Tuesday October 16

We arrived at the Vaticano today, having walked over 250 miles along the Via Francigena. A few of those miles were within city walls along the way, but our feet still remind us it was walking no matter where our feet landed.

We proudly photographed ourselves and tried to find the location to get our Via certificates, but we were misdirected several times and finally agreed we could do this tomorrow!

Next we located our hotel which was behind Vatican City. Note: if you are using any mapping app it will direct you AROUND the city walls and not through them for reasons known only to them but our attempt to find our hotel took us around the walls which included steep incline and decline. After walking all day, Suzanne was challenged but could visualize her bed, so carried in without much to say.

We arrived at our hotel which is more like a shared home of sorts. We have our twin room which is fairly roomy, with private bath. But we also have access to a full kitchen, washing machine, drying racks, living room and dining table and a balcony that looks out at the Vatican hills and a wall. It’s a pretty nice setup for the tired travelers!

Living room area

Our view

Our host speaks no English but we managed to get things straight with google translate. Amazing! We were given vouchers for 4 breakfasts down the street which is basically coffee and a pastry. It’s something…

We showered and rested and then went out to find an atm machine and dinner. We were both starving and after finding money, we found our restaurant. A noisy, teenage kid and parent filled ristorante. We sat by the front window and enjoyed the sound of boisterous conversations, really good food and drink. Now back to our room and lights out!

Penne with tomato, mozzarella and basil. Yum!

Pasta with red sauce and bacon

Wednesday October 17

I set my alarm for 6 am since we went to bed so early… isn’t 10 pm early? I wanted to download photos and finish the blog to end our Via Francigena walk. I almost managed it but it was time to get going, find our breakfast spot and get our certificate. I was able to make Italian espresso but had no milk to help tame it. A market trip is needed!

We took off for the Vatican, and other than being asked every few steps if we needed Vatican Museum tickets, we made it inside the walls and found our place. For anyone soon to land at the Vatican, in the square it is #9 I believe. The woman who helped us would have preferred we came in yesterday. She suggested she couldn’t understand why we could not find it. Maybe she should try walking for 10 hours and then be bombarded by a zillion people and try to find a place with no address. Ha!

Anyway the certificate is nice and so I will enjoy having it framed some day. It was all good. We bought a tube to put our prize in and headed back to our room. We still needed extra rest and then we would head out to Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Nuovo for dinner. We did not make it to the Trevi but thoroughly enjoyed the rest.

When it was time to find the Pantheon, my information said it closed at 6 pm. I don’t know that it did but we went there first. Our route took us past the Castel d”Angelo (castle of angels). It’s such a cool structure. Arch Angel Michael sits on top and the Bridge of Angels crosses the Tiber River in front. It’s truly a beautiful sight whether you are religious or not.

Castle sant’angelo

An angel from the bridge with a seagull trying to be a statue!

A look back across the bridge

We found the Pantheon (temple of all the gods) and marveled at the construction and it’s beauty and historical significance. Here’s a little info from Wikipedia:

The Pantheon (UK: /ˈpænθiən/, US: /-ɒn/;[1] Latin: Pantheum,[nb 1] from Greek Πάνθειον Pantheion, “[temple] of all the gods”) is a former Roman temple, now a church, in Rome, Italy, on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD). It was completed by the emperor Hadrian and probably dedicated about 126 AD. Its date of construction is uncertain, because Hadrian chose not to inscribe the new temple but rather to retain the inscription of Agrippa’s older temple, which had burned down.[

You have to admit that is pretty cool!

Next we found the gelato shop of all shops! 150 flavors inside one store. I’ve been here every time I’ve visited Rome which numbers 4 I believe. Amazing selection!

Delicious gelato!

Now dinner and the Nuovo Piazza. You pay a bit more in the Piazzas but sometimes it just what you need to do! It was relaxing watching people stroll by arm in arm or hand in hand. And the fountains are gorgeous!

As we left the piazza we took in all of the sights at night, the people and wait… there’s a leather shop! I ended up buying my birthday gift from my adorable, loving, kind husband who told me to buy something pretty for myself. I used his credit card so he did pay for it. It’s quite a pretty bag, can be a backpack or a purse with long handles to wear cross body or not. Nice stitching and it smells so good! Thanks honey!

Happy birthday to me…

It was a beautiful walk back to our apartment. We ran into some gladiators on the bridge who really wanted us to take photos with them. I know their tricks but it was fun watching them pose with Suzanne.

The evening was warm. No jacket required.

#enjoythejourney #viafrancigena