Rome

Thursday Roma

Awoke quite early. Left at 6 a.m. to catch the early train to Rome.  It arrived on time but was late to leave.  Went slowly for a while, then made several unscheduled stops.  Power died in the whole carriage and the conductor tried in vain to shepherd us all into other carriages by torchlight.  Eventually arrived an hour late which has been the only delay for the whole trip.  It only meant that by the time we took the metro and got completely lost, thanks to the hotels directions that only said "100 m from the station", our room was ready when we arrived.  Dropped our bags, then took a train and bus out of town to the catacombs.  Very extensive.  About 40 people took tours in five languages.  The catacombs extend underground some 20 kms and to go down four levels equivalent to a 10 storey building.  There are over half a million people buried down there, which is one heck of a lot of digging.  It is only one of 60 in Rome although well and truly the biggest.  Bus and train back to the hotel and out for Indian tea.  Walked down to the internet cafe about it 8:15 and talked by Skype to Mandy.  My headphones didn't work so had to move terminals, then Mandy couldn't get her new Webcam to work, but was great to chat in a relaxed way.

Friday Roma

A fascinating day.  After breakfast in the hotel we walked up the street and caught the bus to Vatican City squashed in like sardines.  Queues were pretty small for bag checking.  Not knowing where we were going we started by visiting St Peter's.  Surprisingly cameras were allowed.  Saw the Pieta, high altar, St Peters crypt and lots of chapels.  Christmas construction in the square.  We eventually asked how to get to the Sistine Chapel which was quite a walk around the outside of the walls.  That's where the crowds were.  Decided to hire the audio guides which was a good move.  Shuffled along with the throng through the various rooms, exhibits and levels till right at the end you finish in the Sistine Chapel.  Not really what I imagined it to be.  I was expecting it to be cathedral like.  Sat, looked and listened for a while.  Impressive but not grandiose.  Lunch whilst warming in the sun eating pizza on the banks of the Tiber river.  Talked to the girls at their bedtimes, and walked past the Castel Sant Angelo to the Piazza Del Popolo, and down the main shopping strip Via Del Corso back to the motel.  Woke Ash to go for Chinese tea, which was a real pantomime.  They didn't know what chopsticks were, what a bill was, and when it came it was a piece of paper with 21 written on it.  Sent two hours in an internet cafe reinstalling Skype on Mandy's laptop but didn't actually have any time to talk.

Saturday Rome

Up early to go back to the internet cafe at 730 to catch Mandy at teatime. After breakfast we bought our hop on hop off ticket for the Rome tour bus and spent 1 1/2 hours doing the full circuit before getting off at the Colosseum stop and joining the long queue for tickets.  Went through the metal detector but still not sure what you could have in your pockets that would endanger the Colosseum.  Spent a good hour exploring the two levels and trying to thaw out in the sun -- it was cold!  Up the Palantine Hill and wandered around the gardens and the Emperor's Palace.  Then down the hill to the Roman Forum with lots of ruins, and buildings converted from Roman use to churches.  Saw where Mark Antony made his famous speech wanting everybody's ears, where Julius Caesar was cremated, and lots of arches.  Upon leaving the forum we walked to the Circus Maximus and walked a lap in its honour.  Back on the bus and off to the Piazza Di Spagna which has a Christmas market and lots of fairy floss.  Nearby was the Pantheon, a glorious building - now the basilica of the martyrs, and where the Rafael is buried.  From there we walked to the Trevi fountain which was very busy.  Impressive, although I was expecting a fountain more along the lines of the traditional round one.  Back on the bus to get back to the room.  Couldn't possibly see all of Rome in a couple of days but I think was seen the major sites well.  Tea at a little Italian hall in the wall close by.  Had to have pasta in Rome before we left.