Day 93 - Roma

Woke up early to catch the first train to Roma. It's Good Friday, so we're worried that if we took the later train, it will be very crowded. Reached the train station about an hour before the first train leaves, but turns out that when we reached the train station, another train to Roma was scheduled to leave in 5 minutes! So we were lucky to reach Roma early. Luckily the train wasn't crowded.

Reached Roma Termini and walked to our hostel. It's more like a converted apartment, but has the character and facilities of a hostel. The lift requires €0.05 to use, and the hostel is on the 4th floor (Singapore 5th floor). So it aren't no joke going to and fro the hostel.

We ran out of bread and tuna, our lunch and dinner for the past few days. The guy at the hostel suggested that we go to this pizzeria called "Flu Flu" around the corner for some cheap pizza.

And boy was it cheap! Such a huge Pizza Margherita for €3! A nice vegetarian meal, since I'm going vegetarian today to commemorate something.

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

It's fantastic interiors. A service was going on, so I decided not to walk around the church out of respect.

But there are many thoughtless others who walk in and out, chattering, dragging luggage, taking photo with flash......hello, show some respect for the service can?

Piazza della Repubblica

We went into this cathedral next to the Piazza - Santa Maria degli Angeli. This glass dome in the cathedral is decorated with astronomical designs as a tribute to Galileo. Why so? This cathedral apparently celebrates both science and religion, and have a exhibition to show that science is a pathway to understand religion better. Hence, a tribute to Galileo, whom they think is one who stands firmly to this belief.

The magnificent interiors of Santa Maria degli Angeli.

Sundial

A small hole on the wall to allow the sunlight in for the sundial. The whole is above the rectangular, oval, rectangular design on wall at the centre of the picture.

The exterior of the cathedral - quite run down, but the interiors is wow!

One of the 4 fountains at San Carlo Quattro Fontane, a cross junction. The streets already so narrow, and now with tourists taking photos......

We took a break at Piazza Barberini. Doesn't the water look tempting to you?

Pizza, Kebab, Sushi. Spot the odd one out.

It's spring in Roma.

We came to this building as it was marked as a attraction on the map. We wondered what it is, until we saw the American flag. Why is the American Embassy an attraction?

Same as Venezia - running drinking water everywhere on the streets.

An obelisk stolen from Egypt. Read about such stealing or demands from the modern Egyptian government for obelisk during my Ancient Egypt course.

Trinità dei Monti

Looking down from Trinità dei Monti at the crowd of Piazza di Spagna - the famed Spanish Steps.

We have no idea why Piazza di Spagna is so crowded!

Everyone walking as though as it's their grandfather's road!

Piazza del Popolo. Another stolen Obelisk.

Sunset at Roma, overlooking Piazza del Popolo. We were waiting, as apparently, the Pope will lead a candlelight procession from the Vatican to the Colosseum. So this is one possible route that he might take.

And you thought the merlion is the only vomitting lion fountain.

We're 2 hours away from the start of the procession, but there wasn't any road closures. Asked some policemen along the streets, and they didn't know that there is a procession, and gave us directions to the Vatican. So we decided to head down to the Colosseum. Which ever route he takes, he'll end up at the Colosseum anyway.

Palazzo della Esposizioni

Rushing to the Colosseum. This road is closed - we're at the right place!

Turns out it aren't no procession. It's probably a service. The cross is lit up with many small flames! Everyone waiting enthusiastically for the Pope. As the winds blew, the flames on the cross extinguishes one by one......

Sisters of Charity - from Mother Theresa's mission.

And the Pope is here at last!

My candle. It was more or less like a service where they recited the Passion of Christ in Italian.

End of service, after standing for 3-4 hours. Though I'm not a Christian, it was an experience nonetheless!

The huge crowd

As we returned to our hostel, everyone else in our room has fallen asleep. I had to take my bag out of the room and pack along the corridor, so that I wouldn't disturb anyone!