Leaving Rome Blog

Prelogue..... I'm in the Paris airport, on my connector back to the states. This is the first WiFi connection I've been able to access my whole trip. Italy, although strikingly beautiful, is not on the cutting edge of technology......
November 22, 2005
Since I have yet to find a WiFi internet connection, I havent posted any of these blogs yet, but I'll keep writing anyway. Less than one minute ago, my train departed from Rome Termini Station enroute to Florence, Italy. I should be there in under 2 hours and I cannot wait. It's sad leaving Rome, for those of you who haven't been there yet, you must go. Rome ruled the world for around 1,000 years, having seen the city twice now, I can believe it. Rome also borders the smallest country in the world, Vatican City. Vatican City might be small, but its got more amazing art than many entire countries. I visited the Sistine Chapel today. Words cannot describe it, so i won't try. Seeing that alone made the entire trip worth it, seeing all of Vatican City, including St Peter's Basilica (largest cathedral in the world), is something I'll remember vividly til I die. I should also mention that there's not a religious bone in my body so my opinions are all art based and not religion based. I suppose if your Catholic, seeing Vatican City might hold even more for you.

My hotel was a five minute walk from a famous Bernini fountain (there are several in Rome), as well as the Spanish Steps. The Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Trevi Fountain were also close by, all of the above are definite "must see" places in Rome. And of course yesterday i spent time at the Colosseum (think "Gladiator") and all around the ancient Ruins. I can't imagine watching real Gladiators killing each other as well as fighting lions and tigers, but it really happened, alot. I really didn't have much desire to visit Rome before i went, but having now been there, the experience easily stacks up to Paris, Prague or any other place I've been. I hear great things about both Florence and Venice and cannot wait to see them for myself, but I'll miss Rome and I hope to go back one day. For now, I'm racing thru the Italian countryside on a Eurostar train. This country is beautiful and its very easy to see why so many famous artists such as Michaelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini were born here.
-Ken