Roma

Well, where to start?  It has been an amazing few days here but incredibly exhausting.  Spent my first afternoon just wandering around, getting lost - the usual thing!  Although by getting lost I also discovered a brilliant little restaurant with delicious pasta, cheap red wine...and incredibly charming waiters!  In general I found the Italian men to be very flirtatious, but this was definitely my favourite: "What would you like tonight?  Ravioli? Spaghetti? My phone number?" 

The next day I hit the Vatican with an Aussie couple I had met in the hostel.  Not before enjoying the best coffee I have had in a long time...possibly since leaving Wellington!   The Vatican museums were interesting but the highlight was definitely the Sistine Chapel.  It was amazing seeing Michaelangelo´s frescoes and that famous image of the hand of God.  There were signs everywhere forbidding photography - but everyone else was doing it and as the saying goes, "When in Rome...."

From there we wandered to St Peter´s Basilica.  It´s actually built on the spot where St Peter was buried - as in St Peter, one of the disciples!  The tombs of the Popes was a little eerie, but incredible nonetheless. 

I had saved the ancient ruins of Rome for my final day, and booked a guided walking tour so there was someone to tell me what all the old crumbling buildings were!  Our guide was fantastic, she knew all the key information but also a few quirky bits here and there.  Did you know for example, that the movie Gladiator isn´t quite accurate.  Soldiers never fought beasts at the Colliseum, although they did fight other soldiers.  Rather, men who were punishable by death were put in the ring to be hunted by the wild animals - lions, tigers, and even the odd rhino or elephant! 

From the Colliseum we wandered through the Roman Forum and Palentine Hill.  There is such a rich history in the area, but apparently it has been built up too much over the centuries and it´s very difficult to excavate further ruins without damaging other buildings. 

Along the way, one of our group was pickpocketed.  Luckily his mate realised and pushed the 2 women off him before she got away with the camera.  Gypsy women with babies are all around and apparently they carry the babies so you are reluctant to use force against them.  Dodgy stuff indeed - I can´t help but feel that if I finish this trip with everything I started with I´ll be lucky!

Our final stop was the Trevi  Fountain.  Not exactly ancient Rome  (it was built in 1732) but still good to see.  The custom is to throw a coin over your shoulder for your return to Rome, and a second coin to meet your true love.   I threw a 3rd coin for extra luck!

Went out for dinner with a few people I met from the hostel...copious amounts of red wine were drunk and it was with a rather sore head that I made my way to the train station the next day, bound for Napoli.  Good times!