Rome- a fabulous city

 Rome

I have been to Rome many times, and each time I uncover a bit more beauty. I tell my friends traveling to Rome for the first time, to spend a minimum of 3-4 nights, to see the traditional "must see" sights.  My dream is to rent an apartment in Rome for a month to feel more of the Italian love.

Must see sights:

The Colosseum:  You need advance, time specific tickets. You can buy them from the COOPCULTURE website. They open ticket sales 30 days in advance- tickets can sell out in MINUTES- so set your alarm for Italy time! ...this is why many people choose a third party broker, such as Viator.  If you choose to buy tickets from a third party broker, it is my advice that you use the "pay in advance option". Due to crowds many reservations for the Colosseum were canceled this summer for people who did not pay in advance.

The Forum is right outside the Colosseum.  I advise that you buy a combo ticket for the Colosseum/Forum. There aren't too many informational signs inside the Forum.  There are walking tours available on your phone you can listen to, or download a guidebook for your phone.  It is really interesting wandering around the Forum looking at all the ruins.

St. Peter's Basilica:  You can take the metro or a taxi out to Vatican City. My advice is to go really early or really late- it is open 7am to 7pm. There is a line for security- WARNING: you will have people stating that "you can skip the line if you hire them as your guide"- this is not true- everyone waits to go through security. It is worth the wait. You will spend an hour or two inside the Basilica at least.(make sure you notice the Swiss Guards outside and remember that Vatican City is its own country!) If you are physically fit you need to make the tower climb- the view from the top is great. Suggestion: Buy Rick Steves' "Rome" guide book.  It has a great St. Peter's guide in it. Or  you can hire a tour guide ahead of time.  I like hiring private guides (GET YOUR GUIDE website), you get a lot out of it- and if there are a bunch in your group the cost isn't too bad.

all the Saint statues on the roof guarding the piazza
you can see the people lined up waiting to go through security

My favorite altar

view from the top

The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel-  please be sure to get your Vatican museum tickets (time sensitive) in advance. The line with no tickets can be 3 hours long. Many people have opted for breakfast and a tour through Viator and have been satisfied. I have only wandered through the museum. I went online and got a map of the museum and picked a few things I wanted to see. It is a HUGE museum. Honestly you would need several days to do it. Again- get a guide, an audio guide or a Rick Steves' book to go through this museum.   FYI- the museum's exit is into The Sistine Chapel.  You can't see the Sistine Chapel without going through the Vatican Museum.  FYI number 2- the Vatican museum is around a very long block from St Peter's Basilica, so wear comfy shoes and be ready to walk tons of steps that day.

the courtyard of the Vatican Museum

pope mobiles through the centuries- horse and carriage

Hall of maps that leads into the Sistine Chapel

part of the Sistine Chapel- they really don't want you to take photos
that is why this one is blurry-lol

Piazza Navona: My favorite Piazza because of the fountain. This picture doesn't do it justice. This fountain is huge. It is Bernini's Fountain of Four Rivers- the Danube, the Ganges, the Nile and the Plate rivers. There are two other fountains in this Piazza. The piazza used to be used as a horse racetrack many centuries ago.

The Pantheon: Please realize the true architectural genius when you stand inside the Pantheon and stare up at the oculus. The roofline defies gravity. - no steel trusses here!         I have been lucky enough on my trips to Rome to be inside the Pantheon in the sunshine, the rain and near evening.  It always dazzles. When it rains, yes water comes through the oculus. It is free to get inside, but may soon require a reservation due to its popularity- so go online and research this.

the Pantheon is right around the corner from Piazza Navona described above

Santa Maria Sopra Minerva- another church with a fairly drab exterior. But the interior makes up for it. Plus it houses the body of St. Catherine (her head and finger are in the town of Siena, Italy- read about reliquaries before visiting Italy- they are found everywhere and are very interesting- the more reliquaries- the more prestigious your church.). This church is between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, it also has an obelisk out front- read below about obelisks!

Trevi Fountain:  Of course you need to go here, face away from the fountain and throw a coin over your left shoulder to guarantee that you will return to Rome. I like visiting at night when it is lit up. Go after a late dinner.  at 7:00pm it is really busy.

The Spanish Steps:  Going and sitting on The Spanish steps and people watching are what everyone does here. There are restaurants and cafes nearby to sit, people watch and have a glass of wine too.

Victor Emmanuel Monument:- you don't have to go inside, but as you pass by this monument, I want you to know that the Roman Citizens called it "The Birthday Cake" when it was completed. I see their point, it does look like it has birthday candles!

Below are some additional places to visit.  Most people will see these things on their second, third or fourth visit (I guess they keep tossing coins in at Trevi Fountain) But if any of these appeal to you, by all means, go see them on visit number one!

Borghese Gallery:  This Gallery is full of beautifully carves stone statues. There is a gorgeous garden surrounding the gallery.  The garden is free but the Gallery is a timed, dated ticket that must be bought FAR in advance.

 

13  Obelisks of Rome- there are 13 Obelisks in Rome, if you find them all you will have seen some of the best neighborhoods and piazzas in Rome. The website Italyperfect(dot)com has great info and maps of these obelisks.

Here is one of the Obelisks

Electric Bike Tour of the Appian Way, Aqueducts and Catacombs: My friends and I really enjoyed this bike trip with Topbike rentals. We took the guided tour.

Castel Sant' Angelo- (aka Hadrian's Castle) This was a neat building to pass by while walking along the Tibur River.  I have not been inside, because so many descriptions have said there is nothing inside except windows with great views.

Trastevere neighborhood- I suggest this neighborhood if you go in the late spring and early summer.  The flowery window boxes are supposed to be stunning.  I have only been in winter, and fall and early spring, so unfortunately I missed all the beauty and outside cafes.

The Jewish Quarter- I have not been to this Quarter- but it is on my list for next time

San Pietro in Vincoli Basilica - this small unassuming  church, with a super plain exterior, has the chains that bound St. Peter.  It also houses a gorgeous statue of Moses carved by Michelangelo.  

St. Peter's Chains

Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica- this church is gorgeous inside, especially when I got to see it at Christmas.  But even without holiday decorations, it is worth a stop to see the interior stonework.

Take a day trip out to:

Tivoli- about 45 minutes by train- go see the gardens and estates.  This is a full day trip for most people, but some people only visit 1 estate and head back to Rome.

Castel Gandolfo- about an hour by train out of town, this used to be the summer home of the Pope.  This can be done in half a day

   

Orvieto- the easiest to get to Tuscan town- 1 hour by train from Rome.  This charming hilltop village has great little restaurants, a beautiful church and a Unesco Heritage site,  San Patrizio's well. This would be a full day trip.

San Patrizio's well

OTHER HINTS- many people are opting to book a  2 hour golf cart tour of Rome. I think that is an excellent idea to get the full scope of Rome.   I also suggest getting a map called STREETWISE- Rome (available on Amazon)- this map is small and laminated. I circle my hotel and all the places I want to see, so I can make the most of my day without doubling back. It also has a metro map on it. I know you have a phone, but for planning and in case your phone doesn't work, this map is really worth $10

Other things to note: When flying into Rome I like to pre-arrange and pre-pay a car service that will take me directly to my hotel. When I come out of baggage claim area, the driver is there waiting with my name on a sign. It will cost about $15-20 euro more than a taxi, but it is nice not to have to worried about being scammed by a taxi driver. (most are honest and will turn on their meter- or will abide by the set taxi fee of $60 euro for 2 people.It is a 40 minute drive into the city.If you have a larger group and need a van- the price is about $80 for a private ride. The other reason I like to pre-pay my ride is so I can wait to get euros out using my debit card at a BANK AFFILIATED ATM. Try not to use an non- bank affiliated ATM, their fees can be really high. AND don't forget to notify your bank and credit card companies that you are traveling. Check with your bank on your daily debit limit. I usually draw out $200 euro at a time, but I use my credit card that has NO INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION FEES for just about everything. The $200 euro is used for small tips for excellent service, bottles of water, snacks and of course gelato.

Cape May, NewJersey - Aug 2023

 

Cape May, New Jersey

There are so many things to do in Cape May, one of the safest towns on the east coast. A local citizen bragged that there is no crime, except a few stolen bikes every year, that tend to get recovered, when the tourist season is over!

Here is a list of my favorite Cape May things to do.

 Sunset Beach ( check and see if they are doing “taps” and the flag lowering ceremony- they used to do it every night but not anymore). It is a nice beach to stroll on and look for Cape May diamonds as you wait for the sun to set.

you can see the sunken concrete ship at Sunset Beach- it was built in 1918. Steel was too expensive during the war so they experimented with concrete- and as you can see it didn't go well. This ship the SS Atlantus got hit by a storm and sunk.  It is now great marine habitat.

You can climb a WWII watchtower.  (99 stairs) There were 15 towers built along the shore watching for the enemy off the coast.

There is also a good grill there to eat lunch or dinner (fairly inexpensive – and a view of the ocean and the concrete sunken ship).

Nearby is the Cape May lighthouse, which was a beacon for the slaves crossing the bay on the Underground Railroad. You can climb the 199 stair lighthouse for a fee.  

 Once you have visited the lighthouse, go over the dunes and see the  WWII bunker that used to be covered in sand (erosion took sand away). You can walk out and explore the bunker. 

There is also a wetlands hike (take the blue trail for a nice 2.25 mile hike) Red and yellow trails are shorter.  All the trails let you see birds, rabbits and great marsh plants- and hopefully no snakes. Most of the hikes are on raised boardwalks- the end of the blue trail is hard dirt and a bit of sand. There are view point platforms along the way as well.

We also visited the Scientific Research Center around the block from the lighthouse. This center just opened. The building was a former convent retreat, a hospital and an old folks home.  Our tour was on the history and biology research going on in Cape May. It was very interesting. But if you had kids with you, you would want to do one of the hands-on classes that they offer.

 

Dolphin watching- I really enjoyed this Cape May Whale Watcher tour.  It starts in the bay side and cruises up a wide canal and then to the bay and then the ocean.  We saw eagles and egrets and tons of dolphins (whales were not in season).  It was cool seeing the  NJ coastline. I usually don’t like things like this – but it was really worth the money- sit UP FRONT!!,      Easy parking in their lot- on Friday the  first boat that goes out is buy one get one half off(must buy at their ticket office.)

  There are many beaches to visit in South Jersey- for most of them you need to buy a day pass, called a beach badge- they check them as you enter the beach from the stairs, or patrols check on the beach- it supports the life guards and the beach cleaners. You can rent chairs and umbrellas at many of the beaches. I really like the beaches right in Cape May and Stone Harbor a few miles north.

 

Cape May MAC (Museums Arts Culture ) has a website for all their tours      

The tour I took through MAC  was The Golf Cart Tour - very informative guide person! Though the carts can sit 6 guests, the 2 in the back will be facing backwards- very hard to see what the guide is talking about, but I survived because I had the back seat to myself, so I could turn around.

Also through MAC I took the Historic Haunts Combo tour - a night time trolley ride past a bunch of haunted homes- with creepy stories (highly recommend -loved it so well done!)  Here the docent was discussing the seances that are done twice a year, in the parlor at the Emlen Physick Estate.

Harriet Tubman Museum (there is a MAC trolley tour that eventually takes you to this museum- but in my opinion, the MAC Tubman tour was just okay- I think the guide didn't know the info well enough to be a guide) but the museum tour was really great. It was given by the deacon of the church next door- he grew up in Cape May, so he had a great perspective and lots of Cape May history tidbits. There are timed dated tickets for this museum.  Buy the tickets for just the museum at their website .

I would have liked to have done the MAC Architecture Tour or the Painted Lady House Tour- both are walking tours. There are over 600 historical houses in Cape May, and most are within walking distance of each other. And many are BnBs or the whole house is for rent!

                                                         

Cold Spring Historic Village-(and Brewery). check their calendar of events, because they have musical festivals and themed weekends that sound great. The village by itself was interesting because all the houses were moved to this tree shaded village from all over NJ- they have docents in each house telling the history of the buildings. I would love to return or a music or theme day.

 You can take a short drive up to the Wildwoods

 You can visit the historical (1873)  The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse and Gardens. You can park for free in their parking lot and view the gardens and walk back to beach seawall for a beautiful stroll with an ocean view.  

Behind the lighthouse we met a man sitting on the bench on the seawall with a binder of history- he was so charming and informative and he didn't have a tip jar, he just wanted to talk history. 

 

The Boardwalk at Wildwood- if you have never been to a Jersey Shore boardwalk, you are in for a treat.  Tons of rides and games and arcades and food. Something for everyone!

Cape May Zoo- Free and really well done 

Cape May Ferry- you and/or your car can go to Delaware for the Day- or continue southward

Pedal Railroad- 4 miles round trip

Cape May Winery - I was told that the Sangria was top notch on a hot summer day!

I would also suggest renting bikes- it is the best way to get around- traffic moves slowly and lots of bike lanes and places to park and lock your bike.

Restaurants- The restaurants in Cape May are pretty pricey. I enjoyed The Ugly Mug in downtown. Be sure to go inside and see the mugs and learn the fisherman history of the mugs.

 I liked The Lobster House. We sat on the boat part of the  restaurant tied to the dock. We watched all the other boats come and go from the marina. The lobster salad roll and a cold beer were great

South 9 (wood fired pizza), 

Exit Zero Filling Station - be advised it opens most days at 3 pm. (except Sat and Sun at noon)

I hope this blog inspires you to consider Cape May N.J. for your next vacation