Rome and Sardinia, September 10 - 21, 2008

[fourteenlines]

I went to Italy for a week and a half last month; a month ago today I was relaxing in a villa in Sardinia and thinking of how grateful I was that A) it was relatively cool there, and B) my friend had actually gotten my flight information and picked me up at the airport, not leaving me stranded in a foreign city with nowhere to go.

Comments

[hesychasm]

Bah, I can't see any of the pictures on my work computer, but did read the commentary. Sorry to hear Rome was such a swamp! I was there in August 2007 and I don't remember the weather being icky -- I think it was pretty mild heat in fact.

I do think the Vatican is a must-see, not just for the collection but also for St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Pieta, and the relics which I found quite moving despite not being a believer. Next time!

[chickwithmonkey]

I went in June '99 with my Latin group, and I remember it being in the upper 80s most days, but we had a tour bus and a professional guide. I'm thrilled you saw the Forum and the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, but I second the vote for St. Peter's Basilica next time.

Another of my favorite Vestal Virgins anecdotes - if a Virgin crossed the path of a convicted felon on his way to execution, he was pardoned. Some of the emperors kept a close watch on the Virgins to make sure no sentences were commuted that he didn't want to be.

I can't wait to read about Sardinia!

[nickless]

*cries from the pretty*

It sounds like an awesome time, although I don't envy you the sauna.
The "informal" tour sounds especially nifty - I was horrible at history, but I loved it for exactly those kinds of random facts and stories. I'd love to visit Rome (and many other parts of Italy) someday, if for no other reason than I'm fascinated by the idea of wandering around a corner and running straight into an ancient ruin.