Buzzing Around Rome (5)

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Rome, Italy (May 20-23)
The symbol of joy today is travel. There is a "wanderlust" that infects the blood. Rollin A. Sawyer

Our last day in Rome was free. There were so many places we wanted to see but Rome is a large city and the sights are blocks or miles apart from one another. I had been in Rome in 2006 and was able to see several of the sights. My cousin arranged our tours for the three days we were there. First day was as many fountains and piazzas we would visit; second day was all the churches we could visit (each one has a Christian artifact) and day three was Vatican City. At Trevi Fountain I of course threw in my coin wishing I would return. I never thought it would happen.

Fast forward to 2018 and I am returning to the eternal city. I am so excited to be seeing the city with Monty; we have such a good time together. We decide to go to the Roman Forum ruins and the Colosseum. It is a minimum $50 cab ride from our hotel. And there are other sights we want to see. Monty wants to see the Pantheon in the Piazza Navona and I’d like to see Trevi Fountain again.
We happen to be standing in our hotel lobby talking about what to do when Monty notices a flyer from a company that rents Vespa bikes and electric (and street legal) golf carts (buzz4tours.com).
The cost is very reasonable so we contact them. As it happens they are located just around the corner from our hotel. We go to see if this is an option for us. We don’t have an international driver’s license. Don’t need one for this mode of transportation. We rent for five hours at the cost of one cab ride across town. Monty is excited to drive it so all documents signed and he gets the low down on how to drive it. It also comes with an iPad already loaded with maps to the most popular sights of the city. Easy.

We jump in and buckle up. I am rather nervous since there is no door and traffic is congested and moving fast. There are lanes marked but no one seems to say in theirs. We were advised to stay out of the bus lane (instant ticket) and Monty loves driving it. He has a long history of motorcycle riding and easily goes in and out of the traffic, keeping up with all the crazies.
Our first stop is to the highest mountain with the view of the entire city, Monte Mario. Fantastic! 
View from Monte Mario


View from Monte Mario
We wind our way down the mountain and head for the Roman Forum. Find a place to park and hike to the entrance. We come in the back way and finally make our way down to the bottom. 
Roman Forum 
When I was there in 2006, it was more open and fewer fences. So many people on a very warm day. One way in and one way out. There is a fence now that divides the Coliseum from the ruins. We decide the walk to too long and take photos of the Coliseum and not go inside. 
Roman Forum
Coliseum
 There are other places to see and we are on the clock with the buzz car. Trevi Fountain is just too far if we want to see the Pantheon. We head to the Piazza Navona, the clouds are building so we find a café to have lunch in case it rains. It does lightly while we are eating. A lovely meal and we enjoy watching the people go by.

The Piazza Navona

Off to see the Pantheon. Very beautiful and we are taking several photos. Monty loves seeing it, such an architectural masterpiece. A former Roman temple, it is now a church on the site of an earlier temple commissioned during the reign of Augustus (27BC-14AD). 
Completed by Emperor Hadrian and probably dedicated about 126AD. The construction date is uncertain because Hadrian chose not to inscribe the new temple. The building is circular with a portico of large granite Corinthian columns under a pediment. 
Pantheon

A rectangular vestibule links the porch to the rotunda which is under a coffered concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus) to the sky. Almost two thousand years later after it was built, the Pantheon’s dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 142 feet.
Pantheon Dome
Time is running short so we head back to Buzz headquarters. We had a very fun, exciting day and would love to do it again even if I missed throwing my coin into Trevi.



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