Sunday morning we got up early and went to the Pisa Terminal which was different than the one at the airport. We were told that the train to Rome did not leave until 9:30 but we could catch one in Florence if we left immediately and it would take us there. We did. We got to Florence just in time to catch the train to Rome and had to run to do that. It was a different kind of train than the one we took to Florence, it was more like the ones you see in the movies, you know like side compartments and a small hall way running down one side. We had to split up and sit in different compartments.
The trip took about 3 hours so along the way I walked up and down the length of the train. I met a guy from Romania who I some how figured out was a reporter. We didn't have a real long conversation because he couldn't understand me more than I him. Mostly I just looked at the country side going by. There were many farms and now and then you could see what looked like ruined castles in the distance.
When we got to the out skirts of Rome the train stopped and we were told not to get off until the second stop if we wanted to be in the heart of Rome. Rome Central, as they called it was much bigger and more crowed than the terminal in Florence. We ventured outside and found a little cafe, sat and drank coffee while trying to figure out our next move. No one thought about getting a map or anything so we just started walking in a general direction that some body in the cafe told us the Colosseum was.
On our way we came across a lot of interesting looking landmarks and ruins but had no idea what we were looking at most of the time. I do recall that one place I think might have been the Forum smelled like cat urine and I guess that was because I bet there were a hundred cats just lazying about. We did see the tomb of the Italian unknown soldier and witnessed a change of guard ceremony.
We had no trouble recognizing the Colosseum of course and I was surprised they just let you walk around the place with few places being off limits. They had some guides giving lectures to small groups but they were not in English so we just wondered around for about an hour.
We did mange to ask directions to the Vatican and ended up catching a bus that would take us there. The bus ride was free only because when we got on it was to crowed for us to give the money to the driver who didn't seem like he cared much.
When we reached the Vatican we entered the city/country from a side entrance and a whole bunch of people were in the square looking up at this guy on a balcony. A voice was booming over a loud speaker. The guy was Pope John Paul II. We had accidentally gotten there as he was giving his Sunday blessing to the faithful.
If any one regardless of his religion has any historical perspective or interest in history you had to be impressed to see one of the most powerful men in the world. After the blessing I bought a crucifix blessed by the Pope and it hangs in my house to this day.
We went on an unguided tour of St. Peters. It was more grand and ornate than anything I had or have seen. The Piata was near the front entrance, two weddings were going on, a group was singing and a mass was being held. We ventured down a little stair case and saw a place where a lot of the Popes had been buried and even saw the supposed burial place of St. Peter.
I stopped a priest on the street and asked him where the Sistine Chapel was. He pointed it out but also told us it was closed for repairs. I was disappointed. That is one thing I really wanted to see.
We walked back to the train station. We crossed the Tiber River, ate in a cafe, saw another Basilica and countless other strange, interesting, and beautiful places.
We ended up getting on the right train back to Florence some how, our trek was over.
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