LONDON - ROME PILGRIMAGE - FEBRUARY 2024
LONDON - ROME PILGRIMAGE FEBRUARY 2024
Program |
| Accomodation | |
Day 1 | 0545- Kch-Kul 0920 Kul-LHR 1600 - Landed LHR Check in Hotel | Meals on Board
Dinner Angus Steak, Picadilly,London | Holiday Inn Terminal 4, London Heathrow |
Day 2 | 0920 LHR- FCO (Rome) 1300 - landed FCO SIT shuttle Bus to Vatican City (45 mins ) Check in Hotel Holy Mass at St Peter’s Basilica Walk around Vatican- buy religious items | Hotel Breakfast
Dinner Ristorante de Marcello
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Palazzo Cardinal Cesi |
Day 3 | 0730 Pope Audience 1100 Short trip to Coloseum 1400 Vatican Museum Sistine Chapel
| Hotel Breakfast Gelato Lunch Ristorante de Arlu Expresso testing | Palazzo Cardinal Cesi |
Day 4 | 0830 Scavi Tour St Peter’s Tomb St Peter’s Basilica Tour, Cupola Rome City Walk- Castle San Angelo, Hadrian Wall, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps. Hard Rock Rome ( Vatican) | Hotel Breakfast Lunch Ristorante de Marcello (Roman Pizza) Expreso testing
| Palazzo cardinal cesi |
Day 5 | Short walk at St Peter’s square Metro Octoviano- Roma Termini Roma Termini- FCO Airport (Leonardo Express) | Hotel Breakfast
Lunch - Eataly (Airport)
Dinner Selfridges,London
| Premier Inn Euston |
Day 6 | London walk - Trafalgar Square Harrod Oxford Street (shopping) Francis Crick Exhibition Sunset Mass (Westminster Cathedral 1800Hrs) | Hotel Breakfast Brunch- Harrod
Dinner Thyme (Premier Inn)
| Premier Inn Euston |
Day 7 | Walk around UCL, Brunswick. Waterstone. Check out Hotel King’s cross - LHR (Underground)
2130 LHR- Kul-Kch | Hotel Breakfast
Coffee Nero - T4
Dinner Qatar Business Lounge Meals on board
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Rome self-arranged Pilgrimage trip was planned very long prior to the trip. Rome trip supposedly in April 2020 was cancelled due to Pandemic. The cancelled trip had slightly different itinerary, I supposed to fly direct from Bangkok - FCO, Rome on Thai Airways and fly back to Kuala Lumpur from London.
This time, I had slightly different arrangement, where I flew in and out from London( on Malaysia Airlines). Arranged another return tickets LHR- Rome ( British Airways).
I had no regret for all the arrangment that I’ve made for this trip. I felt this is the best arrangement that suits me.
Few early booking done for Rome trip were, Scavi Tour St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Audience and Vatican City.
Scavi Tour, I did my self application to Vatican City office. I received reply few months after application. This tour to scavi ( City of the dead) was quite exclusive, small group. My group was only 8 of us. The tour only allowed around 100 visitors per day. The current waiting list for application is around 6 moonths.
The other attractions ticket was not that too difficult to book. I didn’t book other ticket eg. Colloseum Entrance, or Pantheon entrance due to limited of time.
Day 1:
Kuching-Kuala Lumpur- London Heathrow in 1 day. Departed from Kch (0545 hrs) and arrived at London Heathrow around 1530 hrs London Time). I checked in at Holiday Inn Terminal 4, for easy early morning flight to Rome the next day. I went for dinner at Leciester Square, quick train Picadilly Line from Terminal 4. Dinner at Angus Steak House Picadilly. This is touristic location,but the crowd was not as crowded during my year end trip ( Christmas season). After dinner, I had short walk to Regent Street. Many outlets was already closed around 2030 hrs.
Day 2
After buffet breakfast at Holiday Inn Terminal 4, checked out and dropped my extra luggage at “excess baggage storage” for 3 days.Using fast train from Teminal 4 to Terminal 5 ( changeTrain at Terminal 2 and 3), All the journey took around 10-15 minutes. Self check in at British Airways Terminal at T2 and later proceed to departure. Very pleasant 2 and half hours flight from terminal 2 Heathrow to Rome Fumiciono Airport. Landed at FCO Airport around 1pm.
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| BA London Heathrow To FCO |
I decided to use shuttle bus from Airport to Vatican City ( Euro 6). The journey was around 45 minutes. It’s a good way to see Rome city in public transport. Stopped at Via Cresenzo stop then took a walk to hotel nearby St peter’s square.
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| Palazzo Cardinal Cesi (Flag) just infront of St Pietro |
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| View of St Peter's Square |
Still quite early, I manage to attend evening mass at St Peter’s Basilica (Altar of St Joseph). located at the left side of the Basilica. The mass was in Italian and Latin.
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| St Joseph Altar |
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| St Peter's Basilica Ceiling |
I had glimpsed of the marvel St Peter’s Basilica after the mass. The Basilica was about to close for visitors around 6pm.
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| entering the Basilica for Mass ( Choir Group from Oslo) |
I had my first Roman dinner- pasta at nearby restaurant at Borgo Pio. After dinner I had a great view of St Peter at night. It was a day a great day 1 of Rome.
Day 3 (Wednesday)
BONJOURNO ! Today supposedly the highlight of my trip. I got the ticket for Papal Audience ( Pope Audience ) . I came out from my hotel quite early (around 7am), the Basilica was just around 100 meters from my accommodation. I thought I was early.. There was already thousands of people queuing the entrance of St Peter. The Pope audience was held at St Paul V hall, located inside St Peter’s Basilica during Winter. St Peter’s Square during summer.
I felt honoured to be able to listen and see Pope in live. Pope is the successor of St Peter who lead the Christians in the modern time. Pope Audience ended around 11am. The Pope was not so well, but he was able to give his blessings.
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| inside Paul V Hall |
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| Pope Frances during the Audience |
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| me- seated pink jacket among thousands of crowd. |
Afternoon , I had a ticket to Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. I had quick brunch at the hotel, then took quick train from vaticano (line A) to Colloseum (line B). It was short train ride. Took picture outside of Colloseum. This is a building structure that was build more than 2000 years ago. It is gigantic stadium, where ‘entertainment’ during that time. It was mainly a Gladiator Fight. Fight to Death among the slaves. The only Emperor that ever fought was Emperor Commodus ( Son of Emperor Markus Aurelius), one of the way for him to gain reputation from the people of Rome. Empire Rome had an Emperor and also governed by a group of experience member of senates.
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| Colloseum |
It was just a quick phototaking outside of Colloseum and Roman Forum. If I ever come back to Rome, this is one of the unfinished trip in Rome.
Back to Vatican City for my Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tour. This is a marvelous arts and paintings done by Michelangelo and Raphael. Michelangelo did many sculptures which was showed at Vatican Musuem. Ceiling of Vatican Museum painted with Michelangelo, an incredible and unimaginable human work, which was done thousands years ago, before all the help of machinery. Pope Julius II saw the wonders of Michealangelo work at Vatican Museum, and he insisted for Michealangelo to do painting inside Sistine chapel, Michaelangelo painted the famous “live creation”. michealangelo completed the ceiling for about 2 years, narrating the stories written in the Bible from God created day and night, to the human creation. Also a painting of the Noah’ark during the flood. Every compartment of the ceiling also was painted with Apostles with their characters. Few years after completion. Pope Julius once again , wanted MIchealangelo to complete one side of the wall, ( currently it’s behind the altar). This last painting, showed a judgment day. Good souls was brought up to heaven. And the bad one,went down to hell. The painting of hell showed the agony, heat and fire. Where as the heaven is the opposite description. Photo and video was allowed at Vatican Museum but not in The Sistine Chapel.
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| Museum Vatican |
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| stairs at Vatican Museum |
Vatican museum also has a lot of Rapheal ‘s work. At Rapheal Room, there is a painting showing The Cross appeared in the cloud the night before Roman Emperor Constantine led the army troups for war toward the Ottoman Empire. Emperor Constantine was confident that they will win the war, because the Cross was headed of them. They won the war. Emperor Constantine back to Rome after the war and announced to be Christianized. From that time on, Roman Empire was become a Christian Empire.
After the very educational and informative trip to the museum, I had a gelato and early dinner- rusticano.
Day 4
This morning I had another exclusive tour- Scavi Tour. This is a tour 23 feet below St Peter’s Basilica to the City of the Deads. I booked this tour direct to Vatican uficiol . Email was send about 6 months prior to the trip. Currently, around 6 months waiting list to enter this Scavi Tour.Around 100 visitors per day. It is a ancient burial sites. There was also a bone of St Peter was found in- around 1960. During this time, excavation found a church , which was built during the Byzantine era, byzantine time, was a time where Christianity already in Rome. St Peter was crucified during the era of Emperor Nero, where Christians was prosecuted.Actually the Tomb of St Peter was around the Pagan cemetery and it is outside of the Rome city Centre.St Peter was crucifixed up side down at Nero Square- the current St Peter’s Square.
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| entrance to Scavi Tour |
After the informative and pilgrimage tour to St Peter’s tomb/bone, and prayed in front to the tomb. Felt you are so closed to the holiest. Only 8 of us in the tour with one vatican Guide. It was dark and narrow down to the tomb and city of the deads.
After Came out from the underground tomb, I had my time to walk slowly inside St Peter’s basilica- to see most of Michelangelo works like Michelangelo dome, Michelangelo Pieta. St Peter’s Chair. Main Altar- which was built above the St Peter’s tomb.
Tried my fitness to climb to Cupola of St Peter. 550 steps. If I were asked, whether I will do it again? Maybe NO. But it was a worthwhile climb, to see view of Rome 360 degree.
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| inside St Peter's Basilica |
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| Pieta of Michelangelo |
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| altar above St peter's Tomb |
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| St Peter's Chair |
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| St Peter Statue |
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| Dome of Michealangelo |
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| view of Vatican compound from Cupola |
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| St Peter's Square from Cupola |
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| Dome- painting of Jesus- mother Mary |
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| Peter on this rock I will build my church |
Today, being the last evening in Rome, I planned to see as much as I can. After Roman lunch - Roman Pizza at Borgo Pio, I started my city walk to Piazza Novana, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. Every streets and building around Rome city has it’s own history dated thousands of years ago. This was a palace of the Emperor. Buildings for Senates of Roman Empire. Pantheon was the first Pagan Church, and currently used at a Roman Catholic Church. I didn’t get a ticket to enter Pantheon. This is also in my next bucketlist to Rome city.
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| Castel San Angelo |
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| Piazza Novana |
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| Pantheon |
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| Hadrian wall |
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| Trevi Fountain |
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| Spanish Steps |
Remnant of Hadrian wall was also found nearby Pantheon. Hadrian wall- was built from northern Britain, when it was under Roman empire. Once upon the time, Roman empire was from west (Britain) to east side (Egypt). The stories even more complicated Julius Ceaser affair with Cleopatra of Egypt.
So far, I felt happy with my Rome trip, most of the important landmarks I visited. I enjoyed the Roman Expresso, Roman Pizza and pastas. Aperitzo.
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| cabonara |
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| hotel breakfast with lungo cafe |
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| expresso |
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| Rusticano |
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| gelato |
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| Penne arabiaata |
Day 5
Today, buffet breakfast at hotel, generous spreads of breakfast. Going back to London. This time I took Metro ( Octaviano) to Roma Termini, then Leonardo Express to FCO Airport. At the airport, Rome lunch at Eataly Airport.
And It’s time to say garzia and ciao Rome. Sweet memories. 1130 am flight to London Heathrow
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| Roman Pizza |
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| Oxford Street |
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| Selfridges |
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| Brass rail, Selfriges |
Day 6
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| Premier Inn Buffet Breakfast |
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| Trafalgar Sq / National Art Gallery |
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| Trafalgar Sq |
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| Harrod |
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| Renaisance Hotel St Pancras |
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| Westminster Cathedral |
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| Thyme Restaurant |
Day 7
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| UCL |
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| Waterstones |
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| Brunswick |
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| Waitrose |
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| MH 001 ( LHR - KUL) |
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| Steak at Qatar Lounge |
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| malaysia airlines signature dish |
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