Family Adventures

Vatican City: St. Peter's Square and Basilica

2010-06-11T10:35:00.001-04:00

Vatican City is a small independent country within the City of Rome and is of course the center of the Catholic world and where the Pope resides.

The "must see's" of Vatican City include the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Square and Basilica.

The Basilica is dedicated to St. Peter, the world's first Pope and this is where his remains are buried. Standing in the square and facing the Basilica, first you come to the row of columns on both sides, this is Bernini's Colonnade, 284 columns each topped with a figure of a saint.

The Obelisk in the middle was brouht in from Egypt by the Emperor Caligula. It stands 90 feet tall and is made of solid granite.

It is hard to appreciate from here the sheer size of this church. It is huge, covering some six acres. The dome, designed by Michelangelo, rises to a height of 448 feet and measures 138 feet in diameter.

The main altar is directly above St. Peter's Tomb.

Michelangelo's Pieta is housed in St. Peter's, you find it at the first chapel on the right as you enter the Basilica.

There is also an elevator that takes you to the Dome level or the roof of the church. There are some great views of Rome as you look out. You can also look to the interior of the dome and the inside of the church, a very impressive sight.

To get to the very top of the dome, there are some stairs, all 323 of them, with a rewarding view of Bernini's Colonnade and beyond.

If you are short on time or would like to make arrangements in advance, consider these "Skip the Line" tours by Viator, they pre-arrange transportation and tickets for you:

Audience with Pope Benedict XVI at Vatican City Price: US$ 44.00 Viator Bookings are essential if you'd like to attend a Papal Audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. Tickets are limited and you must have a confirmed reservation to attend. Book ahead and you won't waste precious vacation time in Rome.	Skip the Line: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour Price: US$ 72.11 Viator Take a morning or afternoon tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - and jump the queue by booking ahead. You'll enjoy a mini coach tour of Rome en route to the Vatican and see Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel frescoes, without wasting time waiting in line.
Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica Half-Day Walking Tour Price: US$ 36.67 Viator Get much more out of your visit to St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican by taking a guided walking tour. St Peter's and the Vatican Museums can be overwhelming, especially if this is your first visit, so allow your experienced guide to lead the way and share the history, architecture, and politics of the Vatican. As an added bonus, you'll skip the long ticket lines when you visit the Vatican Museums (entrance fees payable direct on the day of travel).	Private Viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums Price: US$ 339.37 Viator This tour gives visitors an exclusive viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. Michelangelo's masterpiece will leave you captivated as you enjoy it minus the huge crowds. A once in a lifetime opportunity so secure a place on this magical tour in Rome. This is a private two-hour small group tour of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, for selected nights only.
Skip the Line Private Tour: Vatican Museums and St Peter's Art History Walking Tour Price: US$ 79.22 Viator Explore the art history of the Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica in style on a private walking tour with an art expert - and skip the queues. Accompanied by your own private guide who specializes in art history, you'll enjoy personalized attention on your special private tour of the Vatican Museums, without wasting time waiting in line.	Skip the Line Private Tour: Vatican Museums Walking Tour Price: US$ 106.61 Viator Receive the Papal treatment with your very own private tour of the Vatican! You'll receive personalized attention from your guide, and by booking ahead you won't waste any time waiting in line!
Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Tickets Price: US$ 40.94 Viator If you'd like to visit the Vatican Museums without a guide, pre-book and skip the long entrance queues! Your Vatican Museums ticket will be pre-booked and pre-paid, for fast, hassle-free entry.	Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's Price: US$ 63.56 Viator Take a small group walking tour of the Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica, and jump the queue by booking ahead. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 20 people on this small group walking tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your guide. And by booking ahead, you won't waste any time waiting in line!

Things to Do in Rome

City Map of Rome Italy: here we mark all the Rome Tourist Attractions covered in this trip, use this map to orient yourself and plan your activities.

Ancient Rome Buildings: Overview of the Colisseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. What the buildings looked like in their glory, best way to tackle this sights with kids.

Vatican City: St. Peter's Square and Basilica.

The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel: Overview of highlights and how to navigate through the maze with the children.

Seeing The Pope at Castel Gandolfo
Our hotel in Central Rome

Day Trips from Rome: If you have the time, consider going to some other great places easily accessible from Rome: Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Florence, Naples, a wine tour through the Chianti region, etc. Here are some ideas and tours offered by Viator from Rome.
Other Fun Things to Do in Rome: How about a Segway tour of the city? Or a Photography tour with someone to show you around the best spots for that perfect shot? Here are some fun tours arranged by Viator, whether it's a Dinner Cruise on the Tiber or an audience with the Pope.

Other Fun Things to Do in Rome

2010-06-10T06:14:00.003-04:00

How about a Segway tour of the city? Or a Photography tour with someone to show you around the best spots for that perfect shot? Here are some fun tours arranged by Viator, whether it's a Dinner Cruise on the Tiber or an audience with the Pope.

Viator is an online resource that offers hundreds of adventure activities, city tours, off-the-beaten-path experiences, educational tours, family-friendly activities, day trips... you name it, in hundreds of different locations.

As quoted by the Washington Post:

Best of the Web: 54 Online Travel Sites to Bookmark Now

"Many travelers spend hours researching airfares and hotels but don't plan what to do once they get there. Viator solves that problem by showing dozens of activities for dozens of destinations. The site can help you avoid getting shut out of must-sees and can save you time by helping you skip the long lines."

Here are our picks of Viator activities and fun things to do in Rome:

Skip the Line: Hard Rock Cafe Rome Price: US$ 21.31 After enjoying the ancient sights of Rome, why not visit a bit of modern history at the Hard Rock Cafe Rome. Enjoy a great meal while soaking in the rock 'n' roll atmosphere. Some of the memorabilia you will find her include: pages from Jim Morrison's high school yearbook, an olive colored trench coat worn by John Lennon and a black patent leather suit worn by Bono.	Rome by Night Walking Tour Price: US $33.00 Take an atmospheric evening stroll around Rome's floodlit monuments with an expert guide who'll bring the Eternal City alive. Perfect for first-time visitors, this three-hour guided walking tour is the ideal introduction to Rome's famous sights and night-time ambiance, and the perfect pre-dinner activity.
Rome Photography Walking Tour: Learn How to Take Professional Photos Price: US $121.01 English-speaking photographers have in-depth local knowledge, a passion for their city and for the art of photography. The photographers are carefully selected for their breadth of style and experience in either travel or photo-documentary/reportage. This tour offers participants an authentic city adventure and rare opportunity to experience Rome from an insider?s point of view. So bring your camera and be prepared to walk, shoot and click.	Rome Photography Walking Tour: Pantheon to St Peters Price: US $121.01 Nothing can compare to the afternoon light of Rome, as it washes the Eternal City in a vibrant, brilliant radiance. You will photograph St Peters, the Pantheon, colorful piazzas filled with magnificent fountains, and winding cobblestone streets. Discover the Eternal City's hidden treasures though the eyes of an expert photographer.
Time Elevator Rome 3-D Movie and Simulated Ride Price: US $14.66 Time Elevator Rome combines education and entertainment in such a unique way that you will not seen Rome the same again. This is an amazing multi-sensory attraction where you'll Voyage through 3000 years of Roman history, from Romolus and Remus up to the present day in just 45 minutes.	Rome Segway Tour Price: US $91.67 Relive the days of ancient Rome while you glide from sight to sight on a Segway, the coolest ride of the 21st century! Far easier than walking, and more unique and private than a coach tour, getting around Rome on a Segway personal transporter is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Rome Tiber River Hop-on Hop-off Cruise Price: 18.33 Cruise down the River Tiber and see Rome from a different perspective on this hop-on hop-off river cruise. While listening to an entertaining and informative commentary, you'll cruise between Tiberina Island and Cavour Bridge.	Rome's Tiber River Dinner Cruise Price: 66.00 Wine, dine and relax while you glide along Rome's River Tiber on this two-hour dinner cruise. It's a peaceful and fun way to experience Rome at night, so sit back and enjoy your welcome drink and canapes as you settle into a laidback evening of cruising, dining and music.
Papal Blessing at Castelgandolfo Day Trip from Rome Price: 56.22 Take this special excursion to receive a Papal Blessing at Castelgandolfo in the summer months only. Availability is limited, so don't miss the opportunity to leave the busy Italian capital to spend time with the Pope at his summer residence at Castelgandolfo.	Rome Angels and Demons Half-Day Tour Price: 68.45 Unravel Rome's secrets on the 'Angels and Demons' morning tour, inspired by the novel by Dan Brown. You'll take an incredible journey into the heart of the Eternal City to decode the secret messages of the Illuminati, one of the most influential secret societies in history. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 25 people on this small group walking tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your guide.
Ghost and Mystery Walking Tour of Rome Price: 26.89 Tour the dark heart of Rome on a night-time Ghost and Mystery Walking Tour. When the sun sets over Rome, another side of the city comes to life - an older and more mysterious city where fact and legend are intertwined, stimulating the imagination as much as the eye. Discover a Rome known only to a few on this nocturnal stroll through the city's ghostly and curious sites.	Frascati Wine Tasting Tour from Rome Price: 72.11 Taste the nectar of the gods on a wine-tasting afternoon tour from Rome to beautiful Frascati. On the only wine-tasting tour from Rome available, you'll visit one of the oldest and most beautiful vineyards in the Frascati region. You'll also enjoy a scenic drive through the famed Castelli Romani region surrounding Rome.
Christian Rome Afternoon Tour Price: 55.00 Tour Rome's sacred Christian sites on an afternoon guided tour. You'll visit the famous Basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore and Saint John in Lateran, and travel along the ancient Appian Way to see Rome's Catacombs.	Audience with Pope Benedict XVI at Vatican City Price: US$44.00 Viator Bookings are essential if you'd like to attend a Papal Audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. Tickets are limited and you must have a confirmed reservation to attend. Book ahead and you won't waste precious vacation time in Rome.

Also check out these Day Trips from Rome.

Things to Do in Rome

City Map of Rome Italy: here we mark all the Rome Tourist Attractions covered in this trip, use this map to orient yourself and plan your activities.

Ancient Rome Buildings: Overview of the Colisseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. What the buildings looked like in their glory, best way to tackle this sights with kids.

Vatican City: St. Peter's Square and Basilica.

The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel: Overview of highlights and how to navigate through the maze with the children.

Seeing The Pope at Castel Gandolfo
Our hotel in Central Rome

Day Trips from Rome

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Assisi and Orvieto Day Trip from Rome Price: US$113.67 Feeling overloaded by Rome's epic sightseeing options? Why not leave Rome for the day and take an excursion to Assisi and the Umbrian hill town of Orvieto. Your journey will take you away from modern highways and large cities to discover the real Italy, where ancient villages are just waiting to be discovered.	Pompeii and Amalfi Coast Small Group Day Trip from Rome Price: US$226.13 Tour Pompeii and the beautiful Amalfi coast villages on a small group day trip from Rome. You'll travel in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan with your driver. Each minivan accommodates 8 people maximum. A driver-guide will accompany the group throughout the day and an additional licensed guide will meet the group in Pompeii for the two-hour walking tour. Book now as seats are strictly limited.
Capri Day Trip from Rome Price: US$ 143.01 This scenic full-day trip from Rome to Capri is a must for any visitor to Italy! You'll sail across the Gulf of Naples to the island of Capri, known as the 'Pearl of the Mediterranean', where you have the option to take a boat ride to the beautiful Blue Grotto and take in stunning views from Anacapri.	Naples and Pompeii Day Trip from Rome Price: US$128.71 Discover history, art and archaeology on this fascinating day trip to Naples and Pompeii from Rome. Your journey takes you from Rome to the Gulf of Naples, where Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., devastating the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Florence Day Trip from Rome Price: US$ 179.68 No trip to Italy is complete without a visit to Florence, the city that gave birth to the Renaissance. Travel by motor coach from Rome to Florence on a full day guided tour. Florence is a treasure trove of important paintings and sculptures, medieval architecture and Renaissance palaces, and on this tour you will see Michelangelo's famous statue of David plus architectural treasures by Giotto and Botticelli.	Taste of Italy Food Tour to Chianti and Umbria from Rome Price: US $141.79 Head out of Rome and off the beaten track to experience a different side of Italy in Tuscany and Umbria. You'll visit the lovely towns of Cortona and Montepulciano, and sample wine, cheeses, salami, olive oil and other local specialties.
Papal Blessing at Castelgandolfo Day Trip from Rome Price: US $56.22 Take this special excursion to receive a Papal Blessing at Castelgandolfo in the summer months only. Availability is limited, so don't miss the opportunity to leave the busy Italian capital to spend time with the Pope at his summer residence at Castelgandolfo.	Castelli Romani's Medieval Villages Half-Day Trip from Rome Price: US $ 56.22 Tour the medieval villages outside Rome on an afternoon excursion to the Castelli Romani region. You'll take a relaxing drive through the beautiful countryside surrounding the busy capital, see views of the Pope's summer residence of Castelgandolfo and enjoy a wine tasting at famous Frascati.
Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este Half-Day Trip from Rome Price: US $73.34 Explore Italy's rich history at Emperor Hadrian's Villa and the remarkable Villa d'Este garden on a half-day tour from Rome. You'll take a relaxing four-hour excursion to Tivoli and travel through the beautiful countryside surrounding the busy capital.	Ancient Ostia Half-Day Trip from Rome Price: US $66.00 Follow the sea road to Imperial Rome's historic port at Ostia on a half-day morning tour. It takes only 30 minutes to reach Ostia Antica, at the mouth of the Tiber river, and you'll have plenty of time to explore the wonderfully preserved ruins. The ruins are convenient, compact and shady, and provide a tantalizing glimpse into daily life in ancient Rome.
Rome to Pompeii Shuttle Bus & Independent Day Trip Price: 71.50 An independent round-trip tour from Rome to Pompeii by air-conditioned coach. It's the best way to arrange a do-it-yourself tour of Pompeii from Rome. When you get to Pompeii, you can tour the site independently or take one of the guided group tours departing from the entrance to the site (additional cost, payable direct).	Private Rome Day Tour to Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa and Villa D'Este Price: 154.35 The two major highlights of Tivoli are visited on this full day private tour. First you will visit Hadrian's Villa, a beautiful tribute to the memory of the Emperor's lover. Next you visit Villa d'Este, built for Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, Lucrezia Borgia's son. This is a beautiful and relaxing day to escape the hustle and bustle of Rome.
Frascati Wine Tasting Tour from Rome Price: 72.11 Taste the nectar of the gods on a wine-tasting afternoon tour from Rome to beautiful Frascati. On the only wine-tasting tour from Rome available, you'll visit one of the oldest and most beautiful vineyards in the Frascati region. You'll also enjoy a scenic drive through the famed Castelli Romani region surrounding Rome.	Ancient Ostia Small Group Day Trip from Rome Price: 53.78 Escape to Ostia Antica and see why experts are calling it "The Better Pompeii". It is just a step away from Rome and you'll travel in a personalized small group with maximum 25 people! The perfect half day trip from Rome for those seeking to learn more about ancient Roman ruins but do not have time to travel to Pompeii.
Rome to Florence Shuttle Service Price: 51.94 Travel from Rome to Florence in air-conditioned luxury with beautiful Tuscan scenery along the way, then explore the Renaissance city of Florence on your own. It's the best way to arrange a do-it-yourself tour of Florence from Rome.	Pompeii and Vesuvius Day Trip from Rome Price: 141.91 Take a break from Rome's big-city bustle to discover the fascinating history of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius on this full-day guided tour from Rome. Perfect if your time in Italy is limited, this is the only day tour from Rome that visits both Pompeii and Vesuvius on the same day. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 25 people when exploring Pompeii and Vesuvius, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your knowledgeable guide.

Things to Do in Rome

City Map of Rome Italy: here we mark all the Rome Tourist Attractions covered in this trip, use this map to orient yourself and plan your activities.

Ancient Rome Buildings: Overview of the Colisseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. What the buildings looked like in their glory, best way to tackle this sights with kids.

Vatican City: St. Peter's Square and Basilica.

The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel: Overview of highlights and how to navigate through the maze with the children.

Seeing The Pope at Castel Gandolfo
Our hotel in Central Rome

Seeing the Pope at Castel Gandolfo

2010-06-09T06:00:00.009-04:00

In July and August, the Pope retires to his Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo, so the weekly Pope blessings that normally occur on Sundays and Wednesdays in Vatican City the rest of the year, will take place in Castel Gandolfo, which is about 25 miles from Rome.

Because of constant changes in the Pope's schedule, it is always best to check where he will be that particular week/day. When we were at the Vatican, even at the Info counters, there was lots of confusion and nobody could really tell whether the Pope would be there the next day and if tickets were available. There is a phone number you can call to find out the schedule but they only speak Italian: 06-6988-4631.

How do you get to Castel Gandolfo?

You can take a train from the Termini station. Check the schedules because service runs every hour or so early in the morning, but later on is more haphazard, if you miss your return train at noon, the next one is about 2 and a half hours later. When you arrive at Castel Gandolfo station, then is a 20 minute uphill climb to get to the Castle where the Pope's audience will be, so allow plenty of time to get there. The views are great along the way but I only recommend the climb up if you're in decent shape, bring plenty of liquids.

Once at the Castle, there is an outside courtyard for people without tickets. The crowds start getting there early. Ticket holders go into the inside courtyard and get to see a little more of the Pope. The Blessing lasts about 20 minutes and is given in different languages. If you are in the outside courtyard you watch everything on a big screen TV set up for the occasion.

Then at the end, the Pope will come out to the balcony of the outside courtyard and bless the crowds, this only takes a few minutes, so don't expect a long ceremony or the like, some people were disappointed because they only got a glimpse for a few minutes and had to wait for hours. If you know what to expect you won't be disappointed.

Alternatively, a Taxi costs about EUR 60.00 one way and it can be arranged from your hotel. Since we had not planned for it, we had a little late start and this was the only way to get there on time which was a good thing since I don't think grandma and grandpa would have liked the climb up from the train stop. Also if you have several people in your group, this might be a good option as well. The taxi dropped us off right at the door and then we made our way back to Rome at a leisurely pace by train.

Another alternative is to book your Papal Audience in advance with Viator. They make all the arrangements whether it is at the Vatican or in Castel Gandolfo, they pick you up at your hotel and you leave the details to them, transportation, tickets if needed, etc. Check them out:

Audience with Pope Benedict XVI at Vatican City
Price: US$44.00
Viator
Bookings are essential if you'd like to attend a Papal Audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. Tickets are limited and you must have a confirmed reservation to attend. Book ahead and you won't waste precious vacation time in Rome.

Papal Blessing at Castelgandolfo Day Trip from Rome
Price: US$56.22
Viator
Take this special excursion to receive a Papal Blessing at Castelgandolfo in the summer months only. Availability is limited, so don't miss the opportunity to leave the busy Italian capital to spend time with the Pope at his summer residence at Castelgandolfo.

Papal Audience Tickets and Presentation
Price: US$39.11
Viator
Book your ticket for a Papal Audience with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican City. The Papal Audience tickets are free of charge but you must reserve them. This service guarantees to reserve those tickets (with seating!) to see Pope Benedict XVI. The price includes a presentation and explanation of the events of the Papal Audience to prepare you for the gathering.

Things to Do in Rome

City Map of Rome Italy: here we mark all the Rome Tourist Attractions covered in this trip, use this map to orient yourself and plan your activities.

Ancient Rome Buildings: Overview of the Colisseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. What the buildings looked like in their glory, best way to tackle this sights with kids.

Vatican City: St. Peter's Square and Basilica.

The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel: Overview of highlights and how to navigate through the maze with the children.

Seeing The Pope at Castel Gandolfo
Our hotel in Central Rome

Ancient Rome Buildings: the Colosseum, Foro Romano, Palatine Hill

2010-06-05T11:21:00.005-04:00

This is the heart of Ancient Rome, where the most magnificent buildings and monuments were erected over 2,000 years ago. The sights, specially the Colosseum are some of Rome's main attractions, with the long lines and crowds to go with them...

The three sites, the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are included in one ticket, the ticket is good for two consecutive days. Best is to buy your ticket in advance so you don't have to stand in the long line, or if you don't have advanced tickets, consider purchasing it at either the Palatine Hill or the Foro Romano, as the lines in the Colosseum are always longest. We had purchased the Roma Pass, which included entrance to two sites, so we used one of them for this one, and it also allowed us to skip the line.

When looking at these Ancient Rome buildings, you will find that some are in excellent shape and you can actually tell what they looked like before.

Others, however, don't have more than a pile of rocks left, and there it is difficult to figure out what it was like before. We found that the books like Frommer's Rome Past & Present which show the reconstructed buildings were a big help. We got ours before our trip from Amazon, it was great to show the kids in advance what they would be looking at. The book seems to be out of print though, and getting one is hit or miss, but similar books are available everywhere once you get to Rome, you won't have to look too far, they have them at all the sites in many different languages. The small ones which are handy to carry around were EUR12 and the bigger ones around EUR25. Defintiely recommend having one so you know what you're looking at.

Some sights like the Colosseum are in very good shape, so it is not too difficult to figure out what they looked like in all their glory:

Others, like in the various temples at the Roman Forum for example, there isn't much left and you really have to use your imagination on that one to figure what it was supposed to look like, that's when the Rome Past and Present books come in very handy, you see a picture of what it looks like now with an overlay of what it looked like before:

All three of these sites are next to one another. We started our visit at

The Colosseum

Without a doubt one of Rome's landmarks, this was the venue used for entertaining the masses and where the gladiator encounters and other spectacles took place more than 2,000 years ago.
As you come in, you see a large cross, this is supposedly where the Emperors sat:

You can circle around and get a great view of the underground tunnels where the animals, i.e. lions, were held, they were hoisted up to the arena level with elevators and used to pop up anywhere on the arena floor where the unfortunate fighters awaited.

From the top levels of the Colosseum you have great views of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, where we're headed next:

As you exit the Colosseum you pass the Arch of Constantine, which to many represents the birth of Rome as a Christian nation. The Arch celebrates Constantine's victory in the battle of the Milvian Bridge. Cosntantine later became Emperor and legalized Christianity.

From here we headed to...

Palatine Hill

...just accross the street. This is one of Rome's Seven Hills, and although it doesn't have the signifcance of the Colosseum or the Foro Romano, it was a nice stroll, plenty of trees for shade on a very hot day, and no crowds.

But here, it does help to have your little Rome Past and Present book so you know what you're looking at since most of what remains of the Imperial Palace is in ruins. There are several courtyards, the remains of the "Stadium":

And what's left of the Circus Maximus. Here you really have to use your imagination and picture those chariots racing a la Ben Hur in front of a sold out crowd. There isn't much left of the track... but there are some great views of the Roman Forum, where we're headed next from Palatine Hill:

Roman Forum

Our last one on our stop of Ancient Rome buildings and monuments, the Roman Forum was the main center of the city, this is where it all happened. The Arch of Titus is at the start of the Via Sacra or main street, which runs all the way to Capitol Hill.

And along the Via Sacra are the Forum's Main Square, the Basilica, the Senate building and all the temples dedicated to all the Gods.

We exited the Roman Forum by the Arch of Septimius Severus which leads to the steps to Capitoline Hill.

Capitoline Hill, another of Rome's Seven Hills, was the home of Rome's political and religious center. At the Campidoglio or the main square are the Capitoline Museums where the original She-wolf statue from Romulus and Remo is.

From Capitoline Hill there is a shortcut to the terrace level of the Vittorio Emmanuel Monument, where there are vast views of the city.

And your visit to Ancient Rome wouldn't be complete without a little stint with the wacky gladiators, just don't get ripped off, it should all be in good fun after all...

Things to Do in Rome

City Map of Rome Italy: here we mark all the Rome Tourist Attractions covered in this trip, use this map to orient yourself and plan your activities.

Ancient Rome Buildings: Overview of the Colisseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. What the buildings looked like in their glory, best way to tackle this sights with kids.

Vatican City: St. Peter's Square and Basilica.

The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel: Overview of highlights and how to navigate through the maze with the children.

Seeing The Pope at Castel Gandolfo
Our hotel in Central Rome

Our Hotel in Central Rome

2010-06-04T13:00:00.003-04:00

Our hotel in central Rome was in a perfect location, less than a ten minute walk from the Colosseum and the Ancient Rome sights, a five minute walk to several bus lines and the Cavour Metro station. And still, being in the middle of all the action, this little gem was very quiet and peaceful.

We stayed at Albergo Artorius, a small family-owned bed-and-breakfast, located in a quiet lane, a real welcoming place in such big city. The staff, all family, is super friendly and they all speak excellent English. They helped us with directions, train and bus schedules and routes, even called a buddy that worked at the Vatican to find out where the Pope would be for the next audience (in the summer months the Pope is sometimes in the summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo rather than Vatican City, see our post on Seeing the Pope at Castel Gandolfo) and helped us arrange transportation.

Every morning, we would come down for breakfast and they would greet us with a capuccino, "smily" hot cocoa for the kids, fresh juices for grandma and grandpa, and the assortment of breakfast rolls, meats and cheeses, and fresh croissants! The continental selection is well-assorted but did not change much over the few days we stayed.

There are lots of restaurants, cafes, pizzerias and trattorias in the area as well as small shops and a small supermarket just across the street to stock up with water, drinks and snacks. Keep in mind that if you are traveling in the summer months, some of these businesses might be closed, as the owners also go on their own summer vacations for a couple of weeks every year.

The rooms are spacious and very clean, but nothing fancy and the bathrooms have been recently refurbished.

They helped us book transportation to and from the airport and had a driver ready when we arrived in Rome and right on time when we left. The charge for the private van was EUR50 each way for five of us. When we arrived, it was late in the afternoon so it was worth it to have someone pick us up and take us to the hotel, which is in a small lane and reportedly some taxi drivers have had trouble finding it in the past. The driver also gave us a nice little tour as we approached the city, it was an awesome sight seeing the Colosseum for the first time as the sun was setting down!

We found this place through the many Rome Hotel Reviews in Tripadvisor.com. The rave reviews are well-merited so they book quickly and booking early is definitely a must. We booked online through Expedia and got a good rate. A double room was EUR120 including breakfast, the triple EUR150, which is excellent value for Rome standards.

Click here to Go to Expedia and find vacation travel Deals in Rome.

Here are the details:
Albergo Artorius

Via del Boschetto 13, 00184 Rome, Italy

We would definitely stay here again!

Things to Do in Rome

City Map of Rome Italy: here we mark all the Rome Tourist Attractions covered in this trip, use this map to orient yourself and plan your activities.

Ancient Rome Buildings: Overview of the Colisseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. What the buildings looked like in their glory, best way to tackle this sights with kids.

Vatican City: St. Peter's Square and Basilica.

The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel: Overview of highlights and how to navigate through the maze with the children.

Seeing The Pope at Castel Gandolfo
Our hotel in Central Rome

The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

2010-06-03T06:41:00.003-04:00

Courtyard at Musei Vaticani

A visit to the Vatican Museum can be overwhelming, starting with the lines at the entrance! It is an amazing collection of some of the bests works that takes you through a history tour from the ancient world into the Renaissance.

There are two main buildings connected by a hall. The first building houses the masterpieces of the Ancient world: Rome, Greece and Egypt.

The second houses works of the Renaissance and culminates in the mother of all, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.

To get through this gigantic maze with kids in tow and our sanity intact, here's a couple of tips. We followed Rick Steves' Rome 2010 self-guided tour and had also downloaded the audio tour which is available at his website on mp3 format. We studied the layout of the museum ahead of time and chose the highlights that we wanted to see. We handed a camera and a mission to the kids, they were to find and photograph those "famous" items!

So here is our visit to the Vatican Museum in pictures!

The Vatican Museum, Ancient World: Egypt, Greece and Rome

Egyptian Mummy

The Apollo Belvedere

The Laocoön

Belvedere Torso

Hercules

On to the next wing:

The Map Gallery

Rodin's Thinker

Then you come to the Raphael Rooms, what were the living quarters of the popes and the best examples of Renaissance art at its best. When going from hall to hall, there are great views into the gardens of the Vatican and of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica:

The Sistine Chapel

The final destination in this grand tour through history was Michelangelo's masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel.

It was extremely crowded as would be expected, you only have a few minutes to take it all in. I was more worried about not losing anybody in our group. This is not your typical chapel, quiet with pews and altars, this is standing room only, with wall to wall people and you do have to go through the rest of the Vatican Museum to get here.

So what is the Sistine Chapel? This is the Pope's chapel and where new popes are elected. The entire chapel from walls to ceiling is one giant piece of art, all done by one single person: Michelangelo. The frescoes depict scenes from the Bible, from both the Old and New Testament.

The kids did manage to find their assignment, the "reaching hands" in the "Creation of Adam" painting in the ceiling of the Chapel, the famous image of the hand of God giving life to Adam which has been reproduced in so many works. (There is no video or photography allowed here, this picture is a public domain picture from the Wikimedia Commons)

Here is a great virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel from the Vatican website, you can see the entire chapel in 3D, at the very front is the famous scene from the "Last Judgment", Christ raising his arm to judge the righteous and the wicked.

Then on to the ceiling, the main central part contains the nine scenes from Genesis, including Adam and Eve and Noah's Arch. On the sides of the ceiling are the prophets and the ancestors.

Can you find the "reaching hands"? Hint: navigate with the mouse to the ceiling of the chapel and look for this section of the fresco in the middle of the ceiling, you can zoom in and out with the buttons in the lower left corner.

When exiting the Sistine Chapel, pay attention to the signs and directions in Rick Steve's book if you want to exit directly to St. Peter's Basilica, otherwise you have to back track all the way to the entrance and then around to the other side on St. Peter's Square.

If you are pressed for time and would like to make arrangements in advance, you might want to consider these "Skip the Line tours" by Viator, which will save you time and hassle of dealing with the crowds, and the ultimate experience, a Private Viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum.

Skip the Line: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour
Price: US$72.11
Take a morning or afternoon tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - and jump the queue by booking ahead. You'll enjoy a mini coach tour of Rome en route to the Vatican and see Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel frescoes, without wasting time waiting in line.

Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica Half-Day Walking Tour
Price: US$36.67
Get much more out of your visit to St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican by taking a guided walking tour. St Peter's and the Vatican Museums can be overwhelming, especially if this is your first visit, so allow your experienced guide to lead the way and share the history, architecture, and politics of the Vatican. As an added bonus, you'll skip the long ticket lines when you visit the Vatican Museums (entrance fees payable direct on the day of travel).

Private Viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums
Price: US$339.37
This tour gives visitors an exclusive viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. Michelangelo's masterpiece will leave you captivated as you enjoy it minus the huge crowds. A once in a lifetime opportunity so secure a place on this magical tour in Rome. This is a private two-hour small group tour of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, for selected nights only.

Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
Price: US$63.56
Take a small group walking tour of the Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica, and jump the queue by booking ahead. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 20 people on this small group walking tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your guide. And by booking ahead, you won't waste any time waiting in line!

City Map of Rome Italy

2010-06-02T00:52:00.006-04:00

Rome Tourist Attractions

View Rome Tourist Attractions in a larger map

	Colosseum, Foro Romano, Palatine Hill
	Pantheon
	Piazza Navona
	Trevi Fountain
	Spanish Steps
	Capuccin Crypt
	Galleria Borguese
	Vatican City: Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Square and Basilica
	Santa Maria Maggiore
	San Pietro in Vincoli
	Roma in 3D
	Albergo Artorius, our Hotel in Central Rome

Things to Do in Rome

City Map of Rome Italy: here we mark all the Rome Tourist Attractions covered in this trip, use this map to orient yourself and plan your activities.

Ancient Rome Buildings: Overview of the Colisseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. What the buildings looked like in their glory, best way to tackle this sights with kids.

Vatican City: St. Peter's Square and Basilica.

The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel: Overview of highlights and how to navigate through the maze with the children.

Seeing The Pope at Castel Gandolfo
Our hotel in Central Rome

Things to do in Rome

2010-06-01T05:24:00.010-04:00

With so many things to do in Rome, planning our trip and what we wanted to see, specially on our limited amount of time, was very important. There is of course the Colosseum, the many fountains and piazzas, the museums, the churches, Vatican City... so much history, art, shopping, food... can we do it all?

We had four days in this wonderful city that has so much to offer.

Rome seemed a bit chaotic at first glance, but public transportation actually worked very well and it was very easy to get around. A lot of the main sights and things to do in Rome we wanted to see were easily reached and many were close together, so it was time to grab a map, got some comfortable walking shoes and off we went!

We followed and highly recommend Rick Steves' Rome 2010. The recommended self-guided walks are well planned and easy to follow. There are many tips for planning your visits to the Museums, getting advanced tickets and saving the hassle of long lines, when to go to avoid crowds, etc. This book will save you lots of time and money and guide you to all the favorite things to do in Rome.

Also worth the money is the Roma Pass. This is a good deal if you're staying for 3 days and visiting at least two of the major sights. It includes public transportation, buses and metro within the city, entrance to two museums or archeological sites and price reductions for the other sights. We bought our cards online in advance and picked them up at the Colosseum, the first place we visited, the best part was we got to skip the long line. Also note that sites in Vatican City i.e. Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel are NOT covered by the Roma Pass.

If you're traveling with kids, keep in mind: Public transportation for kids 10 and under is free.
Entrance to museums and archeological sites for children under 10 with a EU passport is FREE of charge. Please note that even when it is free, if the museum requires a reservation, the child also needs to have one.

When is the best time to go? In May, June, September and October the weather is pleasant. If you're limited (like we were because of the kids' summer vacation) to July and August, the heat is intense, make sure your hotel has air conditioning, drink plenty of fluids to keep hydrated and enjoy lots of gelato!

So here's our list of our Favorite Things to Do in Rome:
Our first stop was at the Colosseum,

The Colosseum

...followed by the nearby Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. This is the heart of Ancient Rome and just a short walk away from our hotel in Central Rome.

Roman Forum - Foro Romano

From the Roman Forum we took the shortcut to the terrace level of the Vittorio Emmanuel Monument which had great views of the Colosseum and Roman Forum. We had lunch and a well deserved break here.

Vittorio Emmanuel Monument

There is a coffe shop at the terrace of the Vittorio Emmanuel Monument and an elevator that takes you up to the very top. The views from here are magnificent. An awesome view of the city and beyond, you could see as far as St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Our second day started at the Pantheon, also a must-see of Rome tourist attractions, is probably the best preserved structure from Ancient Rome. The centerpiece of this temple is its dome, which was the base for other famous dome buildings, the Duomo in Florence, St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and even the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.

The Pantheon

And when you enter inside the temple, a surprise awaits, at the top, the dome is not completely closed up. The Oculus, is a 30-foot hole at the top, and the only source of light for the entire building:

Pantheon's Oculus

Nearby the Pantheon is Piazza Navona, it is a very lively place, with cafes, trattorias and the exquisite fountains in the middle of the plaza. This is a great place to grab a bite or just people watch.

Next was Vatican City in the afternoon. We officially left Italy and entered the Vatican, a separate independent country.

Entrance to Vatican City

Here the highlights are the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Square and Basilica. Because of the novelty of crossing to another "official" country, we got our postcards mailed from the Vatican, which has its own postal service and stamps.

Rest of day 2 was spent bumming around the Trevi Fountain area, the beautiful Baroque style fountain which is always full with tourists tossing the coins for good luck. There is lots of shopping and eating places around here, the fountain is beautiful at night.

Trevi Fountain

Day 3 started early as we headed over to Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence some 25 miles from Rome, for a chance to see the Pope on one of his weekly blessings.

Waiting for the Pope at Castel Gandolfo

If seeing the Pope is on your list of things to do in Rome and the Vatican, this is something that needs to be planned, as schedules and location for blessings vary during the year, and normally occur only on Sundays or Wednesdays.

The afternoon of day three we spent by the Spanish Steps area, lots of ritzy stores in this area, did our souvenir shopping and grabbed something to eat.

Piazza di Spagna

Nearby just up on Via Veneto is the Capuccin Crypt, it is full of skeletons, skulls and bones from monks that died between 1528 and 1870. They are arranged and displayed in this crypt in the basement of Santa Maria della Immacolata Concezione. Because this is a religious site, please observe the dress code (no shorts or bare shoulders)

Our last day was spent walking around some of the churches nearby our hotel. These churches besides being houses of worship are almost like a museum as they are filled with history, art and treasures and are certainly worth a visit.

First on the list was the Church of St. Peter in Chains or San Pietro in Vincoli. This was to be Pope's Julius II's Tomb but Michelangelo did not get to finish it. In this church are housed two pairs of chains, the ones that held St. Peter while he was captive at Mamertime prison and the other pair while he was jailed by Herod in Jerusalem.

Another highlight of this church is Michelangelo's Moses:

Also worth a visit is Santa Maria Maggiore which is one of Rome's oldest and well-preserved. This church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and there is a beautiful Madonna painting and altar. Also fragments from what is believed was Jesus' Manger are housed here.

Santa Maria Maggiore is close by the Termini station, but is actually part of the Vatican, not Rome, so if you still have postcards to mail with Vatican stamps, the mail boxes here are actually Vatican City mail boxes not Italian post.

For the kids, it was time at Rome in 3D, this is a multimedia show where you are a gladiator and walk through the tunnels of a reconstructed version of the Colosseum where the fighters used to wait for their turn at the lions and other animals. Then you become an expectator and sit through a 3D movie with the spectacle as it was back in those days. There are a lot of interactive games at the end complete with roman togas and costumes, gladiator weapons to play with and the gift shop of course.

That was the end of our great four day stay in Rome! We hope to come back again soon and keep adding to our list of favorite things to do in Rome!

City Map of Rome Italy: here we mark all the Rome Tourist Attractions covered in this trip, use this map to orient yourself and plan your activities.

Ancient Rome Buildings: Overview of the Colisseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. What the buildings looked like in their glory, best way to tackle this sights with kids.

Vatican City: St. Peter's Square and Basilica.

The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel: Overview of highlights and how to navigate through the maze with the children.

Seeing The Pope at Castel Gandolfo

Our hotel in Central Rome

Day Trips from Rome: If you have the time, consider going to some other great places easily accessible from Rome: Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Florence, Naples, a wine tour through the Chianti region, etc. Here are some ideas and tours offered by Viator from Rome.

Other Fun Things to Do in Rome: How about a Segway tour of the city? Or a Photography tour with someone to show you around the best spots for that perfect shot? Here are some fun tours arranged by Viator, whether it's a Dinner Cruise on the Tiber or an audience with the Pope.

Weimaraner Puppies

2010-05-23T09:57:00.007-04:00

This was a very fun afternoon with seven active Weimaraner Puppies, over at Hans, Basko's trainer. The puppies are 5 weeks old, and a bundle of energy and fun. You can see right away how athletic and energetic this breed is and why they recommend anyone planning to get a Weimaraner Puppy to be very energetic and active themselves!

This litter had 7 puppies, all healthy, silvery-gray coat and blue eyes that are characteristic of Weimaraner Pups.

At 5 weeks, they had already learned a lot, climbing and playing on all sorts of contraptions, recognizing sounds, like the meal whistle, and were very social.

Their hunting instincts already evident, with Hans they have had excellent training, which is essential in their puppyhood months, the families getting these puppies are indeed very lucky that their pups have been in such good hands. Yes I think all of them have been picked out and the families can't wait to take them home in a few more weeks!

We also got to witness their voracious appetite! Click on the arrow to take a peek, this is a short clip and like something out of The Sound of Music, watch it and you'll see why (50 sec. video clip):

After all the activity of the day, it was finally time for a nap...

Check out our favorite website for Dog Food Ratings and Reviews

The Tomb of Tutankhamen Exhibit in Hamburg

2010-05-22T08:58:00.001-04:00

The Golden Mask of Tutankhamen

King Tut's Tomb Exhibit is traveling the world, it is in Hamburg this year until the end of August, it goes to Madrid afterwards. So we took the opportunity to see it this past weekend. It was like a mini-history lesson for the kids, it is very well laid-out and presented.

It tells the story of Howard Carter's excavation efforts and how he found the grave, all the articles found in what is to date the most exquisite collection of Egyptian antiquities ever discovered, and the only Tomb in the Valley of the Kings that had not already been pillaged by robbers.

At the entrance, there is first the story of the Rosetta Stone and how it helped decipher the Egyptian hieroglyphics. At the beginning of the Exhibit there is a movie explaining the explorations of Howard Carter who was aided financially by his sponsor Lord Carnarvon, the search that for seven hard years in the desert had brought nothing, and how the steps leading to the sealed Tomb were found right at the end of what was to be the last effort due to financial concerns.

Then you move into the first exhibits and what Howard Carter saw for the first time, peering through a hole, with a single candle on his hand: "Strange animals, statues, and gold - everywhere the glint of gold."

View into the Antechamber

These exhibits show the precise position of the items as they were found in the early excavation works. This was possible due to the work of the photographer Harry Burton, who documented every single aspect of the excavation of King Tutankhamen's Tomb, as all items were inventoried and brought to the museum.

There were two antechambers like this, filled with all sorts of artifacts before reaching the Burial Chamber which contained the gilded shrine where the sarcophagus and the several coffins would be found.

The outer coffin is lifted

The outer coffin contained two other coffins that protected the inner coffin,

with the inner coffin containing the mummy of the young King:

Then as you move to the rest of the exhibits, you see the more than 1,000 treasures found, with descriptions of their purpose in the journey to the afterlife, here's a small selection:

Detail of the innermost coffin which contained the mummy of King Tutankhamen

The Golden Throne of the Pharaoh

The Pharaoh's Chariot

The Golden Shrine and Anubis, God of the Dead, protecting it

The King's Jewelery

These are not the original artifacts, the real relics are found in the Cairo Museum, however, this exhibition is the only way to see the way the burial and treasure chambers were found in the Valley of the Kings, the quality of the reproductions is superb, and the entire exhibit, including movies and other multimedia has been carefully and precisely executed. It sure beats reading the history books!

Click here for more information on the Tomb of Tutankhamen Exhibit in Hamburg, hours of operation, directions and ticket prices.

Things to do in Stockholm: Skansen, Gamla Stan, the Vasa

2010-05-12T12:16:00.005-04:00

Stockholm was the last stop on our Baltic Cruise, we only had a couple of days here before heading home so we tried to see as much of the city as possible and definitely hit all the highlights.

View of Stockholm from Skansen

Top Sights in Stockholm

Stockholm is not as compact as Helsinki but can be easily seen on foot and some public transportation, which is convenient and easy to use. During our short stay, we got to see and really enjoyed:

Skansen
The Vasa Museum
The Royal Armory and Changing of the Guard
Gamla Stan
Harbor Cruise

And if you are arriving in Stockholm on a Cruise ship like we did, you will pass some of the most beautiful island scenery before entering the terminal. Stockholm is surrounded by islands, but we had to be up at 5:00 a.m. to be able to see them, it was well worth it!

Skansen

Skansen is an open air folk museum/park and a great place for the kids. It's a collection of historical Swedish "mini-cities", including homes, churches, post offices, etc. to recreate Swedish culture and life. You see traditional crafts in action, like glassblowing and pottery, and walk through beautiful gardens of all kinds, rose gardens, herb gardens, you name it.

There is also a zoo with the typical nordic animals, kids will enjoy the brown bears and cubs, the petting zoos, the pony rides... we easily spent a half day here.

The Vasa Museum

About a 15 minute walk from Skansen is the Vasa Museum. The Vasa was a warship that sunk on her maiden voyage in 1628. It remained under the sea at the bottom of the Stockholm Harbor for 333 years until it was salvaged by marine archeologists in 1961 and it is in an amazingly well-preserved condition.

Most of what you see at the Museum is the original ship, about 95% of the original carvings were salvaged, very few pieces have been restored. There's over 500 carved statues that decorate the ship. The Vasa was named after Gustav Vasa, who is considered the Builder of the Kindom and Father of the Nation of Sweden.

There is a film that explains how it was salvaged and gives you a very good insight of the enormity of the task. The film is 25 minutes long and available in many languages. Check times when you first arrive for the language of your choice.

The museum is set up in 6 different levels, the film theaters you will find at the entrance level (which is actually level 4) and throughout the different levels there are many interesting exhibits about naval warfare, how a ship like Vasa was sailed, how ships were built at that time, for example. The exhibit about life at sea is quite interesting for the kids, you get to climb on a full-scale model of the upper gun deck and take a look at original objects found on board.

Between the film, checking out the ship and the exhibits, we spent about 90 minutes. There is also a coffee shop at the museum if you're ready for a break.

The Royal Armory and Changing of the Guard

The Royal Palace is used normally for state functions and although this is the official Residence of His Majesty the King of Sweden, this is not where the Royal Family lives. In between the official functions, the Royal Apartments are open to the public.

The highlights here are the Royal Armory and the Military Parade and Changing of the Guard that takes place every day around noon.

In the vaults of the palace cellars, the Royal Armory is a great collection of medieval suits of armor, weapons, royal and coronation gowns, equestrian outfits, and royal carriages, all beautifully displayed. It gives you a glimpse into five centuries of Swedish royal history, from Gustav Vasa to the present King Carl Gustaf XVI and all exhibits are made for and belonged to the Royal family.

The Royal Armoury is set up in three parts. At the entrance level start the permanent exhibits which house relics like the armor and weapons made and used by Gustav Vasa, Gustav II Adolf's horse, wedding and coronation gowns worn by the royal family through the centuries to the present day, Crown Princess Victoria's coming out dress takes center stage at one of the exhibits. Also one room dedicated to the Royal Nursery, it contains toys, clothing, christening gowns, etc, of the little prince and princesses. Probably one of the best collections we've seen in Europe and great for the kids that are into Knights and Royal paraphernalia.

Following the Permanent exhibits are the Temporary exhibitions, this is also where you find a Play and Learn Exhibit, a hands on play room that offers games and activities for children. Here kids can try on a full armor, the heavy crowns and royal gowns, great fun for little princesses and brave knights!

The final section of the Royal Armory contains the Royal Carriages, the Royal Mews finest are housed here at the Royal Armory. They have been used for celebrations from coronations to royal weddings.

After the Royal Armory, we headed to the Palace's outer courtyard before the military parade arrived. The parade arrives at the palace around noon, you need to check the schedules because the time depends on the day of the week and the time of the year.

Get there a little early if you want to grab a good place as it gets quite crowded. The entire thing lasts about an hour, from the guard changing to the marching band concert, it is a lively and entertaining event with a pageantry and festive atmosphere.

Gamla Stan

After the Changing of the Guard and Marching Band concert we went to explore the rest of the Old Town. Gamla Stan is a Stockholm's historic Old Town with the narrow cobblestone streets, charming homes, antique shops, churches, and historic monuments.

There is a lot to see and little surprises here and there. We followed the Gamla Stan self-guided walk on Rick Steves' Scandinavia. It takes you through the narrow alleys, to the churches and cathedrals, interesting spots like the Iron Boy and the Rune Stone, and points out some great viewpoints along the walk.

Stockholm Harbor Cruise

Stockholm is surrounded by water, a great and relaxing way to see the city is on a boat tour. There are several tours offered, some depart from across the Grand Hotel, and some from the pier around the City Hall.
Some are short and last about 50 minutes, others more comprehensive last about two hours.

Some boat tours are covered by the Stockholm Card (see below), others offer discounts with the card, check routes and itineraries as they all offer different sections of the city, some might be of more interesting to you than others.

Another alternative is the hop-on-hop-off boat, with stops at all the above sites we covered, or you can take it for the 50 minute loop as a quick orientation tour.

Seeing Stockholm with the Stockholm Card

We got a Stockholm Card, they had them at the front desk at the hotel, and it covers entrance to the parks and museums as well as public transportation for 24 hours (bus, metro and ferry) and discounts for the harbor cruises. They also have them for 2-3 days if you are staying longer. The card is pricey, but if you are planning to visit at least two of the major sights, the Vasa and Skansen for example, then you definitely will get your money's worth plus the convenience of just hopping on and off the public transport without having to hassle with tickets, small change, etc.

If you use it the first day at say, 11:00 a.m., you have until the same time the next day to enter the last site. We de-boarded our ship around 8:00 a.m. and by the time we were checked-in and settled in the hotel, it was 11:00 a.m. before we took our first bus ride and headed over to Skansen. We later used it to get in the Vasa Museum, and finally for the Harbour Cruise that night. Then the next day, we were at the Royal Armoury at the Palace by 10:30 a.m. and were able to use the card there as well. So if you time it right you can get a lot of mileage out of your Stockholm Card and it certainly makes it very convenient to get around, we highly recommend it!

Bamberg, a medieval old town in Bavaria

2010-05-11T08:24:00.002-04:00

Bamberg is a pretty old medieval town in Bavaria, Germany. I had never heard of it but on the first glimpse, it was evident why this little town has been proclaimed an Unesco World Heritage Site. Bamberg is well known for its beautiful architecture and its beer!

Bamberg is on the River Regnitz, it sits on seven hills, each hill crowned with a beautiful church. Like all small medieval towns, this one is best seen on foot. The Old Town is compact, you see a mix of Renaissance, Baroque, Gothic and Romanesque styles. You can use the Kaiser Dom or Imperial Cathedral to orient yourself:

The original church built in 1004 was destroyed by fire. The current building has four towers and was re-built in the Romanesque style by St. Otto of Bamberg in the 13th Century.

The Cathedral's Interior

From the Dom you can walk to the lower town, with the many cobblestone narrow streets, sidewalk cafes and courtyards to have a bite or drink, there was a lively outside market that day.

Bamberg is one of the few cities that were not destroyed in World War II, the beautiful architecture is still intact and you can see it in the ornate houses and mansions that line the streets.

The Old City Hall is a striking building, it sits in the middle of the river Regnitz on its own little island, which joins the Old Town via two bridges, the outside is beautifully decorated with frescoes, definitely worth a look:

From the bridges you have a nice view of "Little Venice", which are small half-timbered houses along the river where the fishermen used to live.

Further out, we headed to Michaelsberg, one of the seven hills, atop sits the Michaelsberg Abbey, founded by Benedictine Monks in 1015.

The beautiful nave and ceiling paintings in the interior of the Abbey are worth a look:

Again outside, circle to the back of the Abbey,

...there are great views of the Old town and the surrounding hills:

You can spend the rest of the day at one of the local pubs, cafes or restaurants in the Old Town. Bamberg is well-known for its beer, specially Rauchbier or "smoked beer". There are 8 traditional breweries in the town. One of the most famous taverns in the Old Town is the Schlenkerla.

As pretty and picturesque as this town was, it wasn't flooded with tourists and souvenir shops as the more well-known towns like Rothenburg, yet...

Our Short Haired Pointer Derby Test

2010-04-25T13:33:00.003-04:00

Today was Basko's Spring Derby test. This is supposed to be a test of the puppy's "natural abilities". So we are glad to report that our little darling came through and was awarded Prize III!

I'm not well versed in this hunting dog training lingo but as far as I could determine, the test evaluates four main areas:

He got excellent marks for "Nose" and "Cooperation and Attitude". We knew he has an excellent nose, but as far as "cooperation" well, if they meant "obedience" we would have been in big trouble.

The areas he did not do so well were "Search" and "Pointing". He is still too chaotic on his searches and gets distracted easily. For the test is up to chance what kind of wildlife they get to work with. He only got some bird and he was totally uninterested in the little thing. On the other hand, another dog in his group got a deer, was gone for miles and never came back, (that's probably what Basko would have done also) and got bad marks for it, so I guess we were lucky with the little uninteresting bird, at least he got partial credit!

I don't know how much that test really measures the dog's natural abilities, the parents' genes, I suppose, since there were 3 of Basko's siblings doing the same test and all four had very different marks. So training and handling also has a lot to do, but these are abilities that supposedly are tested on a later test when the dogs are older.

Anyhow, we are happy, we got a good pup and he's in the right track of learning to be a good hunting dog!

Stuck in Florida due to the Iceland Volcano Ash Cloud

2010-04-19T10:34:00.001-04:00

Last December we had a few hiccups trying to leave from Hamburg due to the heavy snowfall in Dusseldorf. After a red-eye train ride to DUS in minus 7 degree weather (waiting at the train station was not fun) and 24 hours later, we finally arrived in Miami just in time for Christmas. This time, we are stuck in Miami due to the Iceland volcano ash cloud which has grounded air traffic in most European Airports since the eruption last Wednesday. After our Easter break, our flight was due to leave Miami on Friday, arrive in Dusseldorf Saturday morning, Sunday was laundry day, and Monday was back to school and the salt mine... well, as of Monday there is still no signs of when the air traffic restrictions will be lifted. But at least waiting by the pool sure beats waiting out the snow...

The Jade Buddha of Universal Peace

2010-04-18T14:22:00.004-04:00

We had a chance to see the Jade Buddha of Universal Peace which is touring around the world for two years when it was here in Miami this week. The Buddha started its tour in Vietnam in March 2009, continued on to Australia before coming to North America, and from here will go on to Germany, England and France before returning to its home in Asia.

“The purpose of exhibiting the Jade Buddha around the world is for everyone, irrespective of their religion, to take a moment to reflect upon peace, peace for the world, peace in personal relationships, peace for families and friends, peace at work, and most importantly peace in one’s own heart and mind” said Khanya Moolsiri, the Asian American community leader.

The Buddha was hosted at the Wat Buddharangsi, a Buddhist temple in Homestead, Florida.

The 7 foot Jade Buddha, hand carved from a single 18 ton Jade stone, is the largest Jade Buddha in the world, a really magnificent piece, with a really magnificent message to spread around the world.

There were other ceremonies going on, like the Snow Lion Dance for World Peace, chanting prayers for World Peace, etc. and traditional Tibetan painting demonstrations in the main temple.

Kids First Time Scuba Diving

2010-04-14T14:27:00.025-04:00

After all the fun snorkeling trips, the kids have been itching to try scuba diving, so when we were in Florida this Easter, we decided to take a trip down to the Keys. Weather was great as we set off on our 3 hour drive to one of the Lower Keys. It really is a pretty drive going over all the bridges and little islands in between.

We finally arrived at the Looe Key Resort, "resort" is a stretch, it was more like an overpriced motel, but all the dive facilities were right there. You could literally get up, go out the back door and hop on the Cat which was anchored right at your door and go diving.

The next day started bright an early, a 7:30 a.m. check in for the "new divers", then on to a short classroom session to go over some of the basics, "don't hold your breath", "don't poke the sharks" etc. and then on to the shop to try out some gear...

... the pool was next for that first breath out of the regulator...

The session was quite short, the basics are covered, like clearing your mask, how to put air on your BC, a giant stride into the pool, and not much else. By 10:00 a.m. the kids were ready to join the rest of the divers on the boat for their first ocean dive.

Water temperature was about 79 degrees, a little cool for my taste. There were no full wetsuits for the kids, only shorties, so that had to do. They did have the smaller tanks for them so that was good. After a short ride to the reef, they were ready to jump in...

...go down the anchor line...

and enjoy this wonderful experience...

The kids had a blast, mom was a bit stressed out... chasing after, trying the new camera housing, trying to keep the little guys in check... but what a nice experience and thank God the maximum depth at this reef is only 27 feet!!!

Now they are ready to try out their full Junior Open Water Certification, which you can do from age 10, something to look forward to!

How to Build an Igloo with Snow

2010-02-19T15:55:00.005-05:00

Snow Days are great! No school for the kids and we get to play! This was our first attempt at building an igloo... not precisely the dome of St. Peter's but hey it was great fun!

So how do you get started? First off, do yourself a favor and download the instructions from this site:
http://www.igloo4you.com/ The pdf manual is only a couple of dollars and it will save you a lot of the guessing and trying.

This is not the Inuit way of building an igloo with ice blocks, etc. just a very simple and easy way to build an igloo with a little snow with the kids.

Here are a few pics as we went along. It took us about 3 hours from beginning to end:

First you need to enlist all your helpers:

Anyone that can carry snow will do...

Setting up the circular base, leaving sufficient space for the entrance of the igloo, start working your way up and around, try to pack the snow as much as you can.

Then start working towards the inside to shape the dome

Work the side walls at the entrance that will help support the rest of the dome:

And from the outside start closing the dome from the top to the side of the entrance walls...

Ok, now make some nice hot cocoa and enjoy!

And finally, spray it with a light mist of water if you're expecting temperatures to drop to freezing point overnight. It will harden your Igloo and make it virtually bomb-proof!

Our Snowy Winter

2010-01-19T10:41:00.012-05:00

So last year was a mild one, this year seems like we will be having lots and lots of snow... Here's to our first big dump!

Dog Obedience Training Update...

2009-12-05T08:04:00.001-05:00

Well, Basko seems to have "mastered" three of the Doggie commandments as you can see:

"You shall not jump on people"

"You shall not go on the furniture"

"You shall not have shoes for breakfast"

Ok so still a little way to go, but we're making progress...

Our New Member of the Family: A German Short Haired Pointer!

2009-10-01T07:39:00.003-04:00

Meet Basko, our new member of the family! Basko is a German Short Haired Pointer or Deutsch Kurzhaar, a hunting dog breed. Here he is with mom Antje and dad Basko Sr. and his brothers and sisters, ten healthy puppies all in all!

And here he is at 14 weeks old:

Basko has started his Dog Obedience Training. We're working on the potty training and the chewing... Basko is a very "active" puppy it seems...

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A Day in Helsinki

2009-09-01T06:21:00.000-04:00

We have been in Helsinki for quick stop overs in several occasions and most recently, underway during our Baltic Cruise.

Helsinki is a great stop for a day, in the summer of course. It's a great city to explore by foot, so the long daylight hours and warm weather really brings everyone out.

If you just want to hang out, the Esplanade above, and the Market Square right by the water, which is sort of an open air market with everything you can think of, food, flowers, fruits and veggies, souvenirs and crafts, are your best bets to relax and grab a bite.

If you want to do some exploring, here's the main sights in Helsinki, I highly recommend Rick Steves' Scandinavia for a walk and tram guide of the main places:

Near the Harbor and an easy walk if you're arriving by cruise ship:

The Lutheran Cathedral

The Uspenski Cathedral

A little further out but easily reached by tram is The Church in the Rock This is an exceptional structure, blasted out of solid rock, from the outside it's nothing extraordinary, it looks more like a pile of well... rocks ...

with a green dome...

The inside however, is quite something, you can appreciate the beautiful copper dome and the skylights:

Also on the same Tram route you find the Sibelius Monument

Made of six hundred stainless-steel pipes in honor of Finland's greatest composer, Jean Sibelius:

You can also catch a ferry from the Market Square to the Fortress (about 15 minutes), great place for the kids to run around with its five miles of walls and hundreds of cannons:

St Petersburg: Peterhof

2009-08-13T09:53:00.164-04:00

Peterhof is more than Peter the Great's Grand Palace, it is set in a beautiful park surrounding landscaped gardens, pavillions, and fountains. In fact, besides the lavishly decorated rooms in the Palace, the fountains of the Grand Cascade are the show stealers.

Peterhof is located in the outskirts of St. Petersburg overlooking the Gulf of Finland, about a 90 minute bus ride in heavy traffic early in the morning. You can also ride the hydrofoil which is much faster. We took this route on the way back, it shortens the trip in half.

Our visit started with the beautiful State Rooms of the palace. You need to check in all your bags, at the entrance, and they will also give you shoe coverings to protect the beautiful wooden floors throughout the palace. You will walk through and around opulent rooms, paintings, sculptures and works of art.

At 11:00 a.m., you need to find a spot down the terraces or along the Marine Canal as the fountains of the Grand Cascade are turned on at this time.

It's a dazzling array of 64 fountains and over 140 water jets down the terraces of the Palace and among gilded bronze statues as classical music is played all around you.

The focal point is the Samson with Lion sculpture in the middle...

Kids love all the different statues blowing water all over...

...dragons and frogs...

...lions...

...and how about fish...

Then we continued on to explore the rest of the park and the gardens. There are more fountains...

...beautiful gardens...

...smaller cottages and palaces like this one at Monplaisir...

But the kids' favorite spot was crossing the "magic stone road":

...where if you crossed it the wrong way and touched the wrong stone, watch what happens!

We walked back towards the Canal along the water, this is the Gulf of Finland.

This is where you board the hydrofoil that will take you back to St. Petersburg.

The ride back was quick and brought us right in front of the Winter Palace.

More St. Petersburg posts:

St. Petersburg: Catherine's Palace at Tsarkoe Selo

2009-08-12T09:45:00.198-04:00

Our visit to Catherine's Palace was one of the highlights of our stay in St. Petersburg. We had an unforgettable evening at the Night of the Tsars, Regent's signature excursion to this magnificent place. Because the entire Palace is closed to other visitors, we wandered around with no crowds, enjoyed a champagne reception at the Great Hall and then went for dinner to a nearby restaurant which is famous for its local cuisine, (Presidents Putin and Bush had dinner here we were told...) it was truly worth it.

Tsarkoe Selo is located only about 16 miles from St. Petersburg, but takes at least an hour to get there because of the heavy traffic. This Imperial Palace was built in honor of Catherine I by her daughter Tsarina Elizabeth. The interiors were redesigned in the Baroque style later on by Catherine the Great.

Upon arrival, first thing you appreciate is the beautiful and long façade which extends for over 300 meters. Don't miss the beautiful details on the windows and columns and the Atlantes sculptures...

When touring the Palace, we were given foot covers to protect the elaborate wooden floors throughout. Since the palace is still being renovated, only some 20 state rooms are open. There are exquisite works of art in every single one:

The Cavaliers' Dining Room

The Green Room

The Amber Room

The Amber Room is probably the most remarkable of all the State Rooms in the Palace. The original panels were a gift to Peter the Great from Friedrich Willhelm I of Prussia and were made of over 100,000 pieces of amber. The panels were dismantled by the Nazis and shipped to Germany during WWII and never recovered.

The panels now in the Palace were reconstructed using photographs of the original works. The original ones have never been found and their whereabouts remain a mystery.

Next was the champagne reception at the Great Hall which was beautifully lit by sunlight streaming from the tall windows as a quartet played in the background.

After a short walk around the French-style gardens,

we stopped for a quick look at the Royal Carriages...

...and on to food, music, dancing, vodka...

Here are a few short clips from this wonderful evening, click the arrow to play:

Other St. Petersburg Posts:

St. Petersburg: A Night of Russian Folk Song and Dance

2009-08-11T07:55:00.004-04:00

More St. Petersburg posts:

Family Adventures

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