Step 3: Tell Peter's aunt and parents that we are leaving for Italy, all four of us. Sorpresa, sorpresa for everybody but also a hidden joy I could notice in their eyes. Then I started planning the trip: 5 days/4 nights in Rome, 2 nights/3 days in Napoli and its surroundings and then all the way to the boot's bottom in Vibo Marina, a small fishers town in far South Italy. We were supposed to rent a car and drive to the south aprox. 650 km.
When the 20th of April came, in the morning I get a phone call to the office from my father-in-law: "Anca I'm not coming to Italy anymore! I'm not prepared for such a long trip to the "unknown". My decision is made 100%! I don't want to ruin your trip but I'm not coming!" Damn! First shock! The tickets and other reservations were already made for 4 persons. My mother-in-law: "Well me alone and you 2...I don't want to ruin your vacation (like we were in honeymoon)!...bla-bla."
All I have planned started to ruin so I called mom. "Mummy pack your bags in one week you're coming to Rome!" Total silence...but in the end we were 4!
The ladies enjoyed the flight like crazy...I was more stressed then they were! We reached Fiumicino airport, took the rented car (an Opel) and headed for our rented rooms. It was in fact an apartment in a very nice part of Rome, close to the center of the city.
The first night we took a subway trip and the first miracle we saw in Rome was this:
Breathtaking!
Then we took a walk down the streets and saw the Roman Forum (part of it - the one built by Roman emperor Traian) and Traian's Column - the one all the Romanians are proud of. Unfortunately because the site was under reconstruction we couldn't get any closer then this:
Rome by night was pretty cool as first impression what it is going to be like by daylight!
Next day fresh we had our coffee on the apt. terrace and left for adventure.
First impression was going to be confirmed and more. Rome is beautiful. Crowded in the piazzette and on the narrow streets, fancy on certain location, calm an refreshing with its hundreds of fountains and Tiber river and bridges. It has a certain special perfume and I don't mean here the smells on the streets. It's a bit dirty but it is in a way understandable with so many tourists. It is said to be the most visited city in Europe. Many foreigners and especially Americans to be seen and heard on the streets. Art and Architecture ancient or very modern combine perfectly in this city. It has a strong cultural appearance and an open-minded perspective. Vegetation (orange trees, lemon trees, fig trees and plenty of flowers are everywhere on the streets, gardens or on the top of private houses or blocks where everywhere you can see large sunny terraces.
The churches are amazing. Every corner of the street you can see a church and if you're curious enough to enter you will be surprised by its beauty. Many architectural elements but so well combined that you really are amazed. So if you visit Rome enter every church you see. It's worth it! Each one has its own history and charm!
Another particular thing about Rome is its road traffic. At first we said it's going to be hell, but it works better than in Cluj. Many small cars (Smart type) and millions of scooters. They run like crazy! It's scary to adventure on the streets with them. It's true on the other hand that 2 cars out of 3 were hit or damaged in Rome.
I'll tell you more about what we visited in Rome next time. More photos on my picasa album (bottom of page).
