abayaflowers
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2008
Another early day! Same routine... room service, coffee, walk up to Deck 9 to take pics of the ship docking, getting ready to leave the ship.
Here's were our most challenging excursion began.
We have been to Rome and the Vatican before and had a wonderful time. Since DH was not able to visit the Vatican on 2010, I promised the same visit.
We went to deck 1 to leave the ship. We got onto the shuttle to get to the front of the Cruise Terminal. We met up with a wonderful family from Arizona. Both our DDs knew one another from the Chocolate Factory tour which I set up on June 14th.
After we walked out of the shuttle, we walked across the street towards McDonald's. Then, we turned right towards the Train Station. Remember the Train Station is across the street from the water. There's also ATMs nearby and street vendors. We ignored everyone who tried to sell us something at 7:30 a.m.
Too early to buy anything! So, you walk into the train station and turn right into the Tabaco shop. This is where you can purchase the BIRG ticket. You can use it for Metro, Train, and Bus.
Remember to validate your train ticket before getting on board.
We were on the "early" train to Rome, but apparently there was a delay. So, we didn't end up leaving until close to 8:30 a.m. There were many Italian police, and we could tell that there were many "pick pocketers" hanging around. It is so obvious. However, we were on guard.
I was showing the Arizona family on how to use the train system, check the schedule and where to stand to get a good seat in the train.
We had a great seat and was amazed that the train progressively got so full the closer we got to the S. Pietro station. We were scheduled to meet our tourguide, Emanuella from Limo In Rome. She was our guide in 2010. We loved her.
When we got off at S. Pietro station, it was so crowded. We took our time getting to the Vatican City, because we knew that our ticket time was not until 10 a.m. We arrive around 9:15 a.m. There was a big line to get into St. Peter's Basilica, but we were scheduled to meet at the Museum.
Little did we know that the Vatican was setting up for Wednesday mass. So the entire center was covered with guardrails, seats, cleaners cleaning the fountains, scaffoldings everywhere.
After taking 10 mins to take pics of the center and surroundings, we walked North East towards the wall. We purchased a macchiato, took a pic of the Swiss guard, and ate some gelato. It was getting hot already.
Then, we encountered a physical human roadblock. The line on the right is to skip a line. In order to get around, I started walking on the street, got whistled at by the Italian police, and walked back up on the sidewalk where there was the right line to skip a line.
It took about 15 mins. to walk to the Museum, and there were SO MANY TOUR buses. I overheard that the Vatican Tours had become so much more popular because of the new Pope, Pope Francis.
Well, we were there by 9:50 a.m. and looked for Emy. It was starting to get hot and humid. By 10 a.m., we saw a man who held up a sign with our family name. Who was this man? Well, he was our guide.
Not expecting this, but was not also expecting someone who was going to rush us through the Vatican so quickly that I rarely took any pics. I won't bore you with details, but we literally ran the entire time until we got into the Sistine Chapel. DD10 was pushed, squished, and overheated. I told our guide 30 mins. into the tour that we can go slower and not in a hurry to get to the Pantheon, because we want to enjoy the Vatican.
This part irritated me, he did not listen and proceeded to literally PUSH through the crowds. He even offered to carry DD10. ABSOLUTELY NOT! By this time, DD10 and I were completely done with him. We were not even in the Sistine Chapel.
She was turning a shade of pink and miserable. My baby!
So, when we were in the Sistine Chapel, the experience of enjoying the Vatican was gone.
I just wanted her to go back to the ship. I kept telling our guide, but kept ignoring our wishes. He even offered for us to stay at the Basilica while he took DH and DD13 on the rest of the tour.
REALLY!
I told him no and we were going to hit the "restrooms" before we headed to the train. DH and the tourguide were worried that I would encounter some problems going back to the train station.
At this point, I didn't care. I wanted my DD10 to be happy and not miserable. Me, too!
Before leaving the Vatican City, I switched my daughter's sandals to socks and tennis shoes. We walked through a tunnel and many people were watching us... I felt so awkward. The street vendors were scoping us out on our vulnerability. But, as an Angry Mom who was more concerned about Her Child who was miserable, they could tell not to mess with me.
DH, DD13 and the tourguide continued onto the Pantheon. He was scheduled to be with "us" until 3 p.m.
I thought that I knew where the Train Station was, but I got lost. I finally asked a lady and walked through a grocery store and walked across the street towards a park.
We were good until we spotted a homeless man coming out of the WC and started to follow us.
Thank goodness that my survival instincts from growing up in a rough neighborhood in East LA and Eastside SJ kicked in. No one was going to mess with my DD10 and I.
We finally made it back to the Train Station and waiting for the Train to Civitavecchia. It was delayed and by this time, the heat and humidity was tremendous. About 103 degrees. Almost ran out of water and DD10 was miserable. I kept apologizing.
I felt that I ruined my family's experience of Roma.
When the train finally arrived, we found the last seat and DD10 sat in my lap.
After a couple of stops, we switched over to two available seats. Wonderful view!
DD10 was so happy to count the stops back to the CruiseShip.
We finally arrived at Civitavecchia after 3 p.m. We exited the train and walked into the shop to get something cold and fuzzy to drink.
So many cranky people.
The thing that stuck out in my mind was the Italian men and women who were going into work were wearing jackets. Really!
It made me sweat even more by just looking at them.
So, we took a leisurely stroll back to the CruiseShip terminal, got onto the shuttle bus, and gladly entered the ship. We took a shower and rested our weary feet, legs, and bodies until DH and DD13 returned. They returned by 6 p.m. also very tired.
Glad to have this excursion all done!
Sea Day tomorrow!
Here's were our most challenging excursion began.
We have been to Rome and the Vatican before and had a wonderful time. Since DH was not able to visit the Vatican on 2010, I promised the same visit.
We went to deck 1 to leave the ship. We got onto the shuttle to get to the front of the Cruise Terminal. We met up with a wonderful family from Arizona. Both our DDs knew one another from the Chocolate Factory tour which I set up on June 14th.
After we walked out of the shuttle, we walked across the street towards McDonald's. Then, we turned right towards the Train Station. Remember the Train Station is across the street from the water. There's also ATMs nearby and street vendors. We ignored everyone who tried to sell us something at 7:30 a.m.
Too early to buy anything! So, you walk into the train station and turn right into the Tabaco shop. This is where you can purchase the BIRG ticket. You can use it for Metro, Train, and Bus.
Remember to validate your train ticket before getting on board.
We were on the "early" train to Rome, but apparently there was a delay. So, we didn't end up leaving until close to 8:30 a.m. There were many Italian police, and we could tell that there were many "pick pocketers" hanging around. It is so obvious. However, we were on guard.
I was showing the Arizona family on how to use the train system, check the schedule and where to stand to get a good seat in the train.
We had a great seat and was amazed that the train progressively got so full the closer we got to the S. Pietro station. We were scheduled to meet our tourguide, Emanuella from Limo In Rome. She was our guide in 2010. We loved her.
When we got off at S. Pietro station, it was so crowded. We took our time getting to the Vatican City, because we knew that our ticket time was not until 10 a.m. We arrive around 9:15 a.m. There was a big line to get into St. Peter's Basilica, but we were scheduled to meet at the Museum.
Little did we know that the Vatican was setting up for Wednesday mass. So the entire center was covered with guardrails, seats, cleaners cleaning the fountains, scaffoldings everywhere.
After taking 10 mins to take pics of the center and surroundings, we walked North East towards the wall. We purchased a macchiato, took a pic of the Swiss guard, and ate some gelato. It was getting hot already.
Then, we encountered a physical human roadblock. The line on the right is to skip a line. In order to get around, I started walking on the street, got whistled at by the Italian police, and walked back up on the sidewalk where there was the right line to skip a line.
It took about 15 mins. to walk to the Museum, and there were SO MANY TOUR buses. I overheard that the Vatican Tours had become so much more popular because of the new Pope, Pope Francis.
Well, we were there by 9:50 a.m. and looked for Emy. It was starting to get hot and humid. By 10 a.m., we saw a man who held up a sign with our family name. Who was this man? Well, he was our guide.
Not expecting this, but was not also expecting someone who was going to rush us through the Vatican so quickly that I rarely took any pics. I won't bore you with details, but we literally ran the entire time until we got into the Sistine Chapel. DD10 was pushed, squished, and overheated. I told our guide 30 mins. into the tour that we can go slower and not in a hurry to get to the Pantheon, because we want to enjoy the Vatican.
This part irritated me, he did not listen and proceeded to literally PUSH through the crowds. He even offered to carry DD10. ABSOLUTELY NOT! By this time, DD10 and I were completely done with him. We were not even in the Sistine Chapel.
She was turning a shade of pink and miserable. My baby!
So, when we were in the Sistine Chapel, the experience of enjoying the Vatican was gone.
I just wanted her to go back to the ship. I kept telling our guide, but kept ignoring our wishes. He even offered for us to stay at the Basilica while he took DH and DD13 on the rest of the tour.
REALLY!
I told him no and we were going to hit the "restrooms" before we headed to the train. DH and the tourguide were worried that I would encounter some problems going back to the train station.
At this point, I didn't care. I wanted my DD10 to be happy and not miserable. Me, too!
Before leaving the Vatican City, I switched my daughter's sandals to socks and tennis shoes. We walked through a tunnel and many people were watching us... I felt so awkward. The street vendors were scoping us out on our vulnerability. But, as an Angry Mom who was more concerned about Her Child who was miserable, they could tell not to mess with me.
DH, DD13 and the tourguide continued onto the Pantheon. He was scheduled to be with "us" until 3 p.m.
I thought that I knew where the Train Station was, but I got lost. I finally asked a lady and walked through a grocery store and walked across the street towards a park.
We were good until we spotted a homeless man coming out of the WC and started to follow us.
Thank goodness that my survival instincts from growing up in a rough neighborhood in East LA and Eastside SJ kicked in. No one was going to mess with my DD10 and I.
We finally made it back to the Train Station and waiting for the Train to Civitavecchia. It was delayed and by this time, the heat and humidity was tremendous. About 103 degrees. Almost ran out of water and DD10 was miserable. I kept apologizing.
I felt that I ruined my family's experience of Roma.
When the train finally arrived, we found the last seat and DD10 sat in my lap.
After a couple of stops, we switched over to two available seats. Wonderful view!
DD10 was so happy to count the stops back to the CruiseShip.
We finally arrived at Civitavecchia after 3 p.m. We exited the train and walked into the shop to get something cold and fuzzy to drink.
So many cranky people.
The thing that stuck out in my mind was the Italian men and women who were going into work were wearing jackets. Really!
It made me sweat even more by just looking at them.
So, we took a leisurely stroll back to the CruiseShip terminal, got onto the shuttle bus, and gladly entered the ship. We took a shower and rested our weary feet, legs, and bodies until DH and DD13 returned. They returned by 6 p.m. also very tired.
Glad to have this excursion all done!
Sea Day tomorrow!