PTR: [Roamin' Through Italy for Gelato, then Dancing it off Through France & England] - Page 5 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
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To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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I just thought I had arrival day plan done...but another dance family is coming in on Wednesday and they want to split the cost of the private tour guide I am looking at for the Vatican. So looks like I am changing things around again!
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After arriving and settling into the apartment, I know we are going to be HUNGRY and after being on the plane all night probably in need of really stretching our legs…so I have decided to start Rick Steve’s Heart of Rome Walk which our apartment just happens to be located on! So depending on the time we will set out for the Panethon and look for a place along the way to grab some lunch. Here is are a couple possible lunch locations (or we will have Agnes suggest someplace).
Paninando (Via di Torre Argentina, 83) Cantina e Cucina (Via del Governo Vecchio, 87)
I really want to stay clear of pizza, because I have something special planned for the evening. After lunch we will visit Santa Maria Sopra Minerva and the Eqyptian obelisk sitting on a Baroque elephant by Bernini.
I have learned that Sopra means being built over a pagan temple in this case the temple of Minerva. This is the only Gothic church in Rome. Here St. Catherine of Siena lies under the alter (well her body…her head is in Siena). I am looking forward to seeing Christ Carrying the Cross statue by Michelangelo.
Next up will be the Pantheon, which has been described in almost every video we have watched about Rome.
After wondering around the Pantheon, our next stop will be another church…San Ignazio. I am looking forward here to looking at the large colorful ceiling fresco that makes the ceiling look 3D when actually it is flat!
After leaving San Ignazio we will get off the official Heart of Rome path, but we certainly will pick up the places we missed when we make our return to the apartment later in the afternoon. We will continue to head north to the Piazza Colonna, where we will find a column depicting the victories of Emperor Marcus Aurelius as well as the headquarters for the prime minister’s cabinet.
We will then cross under the Via del Corso, which is Rome’s major north-south boulevard as we make our way finally to the Trevi Fountain where I am sure we will toss the first of many coins over our shoulder so that we assure a return trip to Rome someday (or at least assuring that we come back at night during our trip).
From the Trevi Fountain we head towards the Spanish Steps.
When we make it here, of course Ab and I will be channeling Audry Hepburn in Roman Holiday and I know the boys will want to help recreate the famous scene of her eating gelato on the Spanish Steps…can you not think of a more perfect location for our first taste of gelato?
I am hoping that we can divert the boys for a few moments and find Via Margutta #51, where Gregory Peck (Joe Bradley) lived…ahhh I was born in the wrong time period for hunky actors…I love Rock Hudson, Gregory Peck, Clark Gable, Cary Grant…so yummy).
Now that our legs are stretched and our tummys are not rumbling, its time to get our bearings as to how Rome is laid out and get a few tastes of the places we will be visiting the next week. I plan for us to do a full loop on the Hop-on/off-Bus around the city. Of course, we wont be hopping off until we arrive back at the Spanish Steps.
When we do arrive back to the Spanish Steps, we will head back to Piazza Navona stopping at the places that we skipped on the Heart of Rome Tour. Those being the Parliament Building and Piazza Montecitorio which includes yet another Egyptian obelisk, this one was taken by Augustus after his victory over Mark Anthony and Cleopatra.
From there we will visit Santa Maria in Aquiro (Chiesa di Santa Maria in Aquiro) church and the Piazza Capranica. Here there are a couple of paintings that I want to check out of the Madonna and Child.
Heading back past Pantheon we will visit San Luigi where I can't wait to see a series of paintings on St. Matthew painted by Caravaggio (finally my art history class back in college 25+ years ago is paying off).
before making our way onto the Piazza Navona visiting the Four Rivers Fountain as well as Sant’ Agnese church.
We will be pretty hungry once again, I suspect and tonight I have made reservations for us to do something that the kids requested (dad is not so certain) but I think will really be fun and finish our first day in Rome off perfectly!
A little more work but with the savings, more gelato to try.
I like the way you thing!
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Originally Posted by chezp
How great you can split the cost with them. I bet the changes will be worth it for that.
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Originally Posted by Cam22
with the changes. Nice to have some cost savings, too!
Thank you...it will be nice to split the cost a little...but honestly this budget (or now lack of) is crazy. How many trips to WDW I could plan for this trip. I am so ready to have all my plans made and fall into place...they are started to fall more into place...which is good!
Made a little more progress today...I have a room booked for Naples when we go to Capri/Pompeii.
Been working with the private tour guide and she is helping me with the fishing side trip for Jeff...I am not sure I mentioned it but my husband loves to fish...and 1 of his only 2 requests for the trip was to go fishing in the Med. Sea...really!? You don't know how hard this has been to work out or even find a place...and we are giving up a few other things to make it happen. I can't wait to surprise him...of course while he and the boys fish Ab and I are going to sunbath on the Capri beach!
You guys have a great day planned. You all are going to be busy but looks like you will see some amazing buildings!
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great changes in plans!
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Originally Posted by lfredsbo
Great change in plans!!!
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Originally Posted by chezp
What a great day you've got planned!
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Originally Posted by Cam22
Sounds like a fun way to explore Rome!
Thanks...I think it will be a good plan for the first day just to explore close to the apartment. The thing that is killing me the most in planning is this afternoon siesta (not sure what they call it in Italian) from noon to 4 in the afternoon. I guess we are going to try to start living like the Italians and learn to rest in the afternoon...NOT for this commando lady!
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with the changes. Nice to have some cost savings, too! 
Deb
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