The time has come, we leave tomorrow morning. We have to get ourselves packed and up to the Terminus, ready to catch a train at 10am so there won’t be time for sightseeing.
Today was an interesting mix, with a few changes of plan because Milly is as sick as a dog. Head cold and temperature, hope she hasn’t caught flu. After finding a chemist and dosing her up with everything at hand, Michelle and I headed out for a few hours on our own.
We walked down to the Piazza Venezia and had a good look over the monument to Victor Emmanuelle I. It’s quite spectacular. The display of regimental flags inside is very extensive, although after the first 20-odd variations of the Italian flag they all started to look the same. Not sure that Milly would have been impressed, so she was better off in bed.
After a few days and a lot of walking we are getting fairly used to the layout of the city. We have hit 20,000+ steps every day so far.
After lunch we dragged Milly out of bed and down to the Vatican. It seemed a bit sacrilegious to be in Rome and not at least have a look. We went through the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. Because we didn’t really do our research, are not in the least religious and know next to nothing about the Pope or the Vatican, we skipped the really long line for entry to St Peter’s Basilica. That was a mistake. We will have to do that one on the next trip.
It poured rain when we were in St Peter’s Square and the first drops had hardly hit the ground when all the hawkers selling selfie sticks and ice water were suddenly selling ponchos and umbrellas. Very impressive businessmen.
A summary of how I found Rome, based on extensive on-ground testing and very little research:
- If you’re interested in ancient history (which I am) you could spend weeks here before you would be even slightly bored
- Ditto for lovers of churches (which I am not)
- Every second shop front is a cafe, so beats me how they all make money even if the food is great
- There are hawkers everywhere in the vicinity of a tourist attraction and 100% of them are Indians (are Italians not allowed to sell selfie sticks?)
- There are Italians, dressed up as Roman legionnaires, at historic sites. If you pay them a Euro you can have your photo taken with them. At least 9 out of 10 are middle-aged and overweight (yes I know – “look who’s talking”). I am starting to understand why the Roman Empire fell into decline, if this is the best they can muster.
- The traffic, as I’ve mentioned, is chaotic but strangely fascinating
- The narrow cobble-stoned streets are equally fascinating (as is the architecture) and it’s just amazing what will fit down the narrow streets, and the speed at which you can travel
- You’ll never cross a street unless you are brave and confront the traffic, although I suspect pedestrian life expectancies are low
- Parking can be done anywhere, anytime as long as there is space. You need not consider signage to the contrary, the impact on traffic or any other superfluous detail.
- Buy your beer at a supermarket
That’s all. Bring on Florence.
Steve J.