Buon giorno from Roma

After a 9 1/2 hour train trip from Zurich we finally arrived in Rome. We only had 10 mins to change trains in Bologna and, as luck would have it, our train came in late. We had to find out which platform our connection was leaving from and during that time we heard our train pull away!! :(

After asking at the ticket office we decided to hop on the next train to Rome (without reserving seats and just praying that some would be empty). When the guard came along we found out we were on a train that wasn’t totally covered by our Eurail pass so we had to pay a supplement charge (ouch!). Anyway we arrived at Rome train station called Termini and were swamped by “helpful” people trying to get us a hotel. We had been warned to watch out for pickpockets so we hung onto all our stuff tightly. We just had to find a taxi and get to our Hotel – “The Ritz” ,which is situated in the Parioli district near many foreign embassies. The taxi driver got out his GPS and we were there in about 10 mins.

The traffic is crazy – but not as bad as Kampala (Uganda). There are many, many mopeds that zip in and out between cars and don’t really care if you are crossing the road even if you use the crossing! We were very relieved and exhausted to have finally connected with our tour after being away from home for 8 weeks and travelling through Africa, Germany and Switzerland. We have used 6 different currencies (Australian dollars, American dollars, Dubai somethingeruthers, Ugandan shillings, Euros and Swiss francs)!

The next morning we went down to a huge buffet breakfast. Italians usually don’t eat much for breakfast – just coffee and a croissant or cake, so there were many different varieties of danishes (even some with chocolate) as well as the usual cereal, fruit, bread, cheese and meats. After checking emails (no free wireless here so we had to pay) we decided to walk through a large park and ended up at the top of the Spanish Steps. What a view we had of Rome from here! It was quite hot so we decided to have a gelati which melted pretty quickly. From there we wandered down the steps to the fountain. It was crowded with many people around –even a Japanese couple having their wedding photos taken. From there we walked through the busy shops to the Piazza del Popolo (people’s place) and sat in the shade of the Egyptian obelisk. It was quite large with almost symmetrical churches and statues at either end. We walked up the many steps for another splendiferous view of the city.

Police buildup in the city, waiting for George Bush

We found our way back to the hotel through some little side streets and arrived just in time for our tour induction. We had misread the time and thought we still had a few hours. Anyway we were just in time for a welcome drink and some time to get to meet a few of the other people on the tour. Our tour guide is called Mojca but we can call her “Mumma Mo” as she is our Mumma for the next two weeks! Most of us then went out to a restaurant in the Piazza del Popolo for tea and we tasted all the local specialities including wines!

Next morning we had an early start – 5.45am as we had to have breakfast and be at the Vatican early. President Bush was in town so there were thousands of police around and of course he wanted to meet with the Pope and see the Sistine Chapel! We were very lucky and got in by about 8.30.

We walked through some galleries and then into the Sistine Chapel, which is the Pope’s private chapel. The artwork by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Creation and the west wall of The Last Judgement, plus the works by other artists depicting the life of Jesus on one side and Moses on the other were very moving. After that our guide wanted to take us through to St. Peter's but we were unable to because they were beginning to block things off. Our tour guide then managed to get us over to The Roman Forum, and the Colosseum.
As we drove past the Vatican we were very glad we got in early as the queue to get in was stretching for kilometres. Even though it is an ancient ruin you can still get a sense of what it might have been like nearly 2000 years ago.

After a rest for lunch we headed back to St. Peter’s and saw the Swiss guards. We queued up in the Piazza San Pietro and saw where the Pope gives his blessings and the window where the smoke comes out when a new Pope is elected. St. Peter’s basilica took over a century to complete as it is decorated with marble statues and mosaic paintings. Michelangelo spent the last twenty years of his life here for no pay.

It is very spectacular and words are hard to describe the magnificence of this huge cathedral and the many beautiful works it contains!

We collapsed back in our hotel room in the afternoon. It was decided to cancel our optional evening tour due to traffic problems and concerns over being caught up with any protestors.

The Tiber River

Street parking in Rome!

Just nip downtown in the Ferrari.

Still looking for those shoes for you Angela!