The Old World Part IV
As the ship pulled away from the dock in Monte Carlo, there was a huge rush of excitement. We were starting on our voyage around a central segment in Western Civilization. This was the land that formed the heart of the Roman empire, was known for its excesses and for being the authority that ordered the death of Christ and became linked forever with birth of Christianity. Our first stop on the cruise was the very heart of it all, Roma.
We scheduled an excursion in Rome because it was easier having a guide show us the points of interest than walking aimlessly up and down the streets trying to find a fountain or statue. It was very pricey but worth every penny of it. We left the dock in a bus and after an hour ride, entered the gates of Rome. Yes, there is still an actual brick wall that goes around the city. The bus was weaving around the small European cars and motorcycles were buzzing around bus like a flock of vampire mosquitoes. Traffic in Rome was as intense as I have ever seen it and this was early Sunday morning. I could not imagine rush hour.
Our first stop was the ancient Christian catacombs. There are several scattered around Rome but this is the biggest and oldest. Our guide through the 11 miles of under ground burial chambers was from Germany. He made the trip through the claustrophobic tunnels seem more of a museum visit than a walk through a grave yard. Most of the bodies were removed during the numerous invasions of Rome by the Goths and other barbarians. They were looking for treasure and settled for selling Holy relics, the bones. We were not allowed to take pictures once inside the chambers so I will have to settle for the memories of walking hunched through about 1/4 mile of hand carved tunnel, amazed that this was done without power tools.
Rome is too much for just one entry so I will continue with Part IV.
Icool
Cobb
We scheduled an excursion in Rome because it was easier having a guide show us the points of interest than walking aimlessly up and down the streets trying to find a fountain or statue. It was very pricey but worth every penny of it. We left the dock in a bus and after an hour ride, entered the gates of Rome. Yes, there is still an actual brick wall that goes around the city. The bus was weaving around the small European cars and motorcycles were buzzing around bus like a flock of vampire mosquitoes. Traffic in Rome was as intense as I have ever seen it and this was early Sunday morning. I could not imagine rush hour.
Our first stop was the ancient Christian catacombs. There are several scattered around Rome but this is the biggest and oldest. Our guide through the 11 miles of under ground burial chambers was from Germany. He made the trip through the claustrophobic tunnels seem more of a museum visit than a walk through a grave yard. Most of the bodies were removed during the numerous invasions of Rome by the Goths and other barbarians. They were looking for treasure and settled for selling Holy relics, the bones. We were not allowed to take pictures once inside the chambers so I will have to settle for the memories of walking hunched through about 1/4 mile of hand carved tunnel, amazed that this was done without power tools.
Rome is too much for just one entry so I will continue with Part IV.
Icool
Cobb
posted by Cobb at
5:47 AM
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