"Rome - by Joo" a Rome Travel Page by l_joo

From Firenze to Roma
Do not expect I can build a good Roma page, I know only a little bit regarding this ancient city. The visit to Roma was unexpected, I hopped on a train from Ancona to Firenze but overslept, therefore the train shoots to Roma at about 4am in the morning. The conductor woke me up to check my ticket, so I have to get down waiting at the gate somewhere in Roma Tributina Station. I was like somebody throws you out to a strange place as early as 4am. That moment was dark and silent, with a backpack standing still completely out of idea what to do. I saw a gate with indication signs. It should be the correct way to go. Following the signs, I come to a staircase with the steel door already shut down. Through the steel, I can see it is a Metro but yet to open, so I guess I suppose to wait here.

At 6am, the Metro train came. I try to get more information but this is Roma, everything is written in Italian. Under such condition, I can't get anyone to help but only to wait. Luckily I caught the train to the city center, it was still 6.15am. Walking on the street of Rome with an outdated guide book, I found an address to the budget hostel. But I still need somebody to show me how to take a bus to the hostel. I found an early shop selling breakfast-like foods, let’s ask the owner. The old man courteously showed me how to take the bus but in some Italian-English, though it is very hard to understand but better than nothing. I reply with yeah, yeah, okay, okay. I managed to get the bus eventually dropped me at a place somewhere near a big Stadium. From there I have to walk approximately 5 minutes to the hostel. One guy approached to ask "hey do you know where SS Lazio is? I have no idea but point a finger at the Stadium that I’m heading to, that's the one. The guy says "I come all the way from Argentina to watch SS Lazio football match today"

So now I know this is the famous SS Lazio Stadium. I can still remember that was Sunday morning. That evening as early as 5pm, I can see traffic began to congest while football fans in sky blue jersey of SS Lazio bunch by bunch pouring in. That night was Cagliari the visitor, also the opening match of 1999/2000 season of Serie A. I can't recall the name of that hostel anymore. The next morning I went to Vatican City for Michelangelo's mural. That of course was in the Sistine Chapel. Visit my Vatican page.

This photo was taken when I stepped out from the underground transit, wow this must be the ruin that I saw in movies. This gigantic structure boom in front of me and it looks like the biggest Pizza in Italy. Can't believe it was this building that I always watch it on the screen when Bruce fights Norris. Without hesitate, I walk as fast as possible to see it clearly. It is real, I told myself. I saw a guard dressed up in red ‘skirt’ with golden plate top, his hand carry a shield and one holding a sword. He strolls around the ruin and suddenly he speaks ‘hey I want to kill you’. I smile to him and he smiles to me too. I think they must be those who purposely dressed like an ancient Roman Praetorian for photography in tourist area.

One thing very surprise here is after walking 3 to 4 hours trying to look for a supermarket by asking peoples how to get there. At last I realized there is no supermarket in Roma of whom a bank guard told me. He say to the only Roma’s supermarket is under renovation. Sounds unusual to me as if this is a joke but it is from a guard in full uniform. Okay accept.

Metro is the best for a beginner like me to hop on easily. I went to quite numerous places such as this one in the photo but couldn’t tell the name. There’s another one right in the middle where a long high up staircase so obviously seen. So crowded in those places, I took quick photos and rush to other places. When I hungry, pizza. Hungry again, pizza again. And I saw so many scooters on the streets, these riders carried with them big fat steel chains to lock their bike whenever the park at a place. Must be some Italians are so skillful at stealing scooters. Whatever it is, Roma is beautiful, a must.