Nov 12' 2019 :
Italy Trip - Day 1
Finally we landed into the historic city of Rome after a long tiring flight from home country India.
Due to quick and sudden plan the schedule was overall hectic for a dream Italy trip with my Sweetheart and 1.5 years little heart.
Sharing the Itinerary we had for a reference:
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Day 1 : Onward journey : Kolkata (CCU), India -> FCO"Leonardo da Vinci", Rome,Italy
Day 2 : Rome: Vatican City,Vatican Museum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain.
Day 3 : Rome: Colosseum,Roman Forum,Pallatine Hills,The Pantheon, Piazza Di Navona
Day 4 : Florence : Duomo, Campanile Di Giotto, Piazza Di Signora,Ponte Vechhio, Uffizi
Day 5 : Florence to Pisa - Leaning Tower of Pisa ground
Pisa to Cinque Terre (via La Spezia Centrale)
Day 6 : Cinque Terre: Monterosso, Varnezza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore
Day 7 : Cinque Terre to Venice (via La Spezia ->Parma ->Bologna->S.L Venezia)
Day 8: Venice : San Marco Square, Campanile, St Mark's Bascilla, Doge's Palace, Rialto Bridge, Murano, Burano, Torcello,
Day 9: Venice - Gondola Ride
Return journey:(VCE), Marco Polo, Venice --> Kolkata (CCU), India
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Reaching Rome
Rome was definitely not built in a day, knowing so we pre-planned a minimum 2 days for it being there once before back in 2011 also with colleagues. That time it was a hurried single day trip not covering every minimum sight scenes. So here in this blog I am going to share my first day in Rome experience after an overnight travel from India.
We reached Rome airport at around 7 pm in the evening. As per the plans first thing first we picked up 2 TIM sims(roughly 35 Euro) a piece for me and my wife which was fine for a 7 day trip. There are other mobile shops with different offers though which might be expensive up to 70 euro as per plans offered. Our little one was getting a bit irritated after a long flight. Once done with the Sim installation we moved on for our pre-booked Bus services for our hotel near Roma Centrale(which we got to know clearly the next morning in day light).It took around an hour for the sim to get activated & initially it was causing issue for data. After a brief walk out of the airport we lined up to take the scheduled buses and reached to Roma Centrale within a hour. Night time with luggage and baby in stroller was bit tough to manage single handedly but somehow managed to off board clean. It was quite chilled that time due to some rains as well.
Our Hotel was to be hardly a 5-7 mins walk but from the point we were off boarded it was slight far from the actual Roma Terminale & near the metro stations. After inquiring and surfing the place for sometime I managed to get couple of 48 hours valid Rome passes for bus/trams from the Tabachhi( kind of cigarette/stationary shops). Also got some pizza slices and Tiramisu (lovely dessert) picked up before moving for our hotel. Being very close we didn't go for any cab, but faced some issue with the GPS tracking due to data problem which was not that active after the number got activated.After few minutes of struggle for a 5/7 min walk in direct path we reached our hotel after about 15-20 minutes. And yes it was trouble with luggage and baby with stroller in Italy footways imust say, you need to get some strong one. Lighter ones won't sustain as the footways are very stony and uneven.
Anyways we reached & checked into our Hotel. Took some good time to settle and rest after getting our baby in all the comforts he needed. We tried to get to sleep quickly but not able to manage as next morning was hectic since pre-booked guided tour for Vatican City was from sharp 8 am in the morning. That night we already took the receptionist guidance for the Vatican City routed bus number (40 & 64)
Exploring Vatican City
Next morning was good, initially slightly drizzling but later got cleared. Had a very descent breakfast in the hotel (some nice croissant, breads, tea/coffee etc) , off we went for the bus terminus.
While reaching the terminus the huge Roma Terminale could be seen, also we realized last night we came from a round way while walking.Crossing the terminale was the bus stop.Buses 40 & 64 were very frequent with 15/20 mins gap but we were running a bit late. So we boarded on the one we found about to leave, it was crowdy. Managed to find a corner we started towards Vatican City. Excitement and bit nervous it was overall thrilling for me to revisit my dreams and goose bumps for my wife being first time experience.
Within 20 mins we reached the nearest stop to get down. We got down but faced an issue. The Vatican walls & entry all were nearby but to my surprise or ignorance the meeting point shown around 30 mins far from the spot for the guided tour team. I forgot the previous time's entry experience and thought without pre-booked tickets we can't get in now so got a bit nervous. Unable to trace our guide finally we joined the line for entrance by ourselves. Actually there's no need for advance fast skip the line tickets if you are not visiting Vatican during summer or peak time. In off season during Nov to Mar its manageable.
We lost around 90 euro actually for the pre-booked guided tour, we realized it was not required. Entry was basically free for St Peter's Church & its only 10 euro a person if you want to reach to the top of the it. After having a good time inside St Peter's with its breath taking art work and interiors we went off for the dome.
Its 551 steps in total to reach the top. The entrance cost is 10 Euros for elevator, 8 Euros for stairs. The brief elevator ride (or the first 231 steps) brings us to a base halfway having a wide place with souvenir shops. We took a small pause while feeding our little one his lunch before we climbed for the dome. Here you can enjoy a great view from the gallery inside the dome looking down into the basilica. The more you move up, the dome's shape pushes you against the walls. Its tough specially for kids and old peoples with breathing problems or heart diseases. There is hardly space to cross between 2 peoples at the top parts before you finally reach the top for a breath taking view of the city and the squares.
It was magical. After around 30 mins of view and rest we started back as our Vatican museum ticket timings were about to start by 11 am.Reached down, spent some more time in the Vatican square.By now the entry line has gone huge. Its always recommended to go early for the line to be less.
Italy has lot of fountains.Outside the vatican walls we found a small one, water is drinkable and chilled.Refreshed by the tough climb we left out for Vatican Museum.
Vatican Museum
On reaching the Vatican Museum it was not that much crowdy. After validating pre booked ticket we went for the cafeteria.We were too hungry so decided to have our lunch first before going for the museum halls.
Tummy's is full so our energy is back. Headed of for the museum we explored all the galleries and halls with breathtaking and rich art work from famous artists of Italy who depicts the era Renaissance art. It includes Leonardo Davinci. Michelangelo, Raphael,Caravaggio and few of the greatest of that era.
With over 7 kilometers of art galleries, the Vatican Museums are among the largest in the world. Vatican Museum Must Sees include, but are not limited to:
It will roughly take a minimum o 2 to3 hours to go around all the beautiful work of art & sculptures. One thing to mention ofcourse everyone will love the arts but if you are not a very attached to art you may feel it as monotonous for the long hopping between various galleries and hallways.Frankly speaking last hour we felt the same trying to search for the Exits as well.But once you reach the Sistine Chapel at the last you might not regret. A true masterpiece in itself , a work of excellence. As per rules it was not allowed to take any snap and loyally i obeyed it. I personally don't have a copy of my own shot but its there in the internet everywhere. Anyways finally we moved out and started for the Spanish steps.
Spagna - The Spanish steps
Walked for around 15 mins to reach the nearest subway Ottaviano to reach Spagna - for the Spanish Steps. It was almost going to get dark at around 4:30 pm when we reached the Stairs finally. Time was running, slightly drizzling on way and lights are all mostly on.
When i visited here in last 2011 summer we walked from Vatican Museum as i remember and reached here from the top of the Spanish steps.This time being with family and kid took the easy metro option. We spent a fair amount of time but really wanted to come a bit early in day light though it was bit gloomy the whole day. Nevertheless we had some nice time, feeded our baby who was up from his nap by now. Since he was out of his time zones for most of our journey afternoon he mostly slept.
Trevi Fountain
Italy or Rome is a land of beautiful Fountains or "Fontana" as they say. Every now and then in some places, middle of squares, plazas,piazzas there's a fountain. The water are mostly drinkable and cool.You can refill your bottles if you run out of water and yes visiting Europe/Italy you have to walk mostly so always carry water.
Moving ahead from the Spanish steps we reached the Trevi Fountains which i never see a breathing space. A congested small space with a large fountain with nice architecture and sculptures. People stick close to the wells for hangout, selfies and one important thing to do when you come to Rome and Trevi is to throw a coin into the fountain: with your back to the fountain throw it in, over your shoulder. This is a sure guarantee that you’ll come back to Rome again one day. There’s another legend, too. If you throw three coins in: the first guarantees a repeat visit to the city; the second means a love affair, and the third means a wedding.
To the contrary I visited 2 times Italy and I never thrown any coin but still revisited :-). Want to be back here again.
The coins recovered from the fountain are all donated to the Rome branch of Caritas. They amount to about 3,000 Euros a day but the precise amount is difficult to quantify because coins of all different currencies get thrown in and so first they have to be changed into Euros at the bank.
It was around 8 pm and already dark. Someway the rain was not falling so was good enough to stroll around. Next what ? we are too hungry. Hopped in to the nearest McD for a meal. After the long gap and walking we were really exhausted so took some time out in McD while having our meal. Once we are full again we headed for the nearby Souvenir shops, here to mention both me and my wife are very fond of collecting souvenirs specially magnets and small show pieces depicting the place. After few more minutes back near the Trevi Fountain we started back for the metro station to get back to our hotel. We walked back the same distance for around 20 mins to reach Station Spagna from where we headed off back to Roma Termini.
It was around 8 pm and already dark. Someway the rain was not falling so was good enough to stroll around. Next what ? we are too hungry. Hopped in to the nearest McD for a meal. After the long gap and walking we were really exhausted so took some time out in McD while having our meal. Once we are full again we headed for the nearby Souvenir shops, here to mention both me and my wife are very fond of collecting souvenirs specially magnets and small show pieces depicting the place. After few more minutes back near the Trevi Fountain we started back for the metro station to get back to our hotel. We walked back the same distance for around 20 mins to reach Station Spagna from where we headed off back to Roma Termini and walk to our hotel. On way back we got some nice dinner as per our taste from a nearby Bangladeshi restaurant. Sometimes after an exhaustive day you do appreciate some food of your best taste :-)
Oh !! it was really tough day considering early morning start to reach by 8 am & yesterday's long journey to start the trip. Next day would be little bit relaxed as no hurry. Next day experience Day 2 is shared in my next blog exploring Rome.
Tips to Note:
You can do advance entry ticket booking depending on the time of the year you are going to visit - like post November its normally not that busy so buying tickets on the spot is not too difficult if you reach early before the Vatican city opens around 8 am.
Even you have booked in online guide tours, reach early to the said spot where the guide starts. We missed the same reaching late so almost 100 euros (for 2 person) wasted for advance booking. It hardly required 10 euros to get in as entry fee including the dome climb. But yes if its summertime you may need to strictly have the fast passes. It will save 2-3 hours entry queue at every major entries.
Get all your required maps available in your phone & have a proper sim installed with good data plan before actually starting your trip. Recommend to take TIM, Vodafone etc connections from airport only, TIM is more cheaper and affordable.
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