Arrivederci

On the road, for the last time in Europe 16, this time with Pietro Due.  As we had a late flight from Fiumicino Airport there were limited choices on what we could do.  Should we carry our bags around on the cobblestone streets? Should we try to check them at the train station. or should we use the new service available that will collect and deliver them to the airport for you? The last was one preferred option but in the end we selected renting Pietro Due. A Black Fiat Panda.

There is over 900 in Rome

Today you will find out what there is over 900 of in Rome.

We have noticed a type of shop in Rome we have never seen before. I'm sure there are other places where these shops exist, but in one area near The Pantheon is where men of the cloth go to buy, well, the cloth.

Villa Borghese and garden

In Rome, we have walked and walked, and walked some more. Most attractions are easily reached by foot. We have walked many kilometres every day, so it was nice to have a slower paced day today. We both had a sleep in and relaxed at our apartment for the morning. I finished the book I have been reading over the last couple of weeks - The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez. I had thoroughly enjoyed her other novel of a very similar nature, 'The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul'. Both novels tell stories of her experience living and working in Afghanistan. They make for quite eye opening reading. I have left this

The 'B' list continues

Today we started at the base of the Quirinal Hill in the Colonna Palace. It is another of the 'B' list sites and I learnt about it by reading many blog articles and performing much research on secondary sights in Rome.

The Palace has belonged to the Colonna family for over twenty generations and they open up a section of their palace on Saturday mornings.  For a little extra they also provide a guided tour through Princess Isabelle's Apartment, a separate section and taking this option we were glad we did.

A guided tour of the 'B' sights

What a day! We have seen so much today and walked so many miles, it's difficult to know where to start. I will rewind and start at the beginning. Today we were booked in for a half day walking tour. We are always a little reluctant to join tours for a few reasons, based on our experience of doing some before. A, we can usually do better ourselves - that's not meant to sound nasty, but we have read a lot and know quite a bit of the history of Italy and so sometimes we're not hearing anything new. B, trudging through the streets with large groups is annoying. C, Other tourists can be annoying. They ask stupid questions, or don't listen or don't follow instructions.

The 'B' sights

In the past visits to Rome we have concentrated on the 'A' list sights, the places each and every tourist needs to see and experience. Colloseum, done, Vatican, done, Pantheon done.

This time we have started on our 'B' list, the places that are must see for us, in the city we love so much. Today's sights included the Temple of Hercules Victor, The Mouth of Truth at Santa Maria in Cosmedin and close by the Garden of Oranges (Giardino degli Aranci).

When in Rome

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face this morning as I realised we were in Rome. Rome, my most favourite city. A clash of old and new. Something new to discover on every corner. I love walking the streets, watching the people and listening to the horns, the people and the clink of glasses in restaurants. It's enormous but at the same time welcoming. You can get lost in the narrow lanes but then stumble upon something so wonderful it takes your breath away. The Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Colloseum, the Spanish Steps are all in close proximity to one another. It is hard to describe the feeling of walking around a corner and literally bumping in to something hundreds of years old.

Getting ready to Rome

It was slightly pleasing to wake up this morning knowing we would be in Rome by days end, Naples is a lovely place to visit and has many great attractions but it has its issues. I would recommend you visit Naples however only for a few days, any more than that and it would get very hard to tolerate. Some of the poverty in the region combined with the many years of poor governance have left a toll on the community.