The Perfect Day
May 2018
We were met at the port by our driver Frederico who escorted us to a Mercedes as there was only our group of 3 on the tour. As we drove to Rome Federico was friendly and professional. He was an excellent driver and gave us an Italian lesson along the way. We were a little early into Rome, so he took us to St Paul's Basilica and we had 20 minutes to walk around. It was such a beautiful place and I am glad we were able to see it. We were dropped off near the Coliseum where we met our guide for the day, Valentina. After introductions, we began to walk to the entrance of the Coliseum as Valentina explained the area of Rome that we were in and all of the fantastic ruins that surrounded us. She answered our questions and congratulated us when we knew our history. She had priority passes for us to enter the Coliseum so we could avoid the long line that builds throughout the day. After our Coliseum tour, we proceeded to locate our driver and on to the Trevi Fountain. As we drove through Rome, Valentina pointed out various buildings and structures along with a brief history. After a few pictures and a toss of the coins into the fountain, we ate at this amazing pizza place. Onward to the Pantheon where our driver was able to park on the side. The Pantheon is an amazing structure. Our next stop is Vatican City. Once again Frederico dropped us off right across the street from the entrance to the Vatican Museum. The line to get in was long but our prepared tour guide whisked us in through the priority entrance. As this is a very large museum we asked Valentina to show us some of the highlights and her favorites. Her knowledge of the sculptures, tapestries, and other artwork was truly amazing. Next was the Sistine Chapel which is a sight to behold. Onward to St Peter's Basilica for the grandeur, opulence, and unparalleled beauty. Unfortunately, it was now time to journey back to our cruise ship. We said our goodbyes and were on our way. Valentina's wealth of knowledge was so inspiring. You could feel the love of her city whenever she spoke of its incredible history. She was so friendly, engaging, and wonderful to spend time with. Next time we go back i will request her. It truly was the perfect day because of Frederico, Valentino, delicious pizza, and an amazing city.
Mmikolajewski