Roma

Buon Giorno,

Day two in rome was another early start.  We got to bed around 2am and needed to be up around 6am for a 7am tour pickup.  We were ready and waiting at 6.55am still waiting at 7.30am and finally picked up at 7.45am.  Then transported to a bus where we waited, and waited, and waited some more.  At 8.10am the bus started our journey to THE VATICAN only 20 minutes walk from our hotel?!! OMG!!!

The tour was the best way to go, BECAUSE when we finally arrived they raced us ahead of the 1000's queuing to buy tickets.

Our guide at the vatican was great and she explained everything well, despite the crowds and overcrowding in some places.  Her colleague I nicked named 'EYEBROWS' because they were always twitching.  Eyebrows was a nice guy and rescued Frances and I when we got lost from our tour with our Italian/English guide.  He was taking the Spanish tour but recognised the two of us and welcomed us onto his tour, so we got an exclusive English version along the way.

We've just returned from a horse drawn carriage ride home from the Spanish steps, one of the many scenic sites Rome has to offer. It's now 1.00am and the we're still in t-shirts.  The city is alive!!! Very well behaved and the people are just very happy and fun to be around.

The Vatican was mindblowing.  Too much to absorb in one visit.  St Peter's Basillica was awesome.  Somehow I managed to get into the Italian midday mass at the main altar and ended up in the front row.  An awesome experience praying with Romans in Italian and receiving communion from the Cardinals.  We held hands during the parts of the mass and offered peace to another in Italian as part of the mass.  It was truly a wonderful experience and one I will treasure forever.

My Italian night classes are paying off an I am very confident and capable in almost every situation.  LOVING IT TOO!

Here's some pics of what we've been up to.
Ciao for now.

Time out during a 30deg day and after walking 100kms.

Trevi fountain at midnight.  The tikanga is to throw a coin over your left shoulder and into the fountain.  A sign of good luck and that one day you will return to Roma. 

We did a bus tour for 20 euros to get a good look around the city.  This the open roof top level of the bus.  Frances and Rosy are in the front row!!

This guy was great to watch.  All style and composure, a true ARTIST!!!  The traffic is 7-8-9-10 wide and there are no rules except that you do your best to stay alive.  The traffic is at the ON YOUR MARKS stage.  WOW I was just waiting to see what happens when he signals GO!  ........... Nothing!! But I still don't know how!!!

 A magnificient hallway in the Vatican, just after we lost our tour guide and Rosy.

 Rosy at the fountain in front of the panthenon.  Built in 25-27 BC. OMG!!!

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Lunch Italian styles.

  An Egyptian god (The Vatican).  God of ??????????????????? Fertitilty! Of course!

 Ciao Baby.