What an experience Rome is. Probably the most historical city I will ever go to in my lifetime. Rome lived up to all my expectations. The train ride on the bullet train wasn't bad, and it took less than 2 hours which was nice. I fell asleep then woke up, and voila, we were at the Rome Train station. The Hotel Madison just down across the train station, was pretty awful. You get one key, we had to put all our bags in this sketchy room. The room itself was pretty small. The bedding sucked, felt like the worst blanket ever. The TV had satellite or cable or something, but all of the stations were down. And the shower lol, it didn't have a covering or curtains or whatever its called. Pretty much the floor next to the shower, got drenched. Other than that, the only good thing about the Hotel's location was it's proximity to the metro station in the train station. Because everything in Rome is pretty much on scale with the map, if it looks long, its long. Unlike Florence, where what looks like a far walk is fairly close. Now I thought the The Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna was amazing, but the Vatican blew it out of the water. On the way there, there is an annoying amount of people trying to sell unofficial tours/tickets to the Vatican Museum. It got annoying after a while, and one Australia wanker snapped at us and called us "****ing ignorant Americans" Well screw that guy, we're obviously being led by a guide in front of the group, he's the ignorant moron who clearly wasn't paying attention.
Once you get in the Vatican Museum, its pretty overwhelming. I've been to the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Vatican's art collection triumphs it by a lot. There was so many things to look at, that our tour guide started skipping rooms left and right, and showed us whatever he felt like showing us. Which isn't bad, because our tour guide knows his stuff, but we didn't even stop at the real Laocoön and His Sons piece of art, its something I've obviously heard of from Art History, but it's probably one of the most famous statues there.
I felt kind of cheated that we didn't go on many other buildings in the Vatican museum like the Borgia Apartment, the Raphael Rooms, the Prima Porta Augustus, etc. But having a tour guide is nice, when he explained images and sculptures that he knew about. The Sistine Chapel is absolutely mind blowing. It's not as big as expected, but its de
corated beyond belief. It pretty much destroys any one art room in any museum ever. From the Last Judgement to Michelangelo's series of stories from the book of Genesis, it's amazing. It's also annoying how all the security guards do here is harass people to turn off and put away their cameras, and keep making shush noises. St. Peter's Basilica is pretty mind blowing as well. I was shocked you could take pictures with flash. From all the different tombs of the Popes, to seeing the grotto from pretty far away, to Michelangelo's Pieta. It's mind blowing how amazing this church was to go see. From there we saw the out in St. Peter's square, seeing the famous obelisk, the balcony where the Pope speaks.
We walked by the outside of Castel Sant'Angelo, to see this famous Illuminati lair from Angels and Demons. The statue of the Archangel Michael is amazing. From there we walked to the Piazza Navona. Where you could see the Fountain of the Four Rivers, all the cafes that stereotype Rome, and Neptune's Fountain. After that we had water from one of the many public fountains in Rome, and that water was simply amazing and fresh from the aqueduct. Then we went to the Pantheon, which was also pretty amazing. The sunlight hole, the tomb of Vittorio Emanuel and King Umberto. And the main thing, Raphael Santi tomb. It's amazing that they destroyed all the former Roman pagan statues. Can't imagine what they look like. Then we had some dinner, and went to the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain was very amazing to look at, I threw my coins in the water so I guess it means I am destined to go to Rome again. We ended the night at the Spanish Steps, which was cool enough. It just got annoying because their was an American cheerleader squad, like probably u-17's or somethin
g who wouldn't stop cheering. And those Indian douchebags trying to sell roses, beer cans, stupid laser pointers were persistent and wouldn't leave our large group alone. Saturday morning started off at the Coliseum/Roman forum. The forum was pretty amazing to walk, there is original road still there. There are many ruins there, and the Arch of Septimius Severus was pretty neat. They had some exhibitions on the crazy emperor Nero. The Arch of Titus was also nice to look at. Then we walked the way to the Coliseum. Skipping the huge lines. Went upstairs and saw an awesome view of the Coliseum. I'm kind of amazed/annoyed people didn't know about the maze on the ground floors, where they kept animals and gladiators caged and stuff. Maybe I know too much Roman history haha. After we left, we walked by the Palatine Hill, and then to Circus Maximus. Nobody knew what Circus Maximus was, it's the original horse race track. There was also a Lady Gaga concert stage there or something. We walked by Tiber Island, and saw one of the oldest hospitals that still is operating. Then I found an AS Roma store, I was in heaven there. Then we got duff beer on the way to the Pantheon, and did a little monument drinking in the sun light. We walked by the Trevi Fountain again, and then walked to the Santa Maria della Vittoria church, which has the Ecstasy of the Saint Theresa. That was pretty awesome to look at. There was the huge gay pride parade in the Piazza del Repubblica, so we had to walk by that to get to our hotel. Then we went to the San Pietro in Vincoli, and saw Michelangelo's Moses, the relic chains of Saint Peter. After that, we had dinner and I had a Bucatini all'amatriciana, a speciality of Rome. A delicious spaghetti with pecorino cheese, tomato, and the best part, Guanciale, cured pork cheek. We did some monument drinking that night, which was fun.
Sunday, everybody wanted to go to Mass or whatever at St. Peter's Basilica, but I got to explore Rome at my pace, and my time. I started off at Piazza del Popolo because the Santa Maria del Popolo church houses the Capella Chigi which was in Angels and Demons. Unfornuately, they are doing construction on it, so I could only see pictures of the piece. Then I walked to the Mausoleum of Augustus, they're doing construction or something, or its just fenced off. Anyways, I was like the only tourist taking pictures of it and realized what it was. Other tourists would look at me, like wtf am I taking a photo of. I then went inside the Castel Sant'Angelo, and saw the old fortress for all its glory. You get a great view of the Vatican, and a great view of the Statue of Archangel Michael. I then walked to the Pantheon, because there is a great church there called the Santa Maria sopra Minerva, which has Michelangelo's Christ the Redeemer, again from Angels and Demons. And also, it houses the actual body of Saint Catherine of Siena. Then I walked over to the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, which had some amazing statues. I can't believe we never took time to look at all the statues. Then I saw the Column of Trajan.
That was pretty amazing to look at. Then I went to the Musei Capitolini, which houses a bunch of art I know from Art History. From Commodus posing as Hercules, to the largest statue of Constantine. And the two most famous, the statue of the shewolf and Romulus and Remus. And the Statue of Marcus Aurelius. This Museum was amazing, and is second to the Vatican in terms of art. It was completely worth the 12 euros. Then I walked the road to the Coliseum again, and took the metro to the Spanish steps to see the Palazzetto Zuccari which was pretty cool to look at. I rushed back to the Train Station, got some Mcdonalds, and made it in time for our 3:30 meeting time. Rome was amazing, there is so much I need to there still. There is just too much artwork and history I got to see. I can't wait to plan a new trip there and attack it at my pace where you see lots of sights without random stopping. I seriously might take another trip to Rome.
Once you get in the Vatican Museum, its pretty overwhelming. I've been to the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Vatican's art collection triumphs it by a lot. There was so many things to look at, that our tour guide started skipping rooms left and right, and showed us whatever he felt like showing us. Which isn't bad, because our tour guide knows his stuff, but we didn't even stop at the real Laocoön and His Sons piece of art, its something I've obviously heard of from Art History, but it's probably one of the most famous statues there. 
I felt kind of cheated that we didn't go on many other buildings in the Vatican museum like the Borgia Apartment, the Raphael Rooms, the Prima Porta Augustus, etc. But having a tour guide is nice, when he explained images and sculptures that he knew about. The Sistine Chapel is absolutely mind blowing. It's not as big as expected, but its de
corated beyond belief. It pretty much destroys any one art room in any museum ever. From the Last Judgement to Michelangelo's series of stories from the book of Genesis, it's amazing. It's also annoying how all the security guards do here is harass people to turn off and put away their cameras, and keep making shush noises. St. Peter's Basilica is pretty mind blowing as well. I was shocked you could take pictures with flash. From all the different tombs of the Popes, to seeing the grotto from pretty far away, to Michelangelo's Pieta. It's mind blowing how amazing this church was to go see. From there we saw the out in St. Peter's square, seeing the famous obelisk, the balcony where the Pope speaks. 
We walked by the outside of Castel Sant'Angelo, to see this famous Illuminati lair from Angels and Demons. The statue of the Archangel Michael is amazing. From there we walked to the Piazza Navona. Where you could see the Fountain of the Four Rivers, all the cafes that stereotype Rome, and Neptune's Fountain. After that we had water from one of the many public fountains in Rome, and that water was simply amazing and fresh from the aqueduct. Then we went to the Pantheon, which was also pretty amazing. The sunlight hole, the tomb of Vittorio Emanuel and King Umberto. And the main thing, Raphael Santi tomb. It's amazing that they destroyed all the former Roman pagan statues. Can't imagine what they look like. Then we had some dinner, and went to the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain was very amazing to look at, I threw my coins in the water so I guess it means I am destined to go to Rome again. We ended the night at the Spanish Steps, which was cool enough. It just got annoying because their was an American cheerleader squad, like probably u-17's or somethin
g who wouldn't stop cheering. And those Indian douchebags trying to sell roses, beer cans, stupid laser pointers were persistent and wouldn't leave our large group alone. Saturday morning started off at the Coliseum/Roman forum. The forum was pretty amazing to walk, there is original road still there. There are many ruins there, and the Arch of Septimius Severus was pretty neat. They had some exhibitions on the crazy emperor Nero. The Arch of Titus was also nice to look at. Then we walked the way to the Coliseum. Skipping the huge lines. Went upstairs and saw an awesome view of the Coliseum. I'm kind of amazed/annoyed people didn't know about the maze on the ground floors, where they kept animals and gladiators caged and stuff. Maybe I know too much Roman history haha. After we left, we walked by the Palatine Hill, and then to Circus Maximus. Nobody knew what Circus Maximus was, it's the original horse race track. There was also a Lady Gaga concert stage there or something. We walked by Tiber Island, and saw one of the oldest hospitals that still is operating. Then I found an AS Roma store, I was in heaven there. Then we got duff beer on the way to the Pantheon, and did a little monument drinking in the sun light. We walked by the Trevi Fountain again, and then walked to the Santa Maria della Vittoria church, which has the Ecstasy of the Saint Theresa. That was pretty awesome to look at. There was the huge gay pride parade in the Piazza del Repubblica, so we had to walk by that to get to our hotel. Then we went to the San Pietro in Vincoli, and saw Michelangelo's Moses, the relic chains of Saint Peter. After that, we had dinner and I had a Bucatini all'amatriciana, a speciality of Rome. A delicious spaghetti with pecorino cheese, tomato, and the best part, Guanciale, cured pork cheek. We did some monument drinking that night, which was fun. 
Sunday, everybody wanted to go to Mass or whatever at St. Peter's Basilica, but I got to explore Rome at my pace, and my time. I started off at Piazza del Popolo because the Santa Maria del Popolo church houses the Capella Chigi which was in Angels and Demons. Unfornuately, they are doing construction on it, so I could only see pictures of the piece. Then I walked to the Mausoleum of Augustus, they're doing construction or something, or its just fenced off. Anyways, I was like the only tourist taking pictures of it and realized what it was. Other tourists would look at me, like wtf am I taking a photo of. I then went inside the Castel Sant'Angelo, and saw the old fortress for all its glory. You get a great view of the Vatican, and a great view of the Statue of Archangel Michael. I then walked to the Pantheon, because there is a great church there called the Santa Maria sopra Minerva, which has Michelangelo's Christ the Redeemer, again from Angels and Demons. And also, it houses the actual body of Saint Catherine of Siena. Then I walked over to the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, which had some amazing statues. I can't believe we never took time to look at all the statues. Then I saw the Column of Trajan. 
That was pretty amazing to look at. Then I went to the Musei Capitolini, which houses a bunch of art I know from Art History. From Commodus posing as Hercules, to the largest statue of Constantine. And the two most famous, the statue of the shewolf and Romulus and Remus. And the Statue of Marcus Aurelius. This Museum was amazing, and is second to the Vatican in terms of art. It was completely worth the 12 euros. Then I walked the road to the Coliseum again, and took the metro to the Spanish steps to see the Palazzetto Zuccari which was pretty cool to look at. I rushed back to the Train Station, got some Mcdonalds, and made it in time for our 3:30 meeting time. Rome was amazing, there is so much I need to there still. There is just too much artwork and history I got to see. I can't wait to plan a new trip there and attack it at my pace where you see lots of sights without random stopping. I seriously might take another trip to Rome.
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