Friday, October 31, 2008

Rome in a day

Who said you can't do Rome in a day?
i have to admit i am completely buggered but i set out this morning and saw the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Colosseum and finally St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. The Spanish Steps were crowded so no good photos from there. i had to laugh as i saw a bride and groom having their wedding photos taken on the steps and people were just wandering in front of the photographer. Trevi Fountain is beautiful. i enjoyed some gelato as i sat in front of it which was enjoyable until a bunch of primary school kids ended up behind me taking photos with their cell phones and being kids. The Pantheon is pretty cool looking. Inside there is an open circle at the top (when it rains the rain comes in and they have a drain at the bottom). i didn't notice the drain at the time but learned that during the tour of the colosseum. I had my photo taken with a guy dressed up in Roman garb and wasn't really surprised when he charged me 5 euros. quite a scam really!
I can safely say i have mastered the metro (being in Washington DC prepared me for that!) so i jumped back on the Metro and went to the Colosseum. The size of it is amazing and i decided to pay for a tour to learn a little more. unfortunately i get very bored so wandered off to take photos from the second level before the rain started. Seems to rain a lot here lately!
lastly for the day i went to St Peter's Basilica. I have never seen anything so grand in scale and i've seen quite a few basilicas and duomos lately!
Tomorrow morning i am going to see the Sistine Chapel and then it is anyone's guess where i am off to next.
btw - as soon as i can use my computer to post to the blog i will post pictures. currently i am using the computer set up in the basement of the hotel so it is a little difficult and for some reason i didn't bring my jumpdrive.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Roma

Today i made it to Rome, Italy. Known as Roma to the locals.

I left Naples by myself this morning (my so-called travelling friend left me to fend for myself as he made his way back to England, obviously without me - the American sitting next to me in the Internet room suggested i title my blog Men are the root of all evil. i,m thinking men can never be just friends is more valid!) So, i survived a bus ride, train ride, metro station, a hotel that was all booked out and finally i had luck in finding a nice hotel right near Vatican City after braving the metro once again. The drama of the day - where i was seriously contemplating finding an airport and getting on a plane back to England, obviously the easy and probably smartest way out crossed my mind numerous times - but as it turned out after making it here and finding my hotel to rid myself of my heavy duffel bag things got much better. i haven,t seen much yet as it was 4ish when i got in and then when i set out with camera in tow - an absolute necessity - a thunderstorm rolled in. I actually enjoyed it and ended up seeking shelter in the same place as a bunch of other people including some americans who were on a tour. we all chatted for quite awhile until the rain finally let up a little.
I have met some interesting people along the way already and the night is still young so i will write more later and hopefully backtrack to what i have done so far.