I have to say, this trip is in fact starting to feel a bit like eternity. I have now reached that point of a vacation where laziness starts to feel like an oily film that coats everything I do. I find myself getting up reasonably early and going for long walks and bus rides around the city. It's really great even as a Roman discovering places that anywhere else in the world would become major attractions, and here they are just parts of the city.
Yesterday, for instance, I walked by a place not far from the Termini train station, a fenced-in square that included a large building with the words "Rome Aquarium - 1885", facing a small park with some Roman ruins. I had never heard of an aquarium, so I ambled in and was greeted by a most friendly doorman who proceeded to show me around and told me about the history of this building, which until 10-15 years ago was in disrepair and was being used as storage, and now is a national monument, housing some sort of architectural society. The ruins outside? One old wall forms part of the Roman wall in the 7th century B.C., the rest of the ruins are much newer, dating somewhere around the first century B.C.
This morning I went for another long walk, actually started with a bus ride to the train station, then walked around a couple of neighborhoods and ended up walking around the Colosseum, then back to Piazza Venezia and back home to meet with Elena (who by then had been up for a half hour). As much as the heart of historic Rome is very touristy, and as much as I have seen it dozens of times, it is still an amazing place. The stretch from the Colosseum, along the various Fora and on to Piazza Venezia is truly amazing. And every time they try to build something, they dig up more ruins. What a beautiful city!
Yesterday, for instance, I walked by a place not far from the Termini train station, a fenced-in square that included a large building with the words "Rome Aquarium - 1885", facing a small park with some Roman ruins. I had never heard of an aquarium, so I ambled in and was greeted by a most friendly doorman who proceeded to show me around and told me about the history of this building, which until 10-15 years ago was in disrepair and was being used as storage, and now is a national monument, housing some sort of architectural society. The ruins outside? One old wall forms part of the Roman wall in the 7th century B.C., the rest of the ruins are much newer, dating somewhere around the first century B.C.
This morning I went for another long walk, actually started with a bus ride to the train station, then walked around a couple of neighborhoods and ended up walking around the Colosseum, then back to Piazza Venezia and back home to meet with Elena (who by then had been up for a half hour). As much as the heart of historic Rome is very touristy, and as much as I have seen it dozens of times, it is still an amazing place. The stretch from the Colosseum, along the various Fora and on to Piazza Venezia is truly amazing. And every time they try to build something, they dig up more ruins. What a beautiful city!
No comments:
Post a Comment