Day 11

Up before 6 to catch the Ryan Air flight from Treviso to Roma, ok these budget airlines do fly out of different towns but the drive through the Italian countryside was quite good viewing. We almost had to bust out our jackets for the first time on tour too as it started raining in Venezia just as we left. Ryan Air fly into Ciampino in Roma, which is not much of a scenic drive, but once again my accommodation location was superb, a literal 2 minute walk from the Termini (bus/train station). First point of notice was that Roma was more Greece hot than Venezia hot, banging close to 30 degrees. Anyways we we dumped our stuff and headed straight out at 10:30. After deciding not to do the bus tour thing we invested in a Roma Pass - which for 18e gives you three days on the Metro, buses and trams as well as free entry to the first two archelogical sites/museums you visit and reduced entry to the rest. Just makes things easier really. So first we jumped on a bus and headed down the Via Nazionale to gawk at the Fontana Di Trevi (Trevi fountain) and the Spanish steps. More gelato for Ruth then back to the B&B for a nap - early start and heat catching up with us. First impressions of Rome...hot, bumpy as cobbled roads, and impressive huge ancient buildings and fountains and monuments. These things need to be seen to be believed as photos do not do justice to the sheer size of these things.....anyways Day 11 TO BE CONTINUED have to go pick up our laundry then head out to see some of the above by night as well as the Pantheon, Piazza Novona and Campo De Fiori...laters.

So where was I? ok yeah, the Trevi Fountain is fairly impressive once again like most of Rome, and packed with people chucking coins over their shoulder (google it). The Spanish Steps are basically where tourists fading in the heat have a rest, they are also taken over by dudes selling knock off bags and sunnies, but apperently underneath all these people there are some steps. After we dragged our asses out off bed for the second time today that evening we caught the Metro to the Colosseum, this was big city underground at it's best, stinking hot and packed...mmm gotta love that close proximity to complete stranger's underarms! Luckily two stops down was the Colosseum, where we hooked up with a guided tour hawking out the front. It was brilliant too, not being exactly an expert on Roman history this tour and the guides really set the scene, instead of just walking around a big arena. Which brings me to the fun fact of the day, arena is the latin word for sand, and the fights etc took part on the wooden floor of the Colosseum, covered in sand, hence the word arena! Anyways this tour and that of the Palatino and Roman Forum cost 9e extra on top of entry and was well worth it. Funny thing too, the dude who took the Palatino and Roman Forum tour was a kiwi, but he knew his shizzle. Another tip, photos of the Colosseum are best at dusk, it looks cooler then.