ROME

Rome Italy, April 30th
So we gave Rome another chance. I am glad we did. The visit was much more pleasant this time. I guess not being among the screaming crowds and protests of Labor Day helped.
We caught the 730 train and got to Rome in no time. Our first stop was the Vatican. We did a quick walk through because we had 10am tickets for the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. We arrived at the museum entrance a little before 10. I am glad I pre bought the tickets because the ticket line was already 3 hours long. We say some of the highlights of the museum and then off to the Sistine Chapel. It truly is an amazing site to say the least. No photography is allowed so I had to buy the book.
It was perfect day weather wise. The first day it did not rain in Rome for weeks. I am not sure how much walking we actually did but it was a lot. (Slight blister). After leaving the Vatican we headed toward the Castle St. Angelo to get some outside photos. Then it was time for some awesome gelato. That was all I really had on my list to do after last year’s time there. We next walked to the Plaza Navona. Not wall to wall people like last year. The fountain of the 4 rivers is still under repair.
We then wound out way through the narrow streets, getting lost a few times to the campo di firore and explored the markets there. They really did have a little of everything. Chris then stopped at this bakery for a canoli for later on.
We had lunch at this café on the corner. It was very good and inexpensive compared to what we paid in the past. We started with a large plate of prosciutto. I had pasta carbonara and Chris had pasta with egg plant.
We then walked up to the Roman forum and coliseum. We once again subjected ourselves to the Roman subway system to the train terminal. We did have not have much of a wait and were back on board by about 545 pm.
Once back on board the ship we went to the spa and soaked our tired feet.
Dinner was at the Magenta dinning room. It was surf and more surf night, it was seafood served over pasta. I picked over that and had a lamb chop. Chris had a steak.