Daniel's Notepad

9/6/2022

I like to stay somewhere during workdays. Maybe you have the same experince as me: the place (whatever which one) is different than during weekdays. So I woke up, had a breakfast (well, Italians know why they love coffee) and headed to the Villa Doria Pamphilj park for a walk and, uhm, few geocaches (don't know if you're familiar with this almost childish game but I'm in it for 15 years and just can't help myself). I found three there.



I have several recommendations from Andrea so I set direction to north and went around Garibaldi's statue and then down to St. Peter Basilica in Vatican. Not every day you wait in a que that is half state long (about 45 minutes, by the way).



Well, you probably know it from photos - monumental cathedral, full of statues, gold, tourists... It's true and exactly according to my expectations. The oy two things I wasn't expecting (Spanish Inquisition exluded) were related with confessional: used language written on it (IT, EN, FR,...) and traffic lights. Yes, you can enter and confess only if the green light is on



I'm a designer of traction lines for railroads, so...yes, a train geek. At least a little. Now it's clear I can't miss this gate with rails to Vatican. Note that the traction line is terminated in front of the gate, so why is there?



It was a pure sightseeing then mif you've ever been in Rome, you, probably know these places. I passee Castel Sant'Angelo (hint: Angels and Demons novel) and headed to Spanish Steps. There is even song about them in Czech (really).



It's impossible to miss Fontana di Trevi. If there is a place with infinite number of people...it's there.



And then via Pantheon and Piazza Navona (chariot races, but not today ) back to the park when I started today. I must say it was a quite peaceful moment there.



The best ene of the day was a guided tour on a scooter. It brings whole new perspective of the city and I highly recommend to all visitors. This is the (Italian) way.