Rome in a day?

One of the best things about a cruise holiday is that you can see many places without unpacking and re packing. But you see them only for a day. Is that enough? Well, yes and no. It's enough to get a snapshot of somewhere new. And enough to decide whether you will return. But not enough to see or do the things on offer in a big city. 

Case study - Roma.

We've been to Rome before and stayed awhile. But Rich doesn't know Rome. We had a short day in the eternal city to introduce them both. Like an arranged Italian marriage, it was planned in detail.

We alighted at the Colosseum, wandered around it, poked alongside the Palatino and Forum Romano, wandered up to the monument at Capitol Hill, then on to Largo Argentina, pausing to admire the ruin of a fourth century BC roman temple and the pussy cats. 

Then to Campo di Fiori, paying brief homage to Bruno ( a monk burnt at the stake for thinking that the new fangled astronomers might be right in thinking that the earth was round and moved around the sun. Crikey, if that was true, what about all the other fantasies of religious dogma? Dangerous questions. Best we burn this guy, decided church and state) and Forno di Fiori ( joining the queue for bianco to fortify us), before heading over to Piazza Navona (more Christmas market than Roman spectacle on this day) for a lunch of pasta and pizza.

Then to the Pantheon, built as a monument to all roman gods. Last visit, I pointed out to Hugh that the Pantheon was 2000 years old. We better get out fast, he said, this thing could come down any moment. We were pleased to see it still standing. From there, a gelato stop and a slow wander back to our bus for the snoozy trip to Civitaveccia.

Phew!

For me, great to see those places again.  A reminder of why Syl and I want to come back for a much longer visit. 

For Rich, a whirlwind overview of just some of Roma's treasures. So much more to see....and that's what he plans to do one day!