cityscape | Aren't We All Just Tourists Here?

I love visiting Italy… The history… the architecture… the food… Everything about Italy just begs to be explored.

This was my second trip to Italy, and like the first, it began in Rome … The home of the Coliseum, The Pantheon, Vatican City .. and countless statues and monuments paying tribute to the past of the glorious Roman Empire.

A quick word.. The public transportation system in Rome is hard to beat… so forget the expensive cabs heading to the center from the airport.. The Leonardo Express takes about a 1/2 hour non-stop to Roma Termini..and costs just 12 Euros..Buses are even cheaper but I like trains..

Anyway..we took the above mentioned train from the airport to the main train/bus staion – Roma Termini..

I usually stay in the Mecenate Palace Hotel, which is a 5-8 minute walk from the station.. It’s a nice hotel, excellent staff and a wonderful rooftop terrace where you can look out over the city.. The view from the room, as always, was amazing.. The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore sits right across the street..

View from our window

It’s a wonderful, if smaller, cathedral and the entry is free..

It was a great way to start a trip.. especially since it was raining sporadically since we arrived..But with all the great cafes and museums, it was easy to find a place to stay dry..

Since we arrived late, we decided to just walk around and do some exploring, without worrying about “landmarks” and “touristy sites” .. Rome is very walkable, despite being very large.. And there are always interesting subjects to shoot..It is a photographer’s dream city..