Eternal Rome

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by Ron Goldstein, Jan 6, 2018.

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  1. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    IMGP0029 Nita & Ron & the Wedding Cake.JPG I start by freely admitting that I just love Rome !

    My love affair started in June 1944 when, just ten days after General Mark Clark triumphantly drove though the city, I got the first of two one day leaves and was captivated by this wonderful city,

    I was to return again twice with my beloved Nita, in 1975 and 2005 and still found it just as captivating
    and ever since I have tried to watch every TV program that deals with the place.

    Which leads me to a program that I watched last night on BBC2, it's a two part-er entitled “Rome Unpacked”
    Simply super......if you can watch it on catch-up then don't miss it (or the next one to come).

    One small quibble........... whenever I was in Rome, the Vittoria Emanuelle monument was always referred to as the “Wedding Cake” but in the documentary they spoke of it as “The Typewriter” …....

    Does anyone know when this change took place ?

    Ron
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2018
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  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Actually saw the programme last night Ron, was looking at this post and thought "I recognise that building behind Ron - its in Rome"

    Many happy memories Ron

    Happy New Year to you

    TD
     
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  3. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Have only visited Rome once, on a backpacking trip that started in Athens and ended in Rome.

    Although I loved Greece (and the Greeks) generally, I found Athens a horribly polluted city. The ten days or so we subsequently spent pottering along the north of the Peloponnese were some of the happiest of my life--and the Ionian islands we wandered across were lovely--but the ferry brought us, alas, to Brindisi: a toilet, and escape only led to Naples, a thoroughly unpleasant place. We were beginning to write Italy (and Italians) off, but we had a fantastic day in Pompeii and met some locals that convinced us that some of the obnoxious characters we'd met up until then were the exceptions and not the rule. This brought us into Rome on a high note. Tourist abundance notwithstanding, it was the summer, the beer was flowing and I was still a twenty-something with my friends around me: happy days.
     
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  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Caught the last half hour or so most of it on BBC2 earlier today.
    Will watch the first bit sometime on iPlayer.

    Rome Unpacked - Series 1: Episode 1

    Never been to Rome itself but this May will be 10 years since I flew into the airport & did that battlefield tour with Paul.

    To answer Ron's question.
    Altare della Patria - Wikipedia


    .
     
  5. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Owen

    Well done that there man ! (as my old Sgt.Major BSM Lillie used to say)

    Its not the first time you have come up with the definitive answer !

    Ron
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2019
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Just had to look this scene up on You Tube.

     
  7. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

  8. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Brilliant scene, Ron--I missed that one first time around.
     
  9. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    Great to see you sir!

    The "Wedding cake" and "Typewriter " were just two of the nick names it has attracted. Others are:- la dentiera ("the set of false teeth") and la zuppa inglese ("English soup" dessert).
     
  10. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    What a joy to read these 'love affairs ' with the Eternal City.

    It helps balance the view of those of us living elsewhere in Italy who are treated to news items regarding Rome's rubbish problem on a daily basis. Wild boar in the suburbs rummaging through the left-overs don't get as far as Piazza Navona - or at least I don't think so, not yet. And anyway, they'd probably be classed as a tourist attraction. Then, of course, there are the water shortages...Lake Bracciano was drained to dangerously low levels last summer to keep water coming through the taps...I won't say more or else I'll ruin it all for you romantics. Let's say that after the love affair comes marriage, and after that comes divorce...

    Vitellino

    I couldn't resist adding in theses photos. There was more of the same on tonight's 8 o'clock news.

    Roma today.jpg rifiuti roma 2jpg.jpg wild boar in Rome.jpg
     

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    Last edited: Jan 8, 2018
  11. TriciaF

    TriciaF Junior Member

    What a good story Ron :)
    I've never been to Italy, never mind Rome, but would love to. As I wrote on another thread I've met many Italians, here in France, and back home in London and Tyneside. I enjoy their company, usually lively and enthusiastic.
    Though I've heard that there are others .......
     
  12. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Agree with Charley. Rome good, Naples awful and Pompeii brilliant. Got blessed by the Pope in the Vatican, not that I'm RC. Can't complain, it was all forty years ago courtesy of HMG and the Grey Funnel Line so I got there for free.
    Tim
     
  13. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Just out of interest, I recently joined a U3A Italian Conversation Class and it has been sheer delight for me to speak Italian again after so many years.

    When this morning we were asked to explain, in Italian, what our interest was in the Italian language I replied "Ero una soldato Inglese in Italia durante il Guerra Mondiale, in mllle nouova cento, quarante tre" (forgive the spelling) or in other words "I was an Engish soldier in 1943 during ww2, the teacher replied, in Italian, "I was only two at the time ! "

    Ron
     
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  14. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    I have the privilege to visit Rome for a week by the end of next month.

    First time I visit the city so early in the season. Hoping for some mild weather.
     
  15. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    1944-072 Map of Rome B.jpg 1944-072 Map of Rome A .jpg 1944-072 Map of Rome A .jpg stolpi

    If you havn't already started a list of places you must. see start here:

    The Spanish steps
    The Coliseum
    The Victor Emmanuel Monument
    Piazza Navone
    The Vatican
    The Tiber

    Now i'm off to find the map of Rome and guide of things to see that we were given in 1944 !

    Ron
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2018
  16. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    The Spanish steps
    The Coliseum
    The Victor Emmanuel Monument
    Piazza Navone
    The Vatican
    The Tiber

    Ron - 'Checked': they all are on my list .. as is the mighty Circus Maximus ...

    WtwUryA2dn8UsFa2WzNe933r.jpg
    ... or what is left of it ...

    The Forum Romanum
    location_img-2618-1581187632-148.jpg

    and ... the Pantheon, love that market place!
    Rome_Pantheon_front.jpg

    We also will walk a stretch of the Via Appia Antiqua ... the first highway in Europe (?)
    33334286-rom-via-appia-antica---rome-via-appia-antica-01-Stock-Photo.jpg

    .. and of course inhale lots of pastas! ;)

    n-WOMAN-EATING-SPAGHETTI-628x314.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
  17. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  18. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Owen

    Regrettably, "T'was ever so" :(

    Ron
     
  19. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    On a more artistic note, how bloody brilliant was the sculptor Bernni.
    Had a look at his other work, it's amazing.
     
  20. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Owen

    i personally think this is a brilliant series and it is so evocative for me

    I particularly liked the piece on the Jewish Quarter and I've just dug up this pic of Nita & I enjoying a meal there: Jewish Quarter in Rome .JPG

    It included, of course, the compulsory Artichoke that this district is famous for !
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2018
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