Friday 3 October 2025
What an amazing experience this has been, visiting Rome, Italy. It’s an ancient city dating back to 753 BC according to traditional legend and backed by archeological evidence. Walking its streets gives one the feeling of stepping back millennia, not just centuries. We arrived yesterday after an early disembarkation from the Allure of the Seas and a crowded morning train from Civitavecchia to Roma Termini then just a short walk to Hotel Diana Roof Garden. There we enjoyed a short wait in the lobby before an early check-in and the opportunity to settle into our room. During this short stay we’ve experienced both ancient and modern aspects of life in Rome. There was another rail strike during our stay and from our balcony we saw Gaza protestors crossing Via Principe Amadeo, the street in front of the hotel heading toward the train station. That did little to dampen our enthusiasm though. We truly enjoyed wandering the streets of the old city discovering delights such as exterior views of the Basilica of St Mary Major where the remains of Pope Francis rest, the steps of Via Di Monte Polacco, a passageway between two large buildings negotiating the slope of one of Rome’s seven hills, and a fabulous view of the Roman Colosseum. The real event was this afternoon when we participated in the Greenline Tours Afternoon Colosseum and Roman Forum Guided Tour. Wow! We had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the Rome of 2000 years ago trekking through the Roman Forum viewing monuments that have stood for hundreds if not thousands of years, walking in the footsteps of individuals both humble and prominent who have trod these paths for more than 2800 years. Our guide Alejandro regaled us with facts and stories about this city that is constantly undergoing reconstruction or preservation. Besides gazing at the Constantine Arch and touring the interior of the Colosseum, perhaps the most famous monument in the world, we had the opportunity to savor some water from a fountain fed by a 2000 year old aqueduct! All of this activity was interspersed with opportunities to relish traditional Roman pasta dishes, incredible salads dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and gelato as well as the opportunity to people watch. That as well as to savor some beautiful city sunsets while enjoying drinks up on the roof of our hotel. Tomorrow will bring the opportunity to ride the rails to Firenze and more adventures but we’re closing our eyes tonight knowing that although there’s so much more to experience here, we’ve had a wonderful stay in The Eternal City. We’re so grateful to be able to enjoy adventures such as these.
What a fascinating trip!!