12. Rome - 1970

After arriving at the Olympic village in Rome and settling in a corner sleeping location away from the fires where the rowdies tended to party, we shared and traded some of our fresh fruit for other staples.  We checked the bulletin boards for notes from friends and to see if there were rides going in the direction that we are going.  My partner and I split up.  She met some old friends that were moving on to Naples in a couple of days and I was planning on traveling down the other side of Italy to Brindisi.

The Olympic village in Rome was built for the 1960 Olympics  By the time we were there, the place was pretty much run down.  The building that we all slept next to had boarded up windows and concrete abutments sticking out about two feet from the windows.  This gave us something to sleep under or on top of, depending on the weather.

Sunrise in Rome

The next morning was amazing watching the sun come up over Rome and the open air markets slowly waking.  We could  lay there and listen to the vendors yell and joke with each other and their early customers.  At least, I did this, until the local police came by to make sure that everyone was awake and okay.  Breakfast was a fresh glass of juice.  I remember buying it from a vender on my walk to the Spanish Steps where a group of us spent the day.

Sunrise on the Spanish Steps

It seemed that no matter what part of society or generation you belonged to, you would find a kindred soul there during the day.






With so many things to see in Rome you could start in one part of the city, start walking, and and not run out of things to see that day.

The Colosseum 

Hadrian's Tomb

Vatican City

The next day after another wonderful night on my concrete slab, I again headed for the Spanish Steps.  While passing the Piazza del Popolo, I bought some fresh fruit and loaf of bread at a open air market, and some cheese at a small deli.  I bought enough for the day.  I finished the 45-50 minute walk to the Spanish Steps, sat down and ate my breakfast, sharing some bread with the pigeons.  While doing this I planned the next two days.  I planned on leaving Rome and heading to Brindisi the next day.  Today, I decided to spend a little extra money that I didn't have and actually pay for a tour of the Vatican.  Having finished eating breakfast and feeding the pigeons, I left to tour the Vatican.

Remember, I said you could start in one part of the city, start walking, and and not run out of things to see that day?  Well, let me describe my last full day in Rome.  After breakfast I started walking to Vatican City.  From the Spanish steps, it is about a forty minute walk directly to the Vatican.  I could never take the direct route.  There is so much more to see!  If you add about fifteen minutes to the walk, you will pass
1. The Pantheon, in use since it was rebuilt in 126AD.  It has been an active Catholic church since the 7th century and dedicated to St. Mary and the Martyrs.
2. The Piazza Navona, containing four famous fountains, one by Bernini.  this piazza is full of artist, their wares, street performers and bordered by cafes and deli's with poor and expensive service.  In 2011 one of the smaller fountains, The Moor fountain, was vandalized and some large and small statues were beheaded.  Fortunately the statues were just copies.
3. A fifteen minute walk from the piazza is Hadrian's Tomb also called Castel Sant'Angelo in the Parco Adriano.
Another ten minute walk brings you to Vatican City.  This route was more in keeping with my goal of seeing all that I could.