By our third and final day in Rome, we had finally become familiar with the lay of the land and even comfortable enough to zip around on the metro and local buses unfettered. The panic of our connecting flight from Chicago to Rome had also subsided and would become just another one of many tales in our first solo adventure overseas. Cue twinkling flashback music.
The descent into Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport was stalled for what seemed hours as a freak hailstorm pelted the airplane and the ground crew worked to clear the congested terminals. I distinctly remember pompously, more frantically really, declaring to nearby passengers that we would “miss our connecting to flight to Rome”, hoping that my latent powers of suggestion would somehow convince everyone to stay seated until we were able to disembark. Fat chance. Thankfully, one of our fellow passengers, an unaccompanied minor, was on the same connecting flight to the Italian capital. This meant that the second plane would still be grounded at the gate until he boarded. My only regret was that I had not bought an in-flight gift for the kid who had saved this and all future trips from disaster.
Something had been overlooked during our trip preparation and came to light to as I eavesdropped on a tour group at the Roman Forum. The masterpieces at the previous day’s Vatican Museum visit included plaques detailing the dates of the artworks’ creations as well as other important background information. There was a starting point for the museum-goer to imagine how this statute or that painting fit into the broader context of human civilization. The same could be said at all the museums we had visited during our three weeks in Europe. But what if the attraction was a gigantic free-standing outdoor amphitheater or the crumbling ruins of Palatine Hill? What then?
We should have skipped the Roma Pass and bought instead the more expensive guided combo tour of the three sites. This was one of those occasions in life when we should have trusted our gut instincts and not our pocket books. This was The Eternal City!
The Colosseum was truly monumental but, to put things gently, also a little bland. I think this irreverence came from being spoiled of the place from watching movies like Gladiator, Spectre, and Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck and innumerable youtube (research) videos; there was a sense that this was all too familiar and no other wonders could possibly be revealed. If only we had hired a knowledgeable tour guide, the attractions would have left a more lasting impression on us. But alas!
TRAVEL TIP: The only type of ticket available to visit the Colosseum is a combo ticket, which provides simultaneous access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. The visitor need not visit the latter but take note that combo tickets can be purchased at those locations in addition to at the Colosseum. The advantage at the other two locales are the far shorter lines. The same holds true if tickets are purchased online and need to be redeemed.
