First, preparations if you have diabetes:
- Always check with your physician before leaving for a long trip, especially overseas. Discuss any changes in oral medication or insulin with the time zone changes.
- Make sure to carry extra medication, insulin, and diabetic supplies. When we were in Rome, it was at the end of a trip that included 3 days in Lisbon, a 12-day cruise, and now a 3-day stay in Rome. Since this was in the wake of 9/11 (that occurred just as we were getting on the cruise ship in Lisbon), I really had no assurances as to when we'd be returning home. Luckily, I'd taken a 7-week supply, so I knew that at the very least, I had plenty to survive long delays in getting home.
- Be prepared to walk . . .a lot! If you aren't walking at home, start to get into shape the moment you decide to book your trip. Rome is so crowded these days, you're lucky if your tour bus or taxi gets you within a few blocks of where you want to go.
- Make sure you health insurance covers you outside of the U.S. or take out a special policy that covers your trip. Most likely you'll feel fine the whole time you're gone, but one never knows when a "bug" might hit.
- I only drink bottled water when outside of the United States. Sure, the water's drinkable most everywhere these days, but I just don't take the chance, and bottled water (I ask for "still") is readily available at hotels and restaurants, and it's even sold in stands on the streets.
Our cruise ship arrived at Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, and we disembarked to the tour bus that we'd signed up for, an air-conditioned coach that would show us highlights of this ancient city. Departing from the port, we drove via autostrada through the Etruscan countryside with wonderful views of the Tyrrenian Sea. After a 1-hour drive, we arrived in Rome, and took aboard our English-speaking tour guide. We drove past St. Peter's Basilica, which we would be touring the next day. From our bus we saw the landmark columned enclosure, with a different statue atop each column. And then the gold dome of St. Peters itself. What a grand sight!
The bus proceeded on to the Colosseum, acknowledged as one of the world's most celebrated buildings. As we walked toward the structure, we could see the unmistakable arched outside wall of the Coliseum, falling down on either end of a relatively short run, into ruins. Then we went inside to see the huge slanting slabs where the seats used to be, and down to some openings in the ground, which the guide said led to the huge underground holding area, where Christians, wild animals of every description, and gladiators used to be caged. So that tourists could see down into the honeycomb, securely, a wide boardwalk had been laid across the center of the former ground area.
From there we made a brief stop at the Forum to wander among the pillars and triumphal arches, trying to imagine ancient downtown Rome with its politicians, businessmen, priests, and ordinary people shopping in the bustling markets.
By now it was mid-afternoon and time to check in at our hotel. Besides, I'd already eaten my carb snack and drank the bottle of water I'd bought at the Colosseum. I was ready for something else so was delighted to see a basket of fresh fruit in our room, along with some small wedges of cheese. That would more than tide us over until dinnertime.
Dinner that night consisted of a pasta starter with grilled local fish and vegetables as my main course. We settled for an espresso for me and a cappuccino for my husband and then we strolled to a nearby gelateria and sat outside watching the traffic go by as my husband sampled a trio of Italian ice creams. A perfect ending for our first day in Rome.
The next day was spent at The Vatican, with its St. Peter's Basilica, the world largest church. Built well over 100 years ago in the Renaissance and Baroque styles, St. Peter's is resting on 800 pillars and littered with 44 altars, featuring the great artistry of Bermini, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Of special interest to me was Michelangelo's Pieta, the bronze statue of St. Peter and Bermini's baldachin over the High Altar.
A word of caution about dress: Shorts are not allowed inside St. Peters Basilica, the Vatican, or the Sistine Chapel. Should you forget, you can purchase paper pants from a street vender for $4.00 American money. Best to be properly dressed, and women must have a covering for their head.
We went to the Basilica first. Once inside we were completely awed by the paintings and statues and tombs. Close up, we could see that all the decorations in that huge place, especially the paintings and statues, were actually mosaics and made out of little pieces of colored rock. At any distance but close, the paintings looked smooth, with colors flowing from one into another, but up close you could see that the little mosaic pieces had slightly different colors as your eye went from one spot to another.
Among other things that were impressive were the very high ceilings, and the buttresses that held them up, and always the paintings on those ceilings. Then we went to the Sistine Chapel. It was much smaller than the Basilica, but yet larger than the largest churches I've seen. At the very top of the highest part of the ceiling and altar-wall were the frescoes depicting what Michelangelo thought God and His assemblage might look like, in Heaven. Elsewhere were Adam and Eve, and many other biblical characters. Scattered all over the place were angels, particularly the cherubs.
To have seen the Vatican with its many museums would have taken a whole day by itself so we settled for a stroll across St. Peter's Square before we caught a taxi back to the hotel.
That night we dined at Vivendo at the St. Regis Grand located in the heart of Rome near the Spanish Steps. Chef Umberto Vezzoli joined us in our new book, The Joslin Diabetes Great Chefs Cook Healthy Cookbook, with a fabulous red risotto made with tofu. Vivendo is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Rome and our grilled Mediterranean fish dinners were superb, accompanied by the soft music of an accomplished harpist. Another wonderful Roman meal.
The next day after a continental breakfast, we decided to go shopping and to visit the famous Trevi Fountain, where we would toss some lire to assure that someday we'd return to Rome. The streets around the Spanish Square are showcases for high fashion while Via del Babuino and Via Margutta are famous for their antique shops and art galleries. Throughout the city are street vendors and colorful flea markets.
We opted for room service that night as we needed to pack and be ready for our limo to the airport at 3 a.m. in the morning. As we were groping around that morning, closing bags, and sipping a cup of coffee for a quick "jump-start," I thought surely, all of Rome must be asleep, but actually, people were bustling everywhere. When we arrived at the Lufthansa terminal for our flight home, we were obliged to wait over an hour in line to check our bags, then another hour to get through security. When we finally arrived at the gate, we had only 10 minutes to wait before they began to load the plane. An Italian breakfast of hard rolls, thinly sliced meat, fish, cheese, fresh fruit, and strong coffee was served once we reached cruising altitude and we bid goodbye to one of our favorite countries. Oh, we'll be back. After all, on the Internet this morning, I saw that we could buy last minute round trip tickets from Dallas/Fort Worth to Rome for $249. per person. Too bad we don't have the vacation time now to go!
FTG
