It took us a day to get from Singapore to Paris to Rome, then another half a day to recover. The AirFrance flight to Paris was … squeezy. But then, it was cheap, so we got what we paid for.
We had a bit of heart-stopping excitement when Greg dropped his phone onto the railway tracks as we were boarding the train from Rome airport into the city. He managed to get it with one of his walking poles, so that was a better outcome than the time he dropped his 2-week old iPhone and I accidentally ran over it. I think he should stop using belt clips for his mobile phones.
We got to our hotel early yesterday afternoon, settled in and went to find some late lunch. We’re staying near Termini, the main railway station in Rome and there are plenty of places to eat and drink close by. For lunch yesterday Greg had lasagne, I had risotto with prawns and we shared half a litre of vino blanco – white wine. We did have very good intentions of staying up until 6pm, but by 4 o’clock I could barely see straight, let alone walk straight, so I collapsed into bed and slept for most of the night. Greg went walking but came back an hour or so later and also fell asleep.
Today we each had a list of what we wanted to do.
Greg – See the Colliseum, the Forum, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.
Me – Eat pizza, prosciutto and gelato.
Do you see a pattern to our travelling styles in the above lists? Maybe that’s why we travel so well together. Anyway, we ticked off everything on both our lists, and saw the Palatino AND ate pasta for dinner as well. A wonderful first day in Rome.
the crowds at Fontana de Trevi Fountain in Rome - click on the image for a larger version
trying to find somewhere to sit on the Spanish Steps Rome
Poppy growing outside the Colosseum
Colosseum
So many people in Rome. Why are they in financial trouble? All those tourists?
Something to do with unrealistic retirement expectations I think, Fay. You’re right though, there are plenty of tourists here already. At the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, both places were so packed it was hard to imagine what it will be like in summer!
Hi Jude and Greg , the weather looks good ! I recommend a visit to the Catacombs while in Rome . Love Sal x
Thanks for the suggestion, Sal! We’ll report back
Love the pictures Judy and your comments (particularly the poppy) this is a really lovely one, was it growing wild? Most people know I am a poppy collector.
Margaret
Thanks Margaret. Greg takes the photos most of the time – he’s much better with technology than I am. The poppy was growing wild just outside the Colosseum. I had seen a few patches of them about and wanted some photos. I’ll use some of them on Anzac Day if we don’t find any more to photograph.
I may get Derick to print this picture of the poppy as it’s the best wild one I have ever seen. We do get garden ones as good. Keep looking Judy for more. xx
great city of ancient times loved the place the locals do not like working look at POMPEII cant trouble to put any signs up for tourist
It is an incredible city, Ron. Especially for us, coming from a country that is just over 200 years old. To think that we walked where Julius Caesar walked seems impossible. And yes, I know that he and his peers probably actually walked several metres below the level where we now walk, but you get what I’m saying.
Judy just had a though Gregs going to meet up with Cleopatra YES
It sounds like Air France hasn’t changed since I flew with them in 1997!
Wow, Rome is crowded!
Air France is probably still using the same plane that you flew on. Rome is indeed crowded, Kel. We keep wondering what it’s like in mid -summer, or what Vatican City was like at Easter.
As a Singapore resident enjoying an efficient public transport system, you may be interested (or appalled) to learn that 3 out of the 4 ticketing checkpoint barriers at the main railway station were not working yesterday morning.
There was trouble with the trains in Singapore on Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday. This has lead to uproar and it’s thefirst and second item on every news broadcast. When everything runs so efficiently most of the time, people forget how to cope when it doesn’t run well. Clearly, most Aussies areexcellent at coping with dodgy public transport!