Day 3 Rome Wanderings (June 23)

Sorry were late, poor or no internet connections at our first two hotels plus a packed schedule.

Rome is just so busy, tourist buses by the hundreds, tourists by the hundreds of thousands, sometimes it seems like a battle just to walk from point A to point B. 

After Mum had a brief argument with some arrogant Italian chap at the post office and another one with the ATM’s that refused to give us much needed cash we walked to the Pantheon not knowing what to expect.  The walk was worth it as it almost takes your breath away being a perfectly preserved 1800 year old Roman building.  Today a church, the inside is pink marble with a massive domed roof, the only window being a 9 metre opening at the centre of the dome. 

Just around the corner from where we stayed is the huge white Monument to Vittorio Emmanuelle II which also houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Truly spectacular to us Aussies unused to such things it is a relatively modern white “marble” structure but in a such a grandiose fashion the locals call it the wedding cake.  It was designed in 1885 and completed in 1935 as a monument to Vittorio Emmanuelle, the king of the first unified Italy.  It unfortunately hacked into much of the ancient Roman ruins on the Capitoline Hill where it is sited.  The kings statue on the horse is sited above the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the horse so huge that on completion the team of architects sat inside the body of the horse and had dinner!!  Two statues of the goddess Victoria riding on quadrigas also stand out from many places in the city.

Old image of dinner inside the body of the horse statue

Inside the base of the horse statue to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

After a good wander around this Caroline found an unlikely looking church, Santa Maria Aracoeli. Inside was an obviously very old place of worship, the marble floor that was carved with faces and sculptures and names of people buried there have worn away by the passing of many feet over hundreds of years.

Basilica Santa Maria in Aracoeli

We then moved our hotel to meet up with the tour, this hotel being some 8 or more km outside of the historic Rome.  Gone are the old buildings and replaced by multi-storey apartment buildings, which is where the majority of Romans live.  Not attractive and covered in many instances with graffiti. 

Dinner was back in historic Rome for a typically Italian ristorante dinner, hosted by a very forward Guiseppe who took a (light hearted) fancy to all the women, especially “Carolina”.

Time to hit the sack at about 10pm ‘cos we are all stuffed from walking in the 30 degree heat.  Wake up call is 6am tomorrow morning.

Day 2 - Rome (June 22)

Another 30 plus degree day – sunny from sunrise to sunset, no wind, wonderful.

Did the obligatory open top bus tour a few times trying to soak it all in, traffic jams and all.

Catel Sant-Angelo (Castle of the Angels)

Colosseum

 Fountain at The Vatican - the window second from the right on the top floor is the Pope's room

 Small group playing cards in the shadows of The Vatican!

The Swiss Guards at The Vatican

Everyone says the Rome traffic is mad but I am not convinced.  Where we would have 3 or 4 lanes neatly marked in paint that is not the case here, there is a centre line that sometimes is obeyed but the rest is open slather – if 4 or 5 cars can fit line abreast the road then that’s OK and they change from one side to the other if there is a space (and sometimes when there is not).  If a driver has any doubts then they would have no hope, its not for the indecisive…. 

Actually drivers are probably more courteous than in Australia as they do let others into spaces etc.  But do something wrong and a healthy sounding of the horn accompanied by hand waving and some choice Italian phrases will definitely follow.

Walking in Rome involves a certain level of trust, most road crossings are not controlled by lights so when you look up at five or six lanes of assorted cars, buses and motor bikes all approaching at speed you must step off the footpath and trust they will stop.  Not easy but there is no other way as there are few if any breaks in the traffic it is so busy. 

Took lots of photos today but found the camera to USB connection we bought was the wrong size. 

Fiat Police Cars

Dinner tonight was pasta of various types in a little café just down the road from our hotel.  after dinner it was a simple stroll back along the little cobble stoned alley way to our hotel for a refreshing couple of hours on the roof top open bar and garden.  Just perfect.

Drinks after dinner on hotel roof top garden

 Sneaking a drink

 View from our hotel roof top garden

View from our hotel roof top garden

Bye for now love to all, chat soon.

xoxoxo

Day 1 Rome (June 21)

Landed safely in Rome after an extremely long flight, not very comfortable trying to sleep in economy class and you get a very sore butt, nontheless we all survived and without any jetlag. We all travelled well on the plane although both the girls got overtired and felt sick. A nine hour wait at the Hong Kong airport seemed to last a long time. 

Landed at Rome

What a fascinating City, ruins everywhere can’t wait to hear more about all those places when we go on tour.


Our hotel is a little place hidden down a very small, narrow cobblestone street - it is about a 10 minute walk to the Colosseum in one direction and a 10 minute walk to the Pantheon in the other direction so very central.  The archeological marvels here are immense, almost everywhere you look around our neighbourhood has got historical significance.

Our hotel

Walking the tiny lanes to our hotel

We have the next 2 days wondering around Rome and pick up our coach tour this coming Thursday.


We have learnt that the coffee places do not open early, the city is very, very old and looks it, our room has no tea coffee making facilities, the little lanes are just as you see them in the movies and I am sure there will be other stuff we can tell you as time goes by.

Having troubles contacting via internet, the room isnt quite within reach of the wifi connection so using a public one for now.  Here for two days then shifting to another hotel to start the bus tour so maybe easier then.


All I can say is “wish you were here to see with your own eyes”!!
Bye for now love to all, chat soon.
xoxoxo

Our adventure begins Monday

As we venture to Europe and the UK watch and see where we go and what we do. Six weeks trying "Can you get your head around this?"

Early start in the morning to get to the airport, Thomas performed the driving duties for us.  A long flight to Honk Kong for a few hours then back on another flight for a total of 22 hours flying time - the second half is the worst.