Arrivederci Rome, Bon Giorno Firenze

I left Rome today. Tried to see it all but fell short and have left some things to see should I return. Didn’t make it to Hadrian’s Villa. I didn’t find the Tempietto despite climbing around that hill three times. Wanted to go to the church of San Clemente to see the Mithraeum beneath it but ran out of time. Not sure if the fates will allow my return, though, because I couldn’t get anywhere near the Trevi Fountain to throw my coin in there were so many people around it.

Friday I spent outside Rome at Ostia Antica, near the coast. I could feel the ocean breeze there. Ostia was the port of Rome and was buried under sand and silt after the Tiber changed its course over the centuries. This preserved the town. It is comparable to Pompeii, and it is an incredible site. It is much larger than I expected and filled with so many buildings that are remarkably well-preserved for being almost 2000 years old.

When I was sitting on the podium of the Temple to Ceres looking at the theatre a fairly large group of young people, possibly a choir, performed for everyone singing many Adele songs. I was too far away to tell where they were from but they sang well.

At Ostia, I met a couple from England who wanted me to take their picture together. Then I made them take my picture. I’ve taken a few selfies so far on the trip but it was nice to have them take a few pictures of me and the sites. We spent most of the afternoon wandering around Ostia together.

After Ostia, Eva and Willaim were taking the train to the coast (about three stops from Ostia Antica) on recommendation of their son so I went with them. It was a strange beach all walled in with restaurants and beach huts. We finally found a way to walk in. We waded into the water to say we had gone into the Tyrrenhian Sea (part of the Mediterranean), then we hung out for a while enjoying the view. By this time it was about 7 pm and when we finally wanted to leave we discovered the gate was locked and we were trapped in. We did manage to climb the fence but it was a little strange having to break out of the beach.

Saturday I was up early to cross town for my 9 am appointment at the Galeria Borghese, filled with Bernini’s marble statues – Daphne and Apollo, the Rape of Proserpina, David, Aeneas – along with Roman statues and paintings by Caravaggio and Raphael. No photos allowed. In fact you have to check your bag. And you only get two hours and they kick you out. Very strict but it was worth it. Bernini’s statues are amazing he makes his subjects come to life with movement in a theatre in the round. Google them.

After being kicked out, I wandered through the Borghese Gardens, a big park, stopping for cappuccino. Then I zigzagged around the town ticking off random things to see including the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Largo Argentina, the Campo d’Fiori, etc.

At the column of Marcus Aurelius in a big piazza I wondered about the army presence milling about but carried on my way. By the time I got back to my hotel around 4 there was a helicopter constantly buzzing over head. I had no idea what was going on. I thought maybe someone important was in town and tried to google that. It wasn’t the queen because she had been there last week. Wasn’t Obama because he had been there the week before. Finally I found something on an American Government website warning their citizens to stay away from a planned demonstration at 2 pm quite close to where I had been in the morning. Timing is everything. Apparently 80 people were hurt in the violence. The helicopter buzzed overhead for at least two hours.

Sunday I had planned to go to Hadrian’s Villa but just didn’t have the energy. Took it easy and walked around the Trastevere area across the Tiber and went to a good restaurant before going back to the hotel to pack up. Now Tuscany awaits.

Now here it is, your moment of mosaic.