July 24, 2007

• A romantic holiday — Day 6-8 (26-28/6/2007), Roma! Roma!

  

  
  

  This picture was taken at the Da Vinci Airport of Rome after our arrival.  We have been waiting for our baggages for nearly 1 hour.  Everyone at the baggage claim were waiting impatiently for their own stuff.  There were some luggages flowing on the belt but they belonged to arrivals even earlier than ours!

  
  

  ‘Well James, you don’t understand Italians.  Look.’  Jae told me.

  
  

  At another corner, a strong man was managing the baggages for transits.  There were something like a hundred baggages but he was the only one working on them.  He picked up the baggages slowly one by one and then brutally threw them into a cart.

  
  

  ‘Is this the Italian way?’  I asked.

  
  

  ‘You will know.’  Jae laughed.

  
  

  We were so grateful to discover that our bottles of wines (as gifts for friends in Rome) were still intact when we opened up our baggages.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

     

  
  

   The city plan of Rome is incredibly complicated.  Take a look on the map of Rome (this is central Rome only).

  
  

  

  
  

  We took taxi a few times in Rome and there was GPS on the taxi!  You see, even the local Romans cannot sort out their way without guides.

  
  

   

  
  

  We were taking bus and metro everyday when we cruised around in the city of Rome.  Here are some pictures of their metro.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  Don’t attempt to find one single train without graffiti!  This is Rome anyway.

  
  

   

  
  

  Buses were supposed to be dangerous places.  We were spotted everyday by pickpockets but we were smart enough to defend ourselves.

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

  It was very hot during our visit to Rome and the temperature was something like 35-37C.  People were wearing shorts but that was not the dressing code for us pilgrims.

  
  

  

  
  

  Luckily there were watertaps or fountains everywhere for us to refill our bottles on the way.

  
  

   

  
  

  We visited many churches in our 4 days visit in Rome (something like >30).  I hope I have not mixed up their names…

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  This is the Church of St. Prassede.  It is one of the oldest churches in Rome.  It was built in the 3rd century.  The church was built in Byzantine style and therewere beautiful mosaics inside.  There was also a crypt of martrys under the main altar.

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  This is the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.  It is one of the seven great basilicas in Rome.  Legends says the church was built at the site of a miraculous snowfall in August, after a Marian apparation.  Because of this, the feast day of this church is still celebrated with dropping of white rose petals every year.

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

  This is Basilica of St. John Lateran.  This is the Cathedral of the Pope, Bishop of Rome (not St. Peter’s Basilica).  There were many beautiful statues inside.

  
  

    St. James the Greater

  
  

   St. Bartholomew.  He was matyred by flaying and he is holding his own flayed skin here.

  
  

   Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat.  These famous words have been incoprated into numerous hymns and in English ‘Christ has conquered, Christ is reigning, Christ is King (Lord of lords)’

  
  

   

  
  

    Just outside the Church there was the Santa Scala (Holy Stairs).  These steps are traditionally the steps being walked by Jesus when he was brought before Pilate for trial.

  
  

   

  
  

  All the Churches I visited in Rome had one thing in common:  They were maintained very well no matter how ancient it was.

  
  

  ‘Well, it is a perfect arrangement of God.’  Jae ridiculed.  ‘You see, it is impossible to entrust the Jews to do this job, they didn’t have the talent to keep anything for long; neither the Chinese can do this…’

  
  

  ‘Yes, we are just interested to tear everything down and sell the land for money.’  I responded playfully with Jae.

  
  

  ‘Exactly.  So God entrusted the Romans to do this.  Probably He considers this as the safest way to keep the treasures of Christian faith unchanged even after thousands of years.’

  
  

   

  
  

  Obviously art of churches represent only part of this artistic city. 

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  A few snapshots at the Villa Borghese.  There was a large pond inside this garden.  Many local Romans were spending their leisure here.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  This is Vittoriano Monument at Piazza Venezia.  It was built to celebrate the unification of Italy in the late 19th century.  You can notice it was a piece of modernized work — a mixture of traditional Roman style of architecture and new style of statues (lack of mythology and Christian symbols).

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  Even the Catholic Church shared the stylish and elegant way of Roman life too.  This is the Fontana di Trevi, a Baroque fountain renovated during the Renaissance.  This is also the famous fountain for ‘coin throwing’ which ensures you a return to Rome.

  
  

   

  
  

  Rome is a historical city.  The Italians are so fond and proud of their ancient culture.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  This is the famous Colosseum.  This was the place where the gladiator fought for their lives.

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  This is the remains of ancient Roman Forum, where most powerful and influential government in the world once seated.  Some Italians were holding a rehersal on a drama or opera at the site during our visit.

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  This is the Palatine Hill and Circus Maximus.  Palatine Hills is one of the ‘seven hills of the City’ where Rome started to develop.  All major archeological sites were quite close to it, including the Colosseum and Circus Maximus.  Circus Maximus was the place where chariots raced.  Now there are no chariots and it has become a big gathering place for the Romans.  There were overnight parades here after Italy won the World Cup in 2006.

  
  

   

  
  

  Respect of past and history of the Italians is also reflected in their love of museum.  We have visited the Vatican Museum which is one of the world’s largest collection of ancient arts.  It took us more than 3 hours to just walk (without stopping much as it was simply too crowded) along the whole collection once.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

  This is simply a city of style and culture.  It is built for your sensation but not for your words!

  • 10:05 am
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