When the Colosseum was built in 70AD Rome was a brutal place and the centre of a brutal empire. Christians were fed to the lions, gladiators fought to the death and so on. Today’s Rome is equally brutal! Especially when it is 38 degrees, chaotic polluting traffic and chaotic polluting tourists. A tip for future travellers to Rome – avoid any eye contact with drivers as you step across the so-called pedestrian crossings. If you do establish eye contact, you have no hope of crossing as it becomes a game of Chicken.
This was my second visit to the holy city – and probably my last. It is one place that has not registered a tick on my scorecard.
The two hour trip into and out of Rome by chartered coach from Civitivecchia was a nightmare in itself. On the way there, our driver was speeding as if in an F1 race, whilst taking telephone calls and texting messages to someone. When the Italian guide asked him to slow down he went off like the proverbial roman candle! First he slowed down to crawling pace. The guide rang his company and complained and for the rest of the trip into Rome he was shouting Italian obscenities at her – even chased her when we disembarked at St Peter’s! We had a different driver on the way back – however after 6 hours of toiling through the hot crowded streets of Rome, our bus had no air-conditioning. For 45 minutes we suffered and sweated – some men (and one woman) taking off their shirts - not a pretty sight! We were transferred to a second bus but only after rendezvousing at the wrong McDonalds to begin with! Beeline for the bar on return!
In Rome, again on my own, I walked to all the places I had visited with my family only a few years ago. St Peter’s Square, Piazza de Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Roman Forum and back to St Peter’s along the Corso Victor Emmanuelle. A long, hot day, breathing the foul fumes of the traffic and observing the same characteristics of Italian men and women I commented on in Venice. Basically up themselves!
St Peter's (round) Square
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The Smart way to park
Piazza de Navona
Pantheon with sunlight
Trevi (3 coins in the) Fountain
... at a distance
Nice drapes
Il Collisimo
Cute seafood restaurant display
On return I realised I had blisters on my feet and had shed a couple of kilos from the walk. Good news and bad news I guess.
Today I woke up as we entered Livorno, stopping off place for Pisa and Florence. I opted to stay on board due to physical exhaustion, blisters and to avoid the crowds in Firenze on an even hotter day than yesterday. I have been there before and after so many historic and Renaissance places, I am getting cultural exhaustion.
Tomorrow Cannes, where I am booked on a bus tour to Monaco and Monte Carlo.
Yes we are out here! I have been looking forward to your accounts of places visited and am glad the starboard propulsion unit is OK as we are on the DP in February.
ReplyDeleteHi Dad, great photos and stories, very descriptive and funny too! Hope you have been able to read all the messages along the way, there have been quite a few from readers!
ReplyDeleteKeep 'em coming and keep enjoying the trip.
Love Larissa