I awoke this morning in a rather groggy mood, as I did not sleep very well due to my anticipation for my upcoming trip to Italy. After getting all of my things together, I took an Uber to the Victoria Underground Station, from which I took the Gatwick Express Train straight to the airport.
Once I got through security at the airport I had a solid 2. 1/2 hours to kill. I found a sit down breakfast place and very mellow like, I ate my two pancakes and sipped slowly on my hot chocolate. I still had an hour and a half to kill until it was time to board my plane. I wandered around the airport for a bit looking at the various stores within. I got pretty bored after about twenty minutes of doing this so I sat down and read a book I had brought for the next hour or so.
Then after what seemed like an eternity later, it was finally time to board the airplane. As people boarded the plane I took note of a very interesting aspect of the plane. Music was playing in the background as people got settled in. What was interesting about this music was that when you listened to the lyrics closely enough, they all talked about being happy or being blissful in ones endeavors. For the most part everyone seemed really happy to be on the plane and I found it very fascinating that Vueling Airlines played this kind of music.
While we were in flight towards Rome, I struck up a conversation with the couple sitting next to me. As it turns out we literally had the same itinerary as one another, as we will be traveling to each city on the same days. At some point we might meet on up and grab a meal.
The highlight of the flight had to be seeing the Swiss Alps, as we flew in from London. They were by far one of the most extraordinary sights I have ever seen from the view of a plane. Their snow tipped peaks seemed as if they were cutting their way through the clouds, as they reached for the heavens above. It almost seemed like if you extended your hand you could touch them.
Interestingly enough as we were landing music began playing yet again, but this time about arriving in a destination that was like no other; a paradise..... This made me begin to wonder about the psychological implications of playing music that evokes particular emotions, and how this correlates to how people behave on the plane or feel about the airline....
Once I got through security at the airport I had a solid 2. 1/2 hours to kill. I found a sit down breakfast place and very mellow like, I ate my two pancakes and sipped slowly on my hot chocolate. I still had an hour and a half to kill until it was time to board my plane. I wandered around the airport for a bit looking at the various stores within. I got pretty bored after about twenty minutes of doing this so I sat down and read a book I had brought for the next hour or so.
Then after what seemed like an eternity later, it was finally time to board the airplane. As people boarded the plane I took note of a very interesting aspect of the plane. Music was playing in the background as people got settled in. What was interesting about this music was that when you listened to the lyrics closely enough, they all talked about being happy or being blissful in ones endeavors. For the most part everyone seemed really happy to be on the plane and I found it very fascinating that Vueling Airlines played this kind of music.
While we were in flight towards Rome, I struck up a conversation with the couple sitting next to me. As it turns out we literally had the same itinerary as one another, as we will be traveling to each city on the same days. At some point we might meet on up and grab a meal.
The highlight of the flight had to be seeing the Swiss Alps, as we flew in from London. They were by far one of the most extraordinary sights I have ever seen from the view of a plane. Their snow tipped peaks seemed as if they were cutting their way through the clouds, as they reached for the heavens above. It almost seemed like if you extended your hand you could touch them.
Interestingly enough as we were landing music began playing yet again, but this time about arriving in a destination that was like no other; a paradise..... This made me begin to wonder about the psychological implications of playing music that evokes particular emotions, and how this correlates to how people behave on the plane or feel about the airline....
When we had landed we were transported to the passport control via a bus. When it came for my turn to get called through border control, I made it through in literally 6 seconds if that. The border patrol
policeman just stamped my passport without even looking at me and I was through.
It was pretty self-explanatory of where to get the tickets for the train. The kiosk however, was only in Italian so I purchased what I thought was a train ticket and made my way to the train station. Although the ticket itself had a printed specific time, it didn't make a difference as long as you got on the train that same day, not one wince of an eye.
The train ride to Rome was very fun. I enjoyed amazing views of the different villas and different style trees that I haven't ever seen before. Most of the villas had gardens on top of their roofs or on their patios. There were also a lot of abandoned buildings that were pretty much just foundations that were left behind.
My hotel was literally only a few meters away from the Roma Termi Train Station so it wasn't hard to find at all. When I checked into the hotel, I had to leave my passport behind so that way they could do some paper work with it. This made me feel very uncomfortable, but it wasn't unexpected because when I had been doing my research ahead of time, I read about it.
In about twenty minutes after I had settled into my room, I went and grabbed my passport and made my way to the Pantheon. The bus ride to the Pantheon would take 40 minutes and it closed in 1 hour. So rather than risk missing it for the day, I walked very fast towards the Pantheon with a half hour to spare. With what little breath I had left by the time I got there was quickly taken away by the beautiful architecture from within.
The central dome had a large circular opening in which the sun shined into at a 45 degree angle. The floor was made of a white marble and there were various religious paintings and statues lining the interior walls.
The exterior was clearly extremely old. You see that the building was falling apart brick by brick. Meanwhile the city of Rome was steadily trying to keep the building from falling apart. Moss was growing up the sides of the building and various cracks were forming along the walls as a result.
I then made my way towards the Trevi Fountain which was in direction I had come from. When I was nearly a block or so a way I could hear the Trevi Fountain in the distance, I almost mistook the sound to be some sort of waterfall.
At the fountain itself there were a ton of people crowding around it in every which way you could see it from. I wiggled my way through the crowd to do the tradition of throwing the coin into the fountain. It is said that if a person throws a coin into the fountain, it will guarantee a return trip to Rome someday.
The fountain itself was far larger than I had imagined it. The figures on the fountain where easily ten feet tall. All of the figures looked extremely realistic and one could sit there for a while and just enjoy the craftsmanship. I however, being a bundle full of energy moved on to the next attraction.
I did not know what I wanted to do next so I just started roaming in a random direction to see what I could find. As I was crossing the street out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the Altare della Patria. This monument which closely resembled the Brandenburg Gate, in terms of a similar charioteer on the top of the monument while still very impressive, I felt like it was copying the Brandenburg Gate in a similar fashion.
Then some few feet around the monument was the Colosseum. When I saw it my heart skipped a beat. I wanted to go run over and take a closer look at it. However, I told myself, the Colosseum and Ancient Rome is for tomorrow's adventures. It was really hard to pull myself a way but I was able to force myself to do so.
I then started walking in the other direction and came upon some Ancient Ruins. What was weird about these ruins was there were cats everywhere. As I got closer I came to find out it was a cat sanctuary. This is a pretty strange place to keep cats if you ask me....
Then my plan was to go back to my hotel and relax for a bit and then go back out and explore further. However, these plans got spoiled when halfway on my walk back to my hotel it started down pouring. Not just any rain storm, literally like a monsoon of rain came down all at once. Drenched from head to toe I slowly made my way inside my hotel room pretty miserable from being soaking wet. I dried off, and although I did not go back out for the rest of the night aside for a quick Gelato run. Despite the ending of the day, I had a very good first day overall in Rome and I look forward to seeing what else Rome shall hold!
No comments:
Post a Comment