5 posts tagged “rome”
As I mentioned a few posts back, the line to get into the Vatican Museum was one of the longest lines I have ever seen. That line had to be over a half mile long! I fully expected to spend the next decade of my life waiting ...
While standing in line I decided to take a few videos on my new little digital camera. The first is just a street shot. I found it interesting to see the number of scooters and very small cars buzzing through the streets.
The second video is Sal Durso and Mike Anderson describing their experience standing in line.
While standing in line I decided to take a few videos on my new little digital camera. The first is just a street shot. I found it interesting to see the number of scooters and very small cars buzzing through the streets.
The second video is Sal Durso and Mike Anderson describing their experience standing in line.
Rome - Day #3 - Afternoon
With Carol's new passport in hand we headed off to the Coliseum of Rome.
This amazing structure was completed in 80 AD. It would hold up to 50,000 spectators and had 80 separate entrances so that the crowds could get in and out fairly quickly.
It was amazing to gaze out and see where the Gladiators would fight and imagine the cheering of 50,000 people.
This was truly and amazing place. Take some time to read the links above to learn more about this place.
To the left is pictured the American Embassy in Rome. Unfortunately, this is where we spent the whole morning on our third day. Let me explain...
The night before, we were enjoying another incredible meal in Italy. There were 10 of us sitting at a large table on the sidewalk, just outside the restaurant. We were all weary from our travels during the day and were looking forward to a great meal.
Towards the end of the meal, a bunch of us went inside the restaurant to taste some beef that the chef was preparing on the open grill. Evidently, as Carol and I, caught up in the moment, went to join the tasting, thieves made their move. Upon our return to the table, just a few minutes later, Carol purse was gone. Inside her purse was her passport, money, credit cards, and more.
Now...there she was...in Italy with all of her documents stolen feeling embarrassed for not keeping closer eye, and somewhat afraid to be in a strange land with out her identification papers.
We immediately got on the phone and called our credit card companys to report the stolen credit cards. That process went until 3:00 AM. We also had to go to the police station to prepare a police report. This took place at somewhere around 12:30 AM.
In talking to our credit card companies, it appeared that the thieves were already making use of the credit cards. In just a matter of 30 minutes, the had already hit the cards for over $1,000.
When you lose your passport in a foreign land, the American Embassy is where you must go to get a new passport. Without the passport, you can't go anywhere.
We arrived at the American Embasssy in the morning to find barracades and men with machine guns protecting the embassy. This seemed to add even more drama to the moment.
Once inside, we found that there was a steady stream of American's there for the very same reason. American's are evidently easy prey for pick pockets and thieves.
In a little over an hour, Carol had a new passport in hand and was feeling ready to get back into our journey.
I must confess, in the rush of our lives in the past few weeks, we didn't spend any time talking about such things. That won't happen again.
Here is a good website to read before traveling out of the country.
The night before, we were enjoying another incredible meal in Italy. There were 10 of us sitting at a large table on the sidewalk, just outside the restaurant. We were all weary from our travels during the day and were looking forward to a great meal.
Towards the end of the meal, a bunch of us went inside the restaurant to taste some beef that the chef was preparing on the open grill. Evidently, as Carol and I, caught up in the moment, went to join the tasting, thieves made their move. Upon our return to the table, just a few minutes later, Carol purse was gone. Inside her purse was her passport, money, credit cards, and more.
Now...there she was...in Italy with all of her documents stolen feeling embarrassed for not keeping closer eye, and somewhat afraid to be in a strange land with out her identification papers.
We immediately got on the phone and called our credit card companys to report the stolen credit cards. That process went until 3:00 AM. We also had to go to the police station to prepare a police report. This took place at somewhere around 12:30 AM.
In talking to our credit card companies, it appeared that the thieves were already making use of the credit cards. In just a matter of 30 minutes, the had already hit the cards for over $1,000.
When you lose your passport in a foreign land, the American Embassy is where you must go to get a new passport. Without the passport, you can't go anywhere.
We arrived at the American Embasssy in the morning to find barracades and men with machine guns protecting the embassy. This seemed to add even more drama to the moment.
Once inside, we found that there was a steady stream of American's there for the very same reason. American's are evidently easy prey for pick pockets and thieves.
In a little over an hour, Carol had a new passport in hand and was feeling ready to get back into our journey.
I must confess, in the rush of our lives in the past few weeks, we didn't spend any time talking about such things. That won't happen again.
Here is a good website to read before traveling out of the country.
St. Peter's Basilica is the largest cathedral in the world. The magnificent building also just celebrated it's 500th anniversary.
The minute you walk into the basilica you are struck with the immenseness of the place. The bronze Bernini alter in the center of the church is 10 stories tall and it is still a very long ways to the top of the dome.
As you walk around the cathedral you are constantly faced with world famous works of art. My favorite sculpture is Michelangelo's Pieta which is found in St. Peter's Basilica.
I'm afraid that my new Sony digital camera was not up to the challenge of photographing this place. But let me share a few of them with you (left and below).
The minute you walk into the basilica you are struck with the immenseness of the place. The bronze Bernini alter in the center of the church is 10 stories tall and it is still a very long ways to the top of the dome.
As you walk around the cathedral you are constantly faced with world famous works of art. My favorite sculpture is Michelangelo's Pieta which is found in St. Peter's Basilica.
I'm afraid that my new Sony digital camera was not up to the challenge of photographing this place. But let me share a few of them with you (left and below).
As I mentioned in our profile, Carol and I sold our company, Pacesetter Mortgage Company, Inc., to Sal and Marcie Durso (pictured to the left) who are the owners of The Centennial Group.
Each year The Centennial Group has an annual trip for the top producers in the organization. Carol and I were invited to join them this year in Italy. We had an incredible time and were very grateful to them for the opportunity to make new friends and to visit the incredible country of Italy.
Our trip began in Detroit Metro Airport with a 4:00 PM flight to Amsterdam. The flight over the Atlantic was roughly 7 hours putting us in Amsterdam at 5:00 in the morning with the time change. We then boarded another plane and two hours later found ourselves in Rome with major jet lag.
After several hours of security checks, taxi rides and checking into our hotel, The Hotel Imperiale. Upon our arrival, we found it was time for lunch, at least in the Italian time zone. So...we mustered up some strength and had our first taste of authentic Italian cuisine.
After our lunch we started off on a jaunt through the streets of Rome. Our first stop was the famous Spanish Steps.
We then threw coins in the Trevi Fountain. This fountain is a very special and romantic place. Bon Jovi did a video here...as I write these words and reflect on my life I can only say to you my beautiful Carol...Thank you for loving me!
Our next stop brought us to the Pantheon which was built in 125 AD!
Our first day in Rome ended with an incredible meal, great wine, great people and we learned of the infamous "Leaning Tower of Cheesa"
This little story brought the house down and we realized that we were VERY giddy from our intense lack of sleep.
Time for a good nights sleep! Ciao!
Each year The Centennial Group has an annual trip for the top producers in the organization. Carol and I were invited to join them this year in Italy. We had an incredible time and were very grateful to them for the opportunity to make new friends and to visit the incredible country of Italy.
Our trip began in Detroit Metro Airport with a 4:00 PM flight to Amsterdam. The flight over the Atlantic was roughly 7 hours putting us in Amsterdam at 5:00 in the morning with the time change. We then boarded another plane and two hours later found ourselves in Rome with major jet lag.
We then threw coins in the Trevi Fountain. This fountain is a very special and romantic place. Bon Jovi did a video here...as I write these words and reflect on my life I can only say to you my beautiful Carol...Thank you for loving me!
Our first day in Rome ended with an incredible meal, great wine, great people and we learned of the infamous "Leaning Tower of Cheesa"
This little story brought the house down and we realized that we were VERY giddy from our intense lack of sleep.
Time for a good nights sleep! Ciao!
