s plan worked. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Our last night in Paris was spent on an evening river cruise. The Seine really was lovely and provided quite a different vantage point from which to see the sights. It was heart-warming to see the multitude of Parisians picnicking on the river bank. Our tour guide had a merry time, drank a little too much de vin or cognac, and proceeded to encourage Adam and I to commence our merrymaking as the last night in Paris – the city of love – as it would be a perfect night to start a family. But he wasn’t the least bit subtle! I’m not prude but it was a little embarrassing as we’d just been married two months and had great adventures planned for our immediate future. And besides, his discretions weren’t made discreetly!
Day 7: Paris and Rome
Without the fanfare of a newborn prince, our time in Paris drew to a close. We bid À la prochaine to Paris and boarded a plane for a short flight to Rome.
Caio, Roma (Hello, Rome!)
We quickly transferred to our bus for a short ride into the city. The countryside was lush. My mind kept going to the millions of people who had traced the Appian way over the centuries.
Once settled, our adventure in Italy began with a taxi ride to the iconic Trevi Fountain. Its geographic location was puzzling as a residential neighborhood surrounded it. We both made wishes and tossed coins into the fountain. The shops were plentiful as were the food choices. It was heavenly. We were confused as to the proliferance of miniature Pinocchio puppets in all the shops. Sidebar: Silly us – the creator of Pinocchio, was Italian journalist and children’s author Carlo Collodi Lorenzinii. We enjoyed gelato and pizza that first night and simply walked the lovely streets.
Without the fanfare of a newborn prince, our time in Paris drew to a close. We bid À la prochaine to Paris and boarded a plane for a short flight to Rome.
Caio, Roma (Hello, Rome!)
We quickly transferred to our bus for a short ride into the city. The countryside was lush. My mind kept going to the millions of people who had traced the Appian way over the centuries.
Once settled, our adventure in Italy began with a taxi ride to the iconic Trevi Fountain. Its geographic location was puzzling as a residential neighborhood surrounded it. We both made wishes and tossed coins into the fountain. The shops were plentiful as were the food choices. It was heavenly. We were confused as to the proliferance of miniature Pinocchio puppets in all the shops. Sidebar: Silly us – the creator of Pinocchio, was Italian journalist and children’s author Carlo Collodi Lorenzinii. We enjoyed gelato and pizza that first night and simply walked the lovely streets.
Day 8: Rome
Our morning bus ride took us to the one and only, Colosseum. THE Colosseum! Sidebar: There are actually a bunch of colosseums but we visited THE Colosseum known as the Flavian Amphitheater. It was incredible to see the Roman numerals carved along the bottom arches. The arches were numbered just as entrances at stadiums today are numbered. Once again I found myself transporting in time and imagining the experiences of the people who had once visited the grand stadium. I imagined the gladiatorial combats, wild animal fights, hunts, and mock naval engagements. Looking at it, I reveled in how the Romans were able to flood the arena and bring in boats for the battles. Although the Colosseum was under construction – restoration, really -- we didn’t mind. We caught a view of the holding areas where slaves, gladiators, and animals were held until time to go up for the event. Sidebar: Yes, reenactors are dressed up as gladiators for photos. Yes, it will cost you money.
Walking by the Roman Forum, the ancient civic area of Rome, was spectacular! Ruins remained in place while the bustling city grew around them. It was quite bizarre though apparently completely natural to those who saw them on such a regular basis that they seemed to disregard them altogether. We visited the Theatre of Marcellus, the remains of one of the many Roman aqueducts, what remained of the Royal Palace, and the now tree-covered location of Circus Maximus. We even saw the building in which Benito Mussolini made many of his public speeches and the balcony from which he gave them!
We walked the stairs up to the Piazza del Campidoglio which was designed by Michelangelo! Today it is one of Rome’s civic plazas. Next to the Piazza was the Basilica of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli. Legend has it that Augustus was told by the oracle Tibertine that the location was the place to which Christ would return from heaven.
The relics of Saint Helena, mother to Emperor Constantine are located at the Basilica. On a somber note, at the foot of the steps was where criminals were executed. The Stairway of 124 steps was constructed in 1348. Beside it sat Chiesa San Biagio de Mercato built in the Middle Ages! Not too much is known about the church.
I’m a history buff. No, I’m more than a buff. But the volumes of history we were experiencing consumed all my energy and emotions. I was grateful when lunch time arrived so I could decompress a bit. The ristorante we chose had the best bruschetta I have ever had. And trust me, this girl has had tons! But wait – there’s more! Delicious Gnocchi. The real deal. Not a national chain. Not a heat and serve. The. Best. Ever.
While we dined, one of our fellow travelers expressed interest in seeing a Jewish ghetto. She was Jewish and felt compelled to visit one. We went with her. I wasn’t prepared for the flood of emotions I would have as the weight of history bore down on me. We ended the day back at the Colosseum and walked along stone roads. We found another ristorante for dinner and a gelato shop for dessert. Sidebar: Some locals were amused by us and chatted. They asked if we were Australians. Silly mates!
Our morning bus ride took us to the one and only, Colosseum. THE Colosseum! Sidebar: There are actually a bunch of colosseums but we visited THE Colosseum known as the Flavian Amphitheater. It was incredible to see the Roman numerals carved along the bottom arches. The arches were numbered just as entrances at stadiums today are numbered. Once again I found myself transporting in time and imagining the experiences of the people who had once visited the grand stadium. I imagined the gladiatorial combats, wild animal fights, hunts, and mock naval engagements. Looking at it, I reveled in how the Romans were able to flood the arena and bring in boats for the battles. Although the Colosseum was under construction – restoration, really -- we didn’t mind. We caught a view of the holding areas where slaves, gladiators, and animals were held until time to go up for the event. Sidebar: Yes, reenactors are dressed up as gladiators for photos. Yes, it will cost you money.
Walking by the Roman Forum, the ancient civic area of Rome, was spectacular! Ruins remained in place while the bustling city grew around them. It was quite bizarre though apparently completely natural to those who saw them on such a regular basis that they seemed to disregard them altogether. We visited the Theatre of Marcellus, the remains of one of the many Roman aqueducts, what remained of the Royal Palace, and the now tree-covered location of Circus Maximus. We even saw the building in which Benito Mussolini made many of his public speeches and the balcony from which he gave them!
We walked the stairs up to the Piazza del Campidoglio which was designed by Michelangelo! Today it is one of Rome’s civic plazas. Next to the Piazza was the Basilica of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli. Legend has it that Augustus was told by the oracle Tibertine that the location was the place to which Christ would return from heaven.
The relics of Saint Helena, mother to Emperor Constantine are located at the Basilica. On a somber note, at the foot of the steps was where criminals were executed. The Stairway of 124 steps was constructed in 1348. Beside it sat Chiesa San Biagio de Mercato built in the Middle Ages! Not too much is known about the church.
I’m a history buff. No, I’m more than a buff. But the volumes of history we were experiencing consumed all my energy and emotions. I was grateful when lunch time arrived so I could decompress a bit. The ristorante we chose had the best bruschetta I have ever had. And trust me, this girl has had tons! But wait – there’s more! Delicious Gnocchi. The real deal. Not a national chain. Not a heat and serve. The. Best. Ever.
While we dined, one of our fellow travelers expressed interest in seeing a Jewish ghetto. She was Jewish and felt compelled to visit one. We went with her. I wasn’t prepared for the flood of emotions I would have as the weight of history bore down on me. We ended the day back at the Colosseum and walked along stone roads. We found another ristorante for dinner and a gelato shop for dessert. Sidebar: Some locals were amused by us and chatted. They asked if we were Australians. Silly mates!
Day 9: Rome
Vatican City. Nothing else to add. I’m kidding. Today we visited Vatican City!!! The walls. The doors. The Guard. Oh my goodness. St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pieta by Michelangelo, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square. Wow. I was overwhelmed as the heritage of my Catholic faith was before me. I found the rosary I wanted but was unable to have it blessed in person as the Pope was in Argentina and we didn’t see any priests strolling around.
As our tour was winding down on this last day, our guide had one unscheduled stop. The stop was along roads infrequently travelled and certainly off the beaten path of tourists. The destination wasn’t part of the tour but something he thought we’d enjoy: Hadrian's Mausoleum Castel Sant'Angelo. The mausoleum was built from 135 – 139 AD and was the final resting place for Emperor Hadrian. The Ponte Sant'Angelo bridge was a bridge built in 123 BC over the Tiber River. It’s stone masonry includes 7 arches. The macabre history of the bridge’s purpose was to cross the river as well as to showcase the bodies of those executed nearby. In the 1600s, statues of St. Peter and St. Paul were placed at the ends of the bridge and 10 statues were mounted as parapets. The statuary was added to depict the Passion of Christ. He also took us to a restaurant along with back roads not known to tourists. Adjectives fail me now – the day was truly spectacular.
We collapsed in our room. We were literally spent. Every ounce of my being was on overload. What an epic journey we had just completed.
Day 10: Rome and Home
Our final morning in Italy was bittersweet. We had seen more than most will in a lifetime. We were grateful for the experience and new friends we’d gained. We were sorrowful that our journey was ending. But then our demeanors shifted again. Our journey had really just begun. We packed everything we could into our overpacked luggage. It was time to say Arrivederci, Roma (Until we meet again, Rome). We’ll be back.
Vatican City. Nothing else to add. I’m kidding. Today we visited Vatican City!!! The walls. The doors. The Guard. Oh my goodness. St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pieta by Michelangelo, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square. Wow. I was overwhelmed as the heritage of my Catholic faith was before me. I found the rosary I wanted but was unable to have it blessed in person as the Pope was in Argentina and we didn’t see any priests strolling around.
As our tour was winding down on this last day, our guide had one unscheduled stop. The stop was along roads infrequently travelled and certainly off the beaten path of tourists. The destination wasn’t part of the tour but something he thought we’d enjoy: Hadrian's Mausoleum Castel Sant'Angelo. The mausoleum was built from 135 – 139 AD and was the final resting place for Emperor Hadrian. The Ponte Sant'Angelo bridge was a bridge built in 123 BC over the Tiber River. It’s stone masonry includes 7 arches. The macabre history of the bridge’s purpose was to cross the river as well as to showcase the bodies of those executed nearby. In the 1600s, statues of St. Peter and St. Paul were placed at the ends of the bridge and 10 statues were mounted as parapets. The statuary was added to depict the Passion of Christ. He also took us to a restaurant along with back roads not known to tourists. Adjectives fail me now – the day was truly spectacular.
We collapsed in our room. We were literally spent. Every ounce of my being was on overload. What an epic journey we had just completed.
Day 10: Rome and Home
Our final morning in Italy was bittersweet. We had seen more than most will in a lifetime. We were grateful for the experience and new friends we’d gained. We were sorrowful that our journey was ending. But then our demeanors shifted again. Our journey had really just begun. We packed everything we could into our overpacked luggage. It was time to say Arrivederci, Roma (Until we meet again, Rome). We’ll be back.
Notables:
London was abnormally hot when we visited. Rome was sweltering but we learned this was typical. Sidebar: We actually ran out of clothes by this time and had to wash a pair of clothes in the bathroom of our hotel! None of our hotels had what we Westerners would call air conditioning. Few beverages included ice. The people were delightful at every stop including Paris. We encountered tons of tourists. We found delightful surprises around every corner. We didn’t find food, shopping or experiences to be priced much differently than in the United States.
London was abnormally hot when we visited. Rome was sweltering but we learned this was typical. Sidebar: We actually ran out of clothes by this time and had to wash a pair of clothes in the bathroom of our hotel! None of our hotels had what we Westerners would call air conditioning. Few beverages included ice. The people were delightful at every stop including Paris. We encountered tons of tourists. We found delightful surprises around every corner. We didn’t find food, shopping or experiences to be priced much differently than in the United States.