ROMA DAY 2: SIGHTSEEING AND SHOPPING
- #wanderwahine
- Sep 24, 2016
- 2 min read
Day two in Rome started with an early morning on the Metro to Vatican City.
We had a pre-arranged tour for our group so we beat the lines and headed straight in. The Vatican is actually its own country within a country. When we entered it looked like a TSA checkpoint at an airport with metal detectors, conveyer belts and tons of security.
It was packed on the inside and we were told it was a "slow day." Our guide was Italian (of course) and he was amazing. He waved around a yellow flag so we could see him and would get our attention via our headsets by saying, "Contiiikiii!" This became a trademark saying for the rest of the trip.
We started in the Vatican Museum and made our way toward the Sistine Chapel - famed for its interior frescos completed over an 11-year period by the famous painter, Michelangelo.
Exited where the Pope has his audience every Wednesday. It is estimated that around 200,000 attend. Stopped off in the gift shop to stand in a long line for the restroom. Couldn't help but notice all the commerce within the Vatican. Lots of souvenirs and overpriced religious relics.
Formed a group to get some lunch after our visit to the Vatican. Went to the famous Ristorante Vacanze Romane in Piazza Navona. Had an amazing Ragu Ravioli and a pretty serious salad. Washed it down with a cappuccino, of course.
Started to get confident with navigating the streets of Rome, we decided to ditch our walking tour and headed to the main shopping street (Via del Corso). Spent several hours here before having an early dinner at Babbington's Tea Room.
After dinner we hopped back on the metro to meet the group at our original departure station. Some of the metro stops were dirty, dark and sketchy. I don't recommend using the restroom. It can also get crowded on the metro as well as when you're entering or exiting the car. It is really important to mind your belongings especially during this time, as thieves use the crowds as an opportunity to pick-pocket you. They often work in pairs and will most likely steal from you right before exiting the car. Someone on our tour got pick-pocketed and didn't realize it until they were already off the metro.
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