A Roman adventure - part 1

Laura was very excited, she packed her trunk and rucksack, encouraged Clemence to settle into her new handbag (from Henry), put her travelling clothes on and made sure her camera was handy then climbed into her special travelling bag made by Lorraine.  This was going to be the biggest adventure yet and she was glad to have the company of her new friend Heidi the cuddly Glorex doll whom Theresa had given to our daughter at the Chat 'n Snap in October.

It was a very early start on the Monday morning (the taxi arrived at 3:25 am!).  Soon Laura and Heidi were waiting at the airport for the plane to be ready.

Laura waited for bag check in to open, it was still dark outside

Laura and Heidi supervised some colouring in while waiting to board the plane

Laura and Heidi cuddled up in their plane seat waiting for the plane to taxi to the runway for takeoff

On the flight there was a wonderful good morning view from the plane of the snowy alps between France and Italy

Laura and Heidi's first glimpse of the Italian coast near Rome as we came into land

After landing and collecting bags, Laura and Heidi boarded the Leonardo Express train to Rome from the airport.  The trains were double deckers and very smooth on their rails

Heidi was fascinated by the balcony gardens en route to Rome

Laura took a photo of the graffiti alongside the train tracks, later she even saw many of the trains covered in graffiti (though not the Leonardo Express)

Laura's photo of graffiti alongside the train tracks

When she got to the hotel near Termini Station in Rome, Laura was tired from all the travelling.  She and Heidi had a rest before Laura decided to venture out and explore Rome in the late afternoon.  Her first visit was the nearby Santa Maria Maggiore Basillica.  Inside it was very ornate, filled with marble, gold leaf, rich mosaics and paintings.

Laura viewed the large decorated canopy over the altar

There was a large brass bell near the altar, was this for ringing the Angelus?

Laura could see a pipe organ in the apse behind the altar

All around the sides of the church were large wooden confessionals, Laura was intrigued and peered through the grill to where the priest would sit to hear confession

Santa Maria Maggiore has a vast nave with a marble floor

Laura liked the different decorative marbles used in pattern to make the floor

In the piazza outside Santa Maria Maggiore is a large fountain with lovely fresh water.  As the last of the afternoon light was disappearing the porch of the church was lit up showing the rich golden mosaics in all their glory

While walking through the streets Laura came across St Paul's in the Walls (American Episcopal Church), it was still open and no one was there.  It was much smaller than Santa Maria Maggiore and was also richly decorated.  The tower outside reminded Laura of Westminster Cathedral in London which she visited in the summer.

St Paul's in the walls

Laura saw that the side chapel in St Paul's was much simpler in decoration than the main nave

At first Laura thought these were paintings however she soon discovered they are actually mosiacs made with very tiny brightly coloured tiles

Laura was delighted to find the church welcomed younger visitors who like to do art, she was soon colouring in a picture of Moses in the bull-rushes

Laura did a great job of Miriam and Moses

Soon it was time for dinner at a nearby restaurant then return to the hotel - it had been a long day and Laura and Heidi were very tired.