Rome Day 1

Once we survived a small hotel scare we all managed to get to sleep right next
to a main road swarming with traffic. The next morning was a relatively late
rise and with a meagre breakfast in our stomachs we set out for our first day in
Rome. This meant a brisk walk first up to Santa Maria Maggiore, an amazing
church built with gold covering the ceiling, a breath taking experience, also
the first church to use gold from Peru. Next up was a trip to Trajan's column
and then to Vittorio Emmanuale Monument which is a commemoration of the end the
Italian reunification. It is a massive white marble building that some residents
apparently claim is an eyesore but I personally believe is magnificent. Our tour
then continued on to the Capitoline Museum which contains among many other
wonders the She-wolf, the bust of Julius Brutus, Commidus but was unfortunately
missing the bust of Phillip the Arabain. We were rushed through the rest of the
museum since we had lost some time in the morning as some buys left their long
pants at the hotel. A quick stop at the theatre of Marcellus, built by Augustus
to commemorate the death of his nephew Marcellus, who was meant to be his
successor. I believe (but I may be wrong) that we then headed by metro to St
John Lateran, where all the Apostles are lined up, and any previous churches
were put to shame. However after another quick jump on the metro we ended up at
St Peter's in the Vatican. This was the most fantastic building you can imagine,
with gold covering every surface and Michaelango's dome dominating the ceiling
it was impossible not to be impressed. On the way back to the hotel I managed to
escape the Moroccan vendors but Sam fell prey and bought a filthy belt and some
sunnies. All I can ask is the next day to go as well as this one.
— Thomas Adams