Buongiorno bella Italia!

Monday 16th August

We got off the night train at Roma Termini station and wandered outside, armed with only a map from Google.  We found our hotel, even though Google evidently didn't deem half the road names worthy enough to be on the map.  We found the building anyway and met a maid who told us to go up to the third floor.  A tiny lift complete with old fashioned doors and gate took us up and we checked into our room. 

The owner of the hotel was a lovely woman who gave us a map and circled everything of interest, then told us the Vatican would be closed on Saturday and Sunday because it was a big holiday in Italy.  We decided to go the next day - Friday - and see all the major monuments the afternoon we arrived.  After showers and a change of clothes we went to buy a week pass for the metro - as recommended by our hotel woman. 

With only two metro lines it was very straight forward but for some reason all the signs were painted orange.  This did not become our favourite colour.  We hopped on at our stop - Vittorio Emmanuelle (an early Italian soldier) - and hopped off at Flaminio to see the Piazza del Popolo, and then walk down to the Trevi Fountain along Via Del Corso.

We threw coins into the Trevi Fountain and sat watching the world go by for a while.  We then crossed over to the Temple Adriano, which we walked past slightly by accident on our way to the Pantheon.

The Pantheon was very impressive and not too busy so we went inside and walked around, looking up at the huge domed ceiling.

Piazza Navona was next and we sat in the sun while Claire had gelati.  One half of the square was full of artists and stalls selling pictures, the other side of the centre fountain was emptier and just had tourists walking around.  The centre fountain is said to be the most beautiful fountain in the world.

We had been told to go to Campo di Fiori but it looked a bit empty, like a market had just been packed away.  We carried on to Ponte Garibaldi, a bridge crossing the river to the old part of Roma.  It seemed very quiet and a bit deserted so we didn't stay for too long and decided it was time to eat instead.  We ate in a small restaurant which advertised it's air conditioning.  After a while it did get slightly chilly and it was nice to step out into the evening sun once we were finished. 

We jumped on the metro back to our hotel for an early night in real beds again.

Stride like the rooster!