Rome Day 2

Again, we both slept like the dead!

We checked out of our hotel and caught a bus to the first visit of the day – The Pantheon.  It opened at 09.00 – we joined the queue at 8.30 and got in at 9.00.  Chatted to a lovely Canadian couple in the queue.  They have at least 6 months of snow, and winter goes down to -50 degrees.  A warm winter’s day is -20!  Rather them than me!

The Pantheon was spectacular – and to think that it was built in about 125AD!  A Mass was starting about an hour later, but how one could worship in that noise – I am not sure.  Perhaps they would be able to get the crowds to quieten down….

We then walked to the Castel Sant’Angelo.  The queue was LONG but moved quite quickly.  It was interesting to see the castle. It was originally built to be an imperial mausoleum, but it served to be a portion of the city wall and also as a fortress for some time. Later it was converted into a prison and also a place of refuge. We climbed MANY steps, but the view from the top was amazing!

I have to stop converting, but when 2 bottles of Coke Zero cost nearly R 300 – it is hard!

We then went to see the remains of a stadium, which is now underground.  Not great at all.  The numbers for the audio we were given, were at the wrong exhibits.

We found a bus to take us to Capitoline Hill as I had read that the views of Rome from here are amazing.  Up the stairs we went – yes these old toppies are hoofing it! – and the view of Rome was fantastic!

The weather has been hot – about 25 degrees each day, and clear.

We then caught a bus to the Rome National Museum – we wanted to see the ancient baths, but it was pretty run down.

We then had lunch and sat down for a while.  We needed it!

Before boarding our train to Florence – which is where I am typing this – we caught another metro to see the Spanish steps and Trevi Fountain by day.  The crowds were massive, but it was interesting to see how different they look in the daylight.  Our final bus trip in Rome was to take us back to our hotel to collect our luggage.

Everything I read about Rome said that there would be crowds everywhere, all the time!  How true this was.  Every train and bus was jammed packed full – and you are packed in like sardines.

There have been many occasions when we looked at each other and said: “when in Rome, do as the Romans do!”  A saying that we often use, but somehow it felt more real now.

William has become a whizz kid at navigating our way around with various apps.

Bye bye Rome – we have enjoyed being here, but will probably never see you again!

The scenery from the train is beautiful and green.  A number of long tunnels.  We are travelling at more than 200km.

We arrived in Florence just after 18.00.  And then we started walking to our apartment.  We walked and walked and walked.  The roads are very narrow – and the pavements are even more narrow.  We could not walk on most of the pavements with our suitcase next to us, let alone walking side by side.  Some roads are so narrow that when a car came we had to stand on the tiny pavement with our suitcases next to us until they had passed.  There were no cars parked on either side.

Anyhow, we eventually got here – the apartment is basic, but fine.  The only issue was that that I could not find the washing machine.  I did find it – eventually – in a cupboard under the window!

Tomorrow we are going to walk around Florence……