Middle Aged and Touring Rome

Just a couple quick tips that may help you if you're planning a trip to Rome.

In front of the Colosseum.  As usual, I am wearing sunglasses, which makes it difficult to take out my tour guide and maps to read about what I am seeing and navigate where I am headed to next.

Like I said in a earlier blog, it pains me a bit to say this - but I am middle aged.  For those of you in the same boat and touring Rome, there are two things I would recommend to make your trip a bit more enjoyable.

1. Sunglasses with readers built in.
2. If taking tours (and I highly recommend them), your own ear buds.

Most of us over 40 need reading glasses.  I was able to put off using readers till my later 40's, but now that I need them - I really need them.  I am also sensitive to light, so sunglasses are always a must.  When touring Rome, I was frequently taking off my sunglasses, putting on my reading glasses and looking at maps and reading tour guide books....very frequently in fact.  So much so that if I were to tour it again I would purchase sunglasses with readers in them so I wouldn't have to hassle carrying another pair of glasses and wasting time with changing and eyes adjusting from light to dark and back.  It didn't spoil my trip by any means, however, it is something I wish I had thought of before going. If you're not reliant on reading glasses, this won't be an issue for you of course.

We took several guided tours, some using audio systems that make for a great experience.  However, all ear buds are not created equal, and some were uncomfortable.  If you're extra sensitive to such things or particular about your earbuds you might find it better to bring your own.  The companies give you new pairs, wrapped in plastic, so I was never afraid I was using old or dirty earbuds, but some just were not as comfortable as my own pair. 

Booking tours in Rome

Our first tour in Rome.  An afternoon in the Roman countryside at a vineyard of a prince where we learned about Italian Wines.  This was a great experience. 

When Mom and I booked our trip, we did not take a full guided tour approach even though neither of us had ever been to Italy.  We wanted to explore the city, at our own pace and allow plenty of wiggle room to see whatever caught our fancy when we arrived.

That being said, I wasn't opposed to taking small tours while there, and I am so glad we did as they offered insight and access to things we wouldn't/couldn't do on our own and enhanced the time we had exploring on our own.

Before leaving home, I pre-booked a Roman countryside vineyard/wine tasting tour, Ostia Antica tour, and the Vatican.  Also read  http://tipsforrome.blogspot.com/2017/05/is-it-worth-prebooking-tickets-to.html . I spaced these apart for Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday which allowed for plenty of time in between to do our own thing.  While there, I bought my guided tour ticket to Borghese museum (which was on my must-do list) and added a crypts and catacombs tour through the same company we did the Ostia Antica tour on Tuesday.  I did both of these added tours on my own, while Mom used the time to relax or explore on her own.

All the tour company tickets were printed, and they all indicated that I need to show I.D. and were non transferrable when I bought them.  In reality, I.D. was never necessary.  In all five tours I took, not once was I asked to prove who I was.  In fact, I didn't even need the tickets for the independently run tours, but did for the Vatican and Borghese museum guided tours.  I showed my tickets there, but no I.D. (as asked for on the tickets) was required.  I always had my passport safety tucked away, but there was no need to show it. 

The independent tour company (City Wonders) guides had a list of names and once you gave the name, they crossed you off as there and that was it.  No need to even show your ticket and was as easy as it can get.  At the museums I had a printed ticket and presented it as you would at any venue.

Borghese museum is very popular, and I highly recommend you book as soon as you can commit to a date or you may not get in.  I saw many people being turned away.  Additionally, the other tours can fill up during the busy time and they limit the number of people (which makes for a wonderful tour) but I did not get my first choice of times for either of the two tours (Borghese and crypts and catacombs) that I waited to book while there.  I was fortunate that they had other times that worked with my schedule that I had kept pretty open, but be warned that waiting too long may eliminate the possibility to see something you want. 

Another bonus of taking some side guided tours is you connect with other English speaking people in Rome.  While I found that many people in Rome spoke English, taking a tour automatically gives you something in common with those around you and our groups were small so you get to talking to others who are on vacation like you.  While they speak English, they are not necessarily American.  At the vineyard tour we visited with four people from Dublin, Ireland, a couple from Finland and  young couple from Chicago.  On another tour I talked to a mother and son from Serbia for some length.  I found these experiences enhanced my travel adventure. 

Mom and I at the vineyard getting ready to learn about and sample Italian wines.