Debarkation, Rome in a Day Tour, Drop off at Hotel near FCO airport - July 2, 2015

Final Day!  Our Romecabs pick- up was for 8 AM!  Quite a feat awakening the boys, last minute packing, last breakfast at the Diamond Lounge with good- byes to our dining room server, Michele Allen and the staff in the lounge.  We walked our luggage off of the ship at 7:45 and our driver - John Luis was waiting.  All of our driver's were good but he was the best!  I asked, as I always do,  to stop at the Cathedral of St. Paul outside of the Wall.  This was a surprise stop on our first trip to Rome and one of my favorites.  We were early and there were very few people there. The cathedral is large, spacious and beautiful with pictures of every Pope bordering the ceiling.  The tome of St. Paul is in the church.  Unfortunately there is now a charge to visit the gardend which are really lovely.  We didn't take the time to do that but I will look for my 10 year old pictures to remind me of how it looked.

St. Paul's outside the wall

The Pyramid of Caius Cestius is the only surviving monument of a series of similar buildings existing in Rome in the 1st c. BCE

The historic Palatine Hills known for the ruins of ancient imperial palaces

The Circus Maximus (Latin for greatest or largest circus) is an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue

Our morning visit to the Colosseum was cancelled due to a unplanned strike.  In  Italy strikes are announced in advance and often last a short time.  So our schedule was adjusted - we visited the Pantheon in the morning and saved the Colosseum til the afternoon.  

The Pantheon is the most preserved and ancient building in a Rome.  It is dedicated to the pagan gods of Rome.  It is a magnificent building 

The Great Occulus of the Pantheon is 29 feet across, provides the only source of light. It is open to whatever the weather brings - the building has drainage holes in the floor for when it rains

Next stop...the Spanish Steps.  Unfortunately the Trevi Fountain is still undergoing repairs and renovation. We opted not to visit since last year we found that most of its beauty was obstructed by constuction materials.

  

At the foot of the stairs, the famous Barcaccia Fountain, the work of Pietro Bernini and his son, Gian Lorenzo.

We had lunch in a quiet restaurant outside of the tourist area - a welcome respite from the very crowded popular tourism area.  Of course, Pizza was the meal of choice. Our quest to determine both the best pizza and the best gelato in Italy continues.  I broke from the group and had a delicious Calzone (looked and tasted much like a folded pizza).  The pizza was rated very good but the winner was declared - drum roll -- Sorrento (worth noting that the view from our outdoor table in Sorrento might have influenced the vote).  

After lunch we picked up our Vatican guide, Julia and went directly to the Vatican.  Julia moved us quickly (with our prepaid tickets) through the ticket area, onto a Lift and we were on our way. I felt a bit sorry for those, in the  long line outside, who hadn't had the benefit of the advice I got from our tour company about buying  tickets online before we left home. The pictures below show our tour through the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Bascilica.

Jubilee Door - St. Peter's 

Final stop:     The Colosceum 

It was hot, we were tired, and the crowds were heavy due to the morning strike. Our visit was a very short one - a few views, a few pictures and we were, happily on our way to our hotel near the airport.

Bad lighting...but Max and Nick were really there

Leaving - Note: construction on the Colosceum on the right

We relaxed in our air conditioned vehicle while John dealt with the traffic leaving Rome.  After a 40 min ride, we arrived at  the Hotel Seccy - a small boutique hotel in Fiumicino that I found on Trip Advisor that seemed like a restful haven after our last 2 hot, busy days.  We had an easy check- in by a friendly, welcoming receptionist, found clean comfortable rooms, and were ready for naps!

When everyone was rested, we walked a few blocks from the hotel to a seafood restaurant with an outdoor patio....Fiumicino was originally a fishing village and is still an important fishing center.  The boys had Fisherman spaghetti, I had Fisherman Risotto and Art had Linguini with tiny clams.  The bread was good, we had complimentary hors d'oerves, and the food was good.  Wine for the old folks made us all happy!  We had a leisurely dinner with dessert

Our dour- faced  waiter needed a personality transplant

And so to bed....home tomorrow!