When in Rome . . .

January 29, 2017

...do as the Romans do.  Eat pasta and go to church.  Friday morning our flight to Rome landed right on time.  Thank you, Delta Airlines.  We went directly to our Airbnb apartment, settled in quickly and went exploring. Our apartment is wonderfully located just two blocks from the Pantheon.  In Rome, as in most cities in the United States, as you explore a city you pass many churches.  In Rome we actually go inside these churches because they are large, ornate and old.  We went inside three different churches this morning.  We never cease to be amazed at how beautiful catholic churches in Europe are compared to protestant churches in England and the states.  After a nap we returned to one of our favorite tratorria's in Rome located near Trevi Fountain, about a 5-10 minute walk from our apartment.  We both had delicious pasta dishes;   Lynda's with a lobster creme sauce and Tim's with a truffle sauce.  

We were determined on this trip to find a site in Rome we had never visited before.  Saturday morning we took a bus to Scala Santa, the sacred steps.  Scala Santa consists of 28 marble steps that Jesus ascended when He faced Pontius Pilate for His condemnation.  The steps were brought to Rome in 326.  In 1723 the steps were brought to their present location and covered in wood to protect the marble and were made available to everyone.  Worshipers ascend the steps on their knees, stopping on each step to pray, as part of the Sacrament of Penance. There are openings in the wood where one sees dark stains that are thought to be the blood of Jesus.  No one is allowed to walk up these steps and no photos are allowed.  We took a separate staircase to the 2nd floor to see the chapel. There is a room next to the chapel that is preserved as it was in Medieval times, containing the original gold mosaics on the wall and ceilings and the original alter piece made of silver and gold.  We were quite overwhelmed by it all.  Across the street from Scala Santa is the Basilica of San Giovannini. While not as large or ornate at St. Peter's, it was still much more impressive than the churches we visited yesterday.  These two sites were an amazing find.

The only way to follow up the morning's sojourn was a lovely lunch of pasta.  After lunch while Lynda napped Tim continued to explore.  He found a small art gallery containing a dozen or so contemporary pieces.  Interestingly, the artist took sections of discarded canvases or paintings he did not like and overlayed them on another canvas.  Near the gallery was a pedestrian only street with many varied and interesting shops that ended at a small piazza where an open air market was in full swing.  The majority of the stalls were fresh fruit and vegetables, the rest being souvenirs and cheap clothing and household goods.  This was Rome as the locals live.

Saturday evening we found a pizzaria near the Piazza Navona.  Wood fired pizza in Italy is like nothing we have in the states.  Piazza Navona is one of the most famous piazzas in Rome.  It is very large, rectangular in shape, and surrounded on the outside by mo

stly restaurants and few shops. It is also famous in Crandall family lore because on our first trip to Rome in 1984 we stayed in a hostel, run by Dutch nuns for non catholics, located just behind Piazza Navona. During tourist season the piazza is full of artists with their easels set up to do portraits of the tourists.  These portraits are either life-like or caricatures.  In 1984 we had life-like portraits done of both Jil and Jeff.  More recently, we have brought Madison and Jocelyn to Rome and had similar portraits drawn.  Gives something for Cole and Kelsey to look forward to. On this chilly Saturday night there were few tourists and no artists in the piazza and most of the restaurants were closed.  Fortunately, Tre Scalini, Tim's favorite gelataria in Rome, was open.

Sunday we took a small bus to our cruise ship, Viking Cruises, the Viking Sea.  Viking is well known for their river cruises and has started ocean cruises during the last couple of years.  Having enjoyed a river cruise with Viking last spring we are looking forward to this cruise.  Our ship leaves port tonight and we cruise all day tomorrow, arriving in Malta on Tuesday morning.  Check back then for our next post.

Ciao and Go Green!

P.S. This post was to have gone out on Sunday but problems with our website have delayed its publication.  Sorry.

Entrance to our Rome apartment

Ceiling of St. Ignatius of Loyola chapel in Rome

Basilica San Giovnnini

Piazza Navona