Whatchawearing
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Europeanvaction1979/15
My father was in the USAF. We spent nearly nine years in Europe. We lived in Greece, Italy and England. Every few years my Grandparents would come to visit. When they did, we were off for a five week journey across Europe. My grandmother kept a journal of our travels. Recently while cleaning out a closet, my Mother came across the journals. The memories came flying back! I decided to share these journels with you. Each day I will post a chapter as she has written them. I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I did.
The first Journal was in 1979. We lived in Hellenikon Greece.
Monument to Victor Emmanuel
Fountain of Trevi
St. Peter's Chains
Coliseum
Roman Forum
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Day 15-Saturday, June 9 1979
Since our final tour of Rome was not scheduled until two in the afternoon, we spent the morning hours breaking camp and packing the van so theater we'd be ready for departure later in the evening.
Clear and warm weather continued as we once again used the public bus to get us into the city. Our excitement was high driving into town as we anticipated new sights.
The tour started with a drive past Quirinal Palace and the Monument to Victor Emmanuel, a magnificent white marble building with bronze statues adorning it. Like everything else in Rome we had seen thus far, it was tremendous in size.
We were next taken to the Fountain of Trevi, the largest and most impressive of the famous fountains of Rome. In a large central niche is a great statue of Neptune on his chariot drawn by marine horses, preceded by two Sea deities. The playful abundance of water splashing over the rocks, to the center and to the side, made an unforgettable impression on us.
Leaving the fountain, we visited St. Peter in Chains Basilica which was built in 442 to preserve the chains with which St. Peter was bound at Palestine and at Rome. Here we saw the mammoth marble statue of Moses by Michelangelo. Beneath the main altar, in a beautiful bronze tabernacle we could see the preserved chains of St. Peter.
Then our tour guide took us to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. It is the largest church in ROme that is dedicated to the Madonna. Here we saw preserved the sacred relics of the Manger of Bethlehem and the kneeling statue of Pius IX. A bronze tabernacle supported by four angels is located in the Sistine Chapel, while in the Pauline Chapel we gazed at a monumental Tomb of Paul V on the left wall and on the right, the Tomb of Clement VII, both covered with bas-reliefs.
The most important monument of Ancient Rome, the Colosseum, was next on the
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tour. This imposing monument was begun in 72 A.D. being completed in 80 A.D. The Ampitheater held 40,000 spectators, and was used for mass entertainment such as fights between gladiators and between men and wild beasts.
In the arena we could see the subterranean passages where elevators were operated by hand by the captives to transport the wild beasts released from their cages. What remains of the elliptical form today is only a pale reflection of its former splendor.
The Arch of Constantine, close by the Colesseum was built in 315 and in its grandeur it is the architectural and sculptural symbol of the historic point in time when paganism gave way to triumphant Christianity. Many reliefs decorating it are from other monuments.
Next we were driven to the Roman Forum. This was the heart of Ancient Rome, the center of public, political, religious, judicial and commercial activity. From our vantage point on a terrace we could see the Forums of the Ceasars, flanked to the left by the Via die Fori Imperiali, and to the right by the green Palatine. Unfortunately, being on a tour, time did not permit anything but a brief stay here.
Somewhere around six-thirty we were signing "Arrivederci Roma" as we pulled out of the campgrounds. We hand a five hour ride ahead of us if we were to reach Camp Darby where we planned to spend the night.
Munching on fresh cherries, peaches, apples and plums, we drove along the Mediterranean Sea seeing beautiful villas and a lovely sunset behind the mountains in the distance.
ALmost dark now, with a slight rain falling, the road led us through one small town after another. These were extremely clean cities compared to the filth in Rome. An elderly lady carrying her plastic bag of groceries went down the dark street on a motorcycle, bringing a chuckle from us as we watched her whizz along.
We reached the Army Base of Camp Darby at midnight where we quickly and quietly set up the tent for the night, loosing not one minute in falling asleep. The misty rain continued.
