Rome, my reflections

I prefer to think of myself as the "unusual" tourist, I hope the following helps explain that.

Twelve years after our first trip and all the astounding, wonderful things we saw, visited and were awestruck by are just as glorious now. In the years since that first visit I have been to many places and into more churches than in my entire previous life. Each is an individually spectacular monument, yet on each trip I see more. Expand my sphere of interest and depart wanting more. So far my luck has held and I continue to return. 

After you come back one of the questions you always be asked is, "what was your favorite?" Just to get this out of the way. My friends. Seeing them and being with them again is my favorite thing...like the monuments they are spectacular. This will be written in the singular. Many of these things are from earlier times. Life has changed and a new hand dealt. So be it.

There are many "must see" lists out there and they are all pretty much correct. But, you need to consider your available time, what you want do and your stamina. There are seven hills in this city and you will be uphill all the way...or feel like it. I'll cheat a little here, my top three in order; The Colloseo, The Pantheon and the churches. That is plural, not singular, Vaticano only. Frankly my trips to the Vatican since trip one have been to use their very efficient post office. There are hundreds of churches in the city, each worth seeing for itself. Remember who is writing this. Not a cleric! My guide on trip one had a couple of tips I'll pass on here, one; consider churches as museums...free ones with strange hours. Respect them, courtesy and Italian clothing dictates. Two, in Rome traffic signals are "mere suggestions". Vanni is Roman and also right, watch yourself out there.

I have used many maps over these twelve years and not one of them is complete. They can't be, there is simply too much to incorporate. Think and plan. You are about to spend a good chunk of change to visit my little slice of heaven. You already have interests, transpose them to the trip. Don't put any unrealistic limits on yourself. It is NOT possible to "do" Rome in any amount of time. NOT possible, if you like it, return. It works for me and I plan on sticking to it. 

I have a caveat here. If chiseling a couple of euros off a vendor is something you find to be fun...do NOT mention my name.

Now for those of you "needing" a list, here is one starting with what I think is the most important.

Sit and watch the world pass by. With a drink and a loved one. Anywhere.

Forum
Museums
Palazzos
Gardens
Spanish Steps
Piazza dei Popolo
The typewriter
Trevi Fountain...take coins
via Appia
Aurean Walls
Piazza Navona
Vaticano
Everything!

You could divide these into separate categories, fountains, monuments churches, etc, it's ok...it's your trip. Regardless, time has to be allowed for refreshment and rest. Campo dei Fiori. I know there are other spots, but nothing anywhere is in the constant state of flux that the Campo is. Giordano Bruno, the statue, is the only motionless thing there. Sit and watch the choreographed mayhem. Tell them Max sent you, they know my name.

When I return it will be for a visit, for you it may be the trip of a lifetime. My suggestion? Just walk, get lost, get found, meander the streets, visit churches when you get tired. Calm, quiet and beautiful. Think of each action as a memory and make them so good that you can't wait to return. For me it is coming home. I hope you can find the same place.