Best of Rome - Colosseum and Vatican We could never have experienced all that we did in Rome without the coordination of Share a Shore Italy and the storytelling and expert advice of their driver/ guide Gian Marco. He met us and another fun family of 3 as we stepped off the gangway of the Norwegian Spirit and swept us away into the countryside between the port and Rome. He introduced himself and asked about us, and with that he began customizing our tour. Had great discussions to and from Rome about the countryside, Italy and Italians, the new Pope, archaeology, the Italian Navy, and each others travels far and wide that made the 90 minute drive each way seem far shorter. One key point the Gian Marco seized upon was my mothers interest in St. Paul. Before entering Rome he stopped at St. Pauls Cathedral. While he wasnt able to accompany us into the Cathedral he fully explained the history and architecture and symbolism and suggested how we might make the most of a short visit. Clearly he was expert in the place. Inside, we found peace, privacy, and faith. Though not Catholic, my mom was overcome as she lit a candle and said a prayer. Our first experience in Rome thus became the highlight of our entire cruise for my mother. It was as if she had accomplished a pilgrimage that she had not anticipated. It was serendipitous for as Gian Marco explained with humour- The Sistine Chapel and St Peters would be so crowed that we could faint and be carried along to the exit by the press of those around us. (Even with another guide that Share a Shore arranged for the Vatican visit, it was as he suggested... St Peters and the Vatican were a disappointment purely because of the unregulated crowds.) Continuing into Rome Gian Marco stopped at the monastery of the Knights of Malta to have us look through a keyhole into a garden whos treed walkway framed the dome of St. Peters at the end. He explained how that section which attracted the Knights who ministered to the poor by being the poorest in classical Rome had since become one of the most affluent areas. Next came the Colosseum for which Share a Shore had arranged skip the line tickets. Gian Marco explained everything, then dropped us off to wait for him to lead us through the crowds to make sure we were able to get into the place as intended. Given the crowds- wed have been lost without him, but thanks to him we enjoyed our time in the stadium of gladiators. Next up- the Pantheon and the Church of Santa Maria with its early Michaelangelo sculpture with time for a quick lunch from a Panini shop on the Piazza Rotonda. In-between stops Gian Marco pointed out much more- as in Rome it seemed that around every corner there was more to see from every chapter in the history of the Eternal City. Given our appointment with a guide at the Vatican we opted to skip the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. In hindsight wed have probably skipped the Vatican... We learned that the crowds are always huge and that in fact what we experienced was maybe even less crowded than usual. Finally, for a fond arrivederci, he drove us up Gianicolo Hill for an amazing look back out over the whole city. We will be back. Gian Marcos pride in his country, his knowledge of Rome, his expert driving, and his great way with our whole crew from a 2nd grader on up to a grandmother left us wanting to spend more time in Rome. It was also clear that Share a Shore is a great company to work with and work for... Trip Advisor Review by the Frankmanns- Visited on June 25th, 2013
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 14:06:49 +0000
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