Marta Ray Rome

Marta Ray

martaray.it

Leather Shop

Roma

Via del Moro, 6 - 00153

T +39 065811108

Via della Reginella, 4 - 00186

T + 39 066873714

Via del Coronari 121/122 -00186

T +39 0668802641

As I was walking around to find a nice place to eat, my feet brought me to this shop (3rd address above) instead. No regrets as I was happy with what I purchased from this shop.

Tried their shoes, all hand made leather from soft (single layer) to a more firmer type (doubled layer).   All their shoes are with memory foam soles, hence super comfy. They also have variety of bags to choose.

The lady shop owner was very friendly, accommodating and helpful as obviously I was so perplexed deciding which shoes to purchase. :) 

They do tax refund too, so if your worth of purchases reaches Euro 155, ask for the tax refund receipt. You can claim your refund to any parts of Italy, so mine I claimed it at Venice as my last destination.

Papal Audience

"Papal Audience are held on Wednesdays if the Pope is in Rome, giving pilgrims and visitors the chance to "see the Pope" and receive the Papal Blessing or Apostolic Blessing from the successor of the Apostle Peter during their visit."http://www.papalaudience.org/. The tickets are free, check out more on their official website http://www.papalaudience.org/tickets.html

I arrived 9am at Vatican, an hour early before it said to start at 10am, however the crowd is quite thick already too when I came. (Tip: come at 8AM next time). I had a ticket but when I showed to one of the guards, he said, today's audience is free and may not need a ticket, just proceed to the audience area. So I did, I happened to find still a seat but the distance from where Pope is seated is quite far as you can see from the photo below.

At 9:30 AM, the Pope will take his rounds around the barricade, which now I know, the best location to see him up close is to seat or stand where the barricade is and if you happen to be seated or standing with children or babies is a good chance that he might stop and greet the children. 

I ran away from my seat and went nearer the edges or barricade area to get a closer shot, of course, this photo was taken with the optical zoom.

As you can see in the clock, it started early....usually in Summer, it starts early 

after the mass, delegates from different parts of the world will take photo with the Pope

an hour after, the clouds were becoming gloomy...and it did rain!
I was blessed with Vatican rain from above!!

don't mess with the guards :)

this is were the entrance starts, where security is strict, all bags are checked/scan like going into the departure gates in the airport

after the rain, floor is wet but I still want a photo before I exit, haha

spot the brides in their wedding dresses for wedding pictorials

Having attended Pope's audience was really a very unforgettable and a heart warming experience. I could not believe at first that I was seeing him, hearing his voice and being blessed directly from Vatican. Although, language may be barrier as not every words is translated from Italian to English, I have felt still his LOVE and BLESSINGS.

A bucket list that I am very proud I made it here on my own....so grateful to the Lord Almighty!

So, for those who wants to have this experience too...please make sure you add the Papal audience itinerary in your activities in Rome, I'm sure this is something you could never forget in your lifetime which I am now, proud to say, I saw Pope Francis in my own eyes and has been blessed straight from the Vatican City.

Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Walks of Italy Tours: Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Price: Euro 56 (discounted of 5.60 as I have booked my Vatican Tour with them also)
Duration of tour: 3 hours


The Colosseum is easy to find by Metro as it has a station named after it and the good thing with the tours, there's only one location for meeting point, which is the souvenir kiosk just outside the Metro, across the main entrance to the Colosseo.

The Colosseum or Coliseum (/kɒləˈsiːəm/ kol-ə-SEE-əm), also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium; Italian: Anfiteatro Flavio [aŋfiteˈaːtro ˈflaːvjo] or Colosseo [kolosˈsɛːo]), is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum

entrance to the Colosseum, notice the metals above to support the ceiling

selfie

selfie again! lol

above is the upper deck for the lower class social status during those ancient times

A breathtaking view to see the inside of Colosseum ( now, i have seen it with my own eyes and not through the internet) :)

 

 walking upstairs to the upper level of Colosseum with out tour guide Mr. T.

I would say, if you visit Colosseum, you should also go inside, it is really worth it. It is more than the view from outside, what more if you go the underground. (I didn't purchased, another extra cost of ticket though)

After the Colosseum, we walk towards the Palatine Hill, which is about 10 minute walk...

security/police/armed forces are always protecting the area

 

The Roman Forum

I have walked were the ancient Romans walked!

to preserve the history, on going renovations