OT: Rome and Venice

[Mjoelner34]

I've never been to Venice but as two others already said in the thread: 1)There's nothing wrong with doing the touristy stuff. 2) Pickpockets. Be aware of gypsy's holding babies with a shawl wrapped around them. The locals point them out like a scene from Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

1. Catacombs and Appian Way
Besides the 'touristy' stuff in the city, I went to the Catacombs of San Callisto and while there walked the extra distance to get to the part of the Appian Way still covered with the original paving stones. The part of the Appian Way by the catacombs and Domine Quo Vadis are cobblestone instead of the original stones. There are also some little restaurants along the Appian Way.

2. Coliseum
Some friends made the trip before I did and they did a guided tour. My friend told me to just pay the entrance fee and tour by myself. The guided tours get you to the very top level and down in the hypogeum but the self-tour doesn't. However, with the self-tour, you can stay and tour as long as you want and you don't have to move with a group. Also, I got there and hung about an hour before the gates opened so when a line started to form, it was no problem jumping in the front portion.

3. Vatican
If you go to the Vatican, it is imperative that you pre-buy a ticket. The line outside will be at least a mile long and without a pre-bought ticket, you'll be at the back of it. Even with the pre bought ticket there will be a little line due to security but its no worse than a security line at a crowded airport.

ETA: If I ever get a chance, I'd go back there in a heartbeat. There is history around every corner you turn and you'll never see it all. When I went, it was a mini-vacation over a long weekend while I was on the company dime for training in Marseille for 3 months. In my opinion Rome and the people >>>> Paris and its not even close.