Rome
Rome
After leaving the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento, we zipped back up the Autostrada for about 4 hours (Anne still complaining at 170kph,, but getting used to 150kph) to Rome, our last stop in Italy.
Finally the GPS started working well - led us straight to the Apartment in Rome.
We had done a lot of searching for the right place to stay in Rome before being offered this apartment, one block from Piazza Cavour (5 minutes from the Vatican). It turned out perfect - Two large bedrooms + a third smaller one, dining, kitchen and 1 and a half bathrooms.
We decided that we should first return the car, so we set off to do a simple task, but... firstly the car return was not at the place we were told (turned out it was actually 'near' it) then the GPS lead us a merry chase out of Rome, so we headed back in, and decided to stop on the side of the road to look at the map.
That's when the real fun started. Studying the map, a police car zoomed around us and stopped in front of us. Out got two big policemen,and a tall thin girl wearing ... not much. We were wondering what was going on - she looked like a model, but a little underdressed, when a second, then third, fourth and fifth police car stopped. Then it became more obvious - they got a guy out of the first car, and they started frisking him. Seems he was being done for 'curb crawling' ... welcome to Rome! Sam was amused, Ben slept through it, and unfortuately, I realised I had my camera phone with me too late ....
Finally, we got the car back, and returned to the Apartment by Taxi for dinner. We met the neighbours who were also renting from the same place, and they recommended a local restaurant - it we so good, we went back twice (would have been 3rd time, but they were closed that night).
Next day, we took the '110 topless bus tour', to the Spanish Steps to see thousands of tourists, so we had lunch, followed by a walk to the Trevi Fountain, to see thousands of tourists ...
Both were worth the visit, but the onset of rain, as well as a number of bus-stops being closed because of roadwork (and the road to the Colosseum being closed), meant we beat a hasty retreat once more to the Apartment (and the local restaurant)
The following day was a bit of a disaster.
After a slow start, we decided to see the Colosseum, forum, etc. After waiting an hour for the bus, we found that most had been canceled or delayed because of practice for a terrorist attack (Milan was last week, Naples next). That, and constant drizzle lead us back to the Apartment for lunch, then an attempt at the Vatican, a short Taxi ride away.
While the queue at St Peter's was long, it moved quickly, and we were inside in about 45minutes.
Lots of photos, lots of walking (it's really big inside) but we weren't allowed to take photos of Pope JP II in the crypt, although it was fine to photo all the other ones. Go figure.
On the third day, it was decided that John would go see the Vatican Museum, while Anne and the boys slept, played, whatever, in the morning, and then we would all do the Colosseum, Forum, etc. in the afternoon (finally!)
Not much more to say, other than the Vatican Museum was fantastic, especially the Sistine Chapel (no photos allowed here so you'll just have to buy a book)
We all went to the Coliseum (and had lunch...) had the tour, blah, blah, but for my money (and this bit was free) the Forum beat it hands down.
The ClarkFamily Excellent Adventure (Part 6)