Rome

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Rome deserves its own entry because it's a fantastic city with many a ruin to explore. You virtually cannot move in Rome without tripping over a ruin.

We flew from London to Rome which took longer than expected because our flight was delayed at Heathrow (not suprising to anyone that has flown from Heathrow recently).

The first thing we noticed about Rome and Italy was the intense heat. London was averaging about 19-20 degrees each day but Rome was about 35 degrees on the day we arrived. We spent the four days in Rome visiting all of the major sites including the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Colleseum, the Trevi Fountain and Vatican City. We were absolutely exhausted at the end of each day, falling into bed around 9.00-10.00 after dinner.

All of the sites surpassed our expectations, however August in Italy is the tourist season and all of the sites are absolutely jam packed with tourists whick makes it difficult to enjoy what Rome has to offer. None of the sites were what we expected. The Colleseum is absolutely huge, beyond my imagination. The Pantheon is fabulous - huge with sophisticated architecture and rooms at Vatican city and the St Peter's basilica are too beautiful and ornate for words.

Since we arrived in Italy we have been eating lots of pasta and pizza and antipasto which is all very tasty.

Next onto Florence, then Naples and Sicily.....

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Photos

Finally. I have reached the Colleseum!
I have been wanting to visit this sit for ages. Ignore the people dressed up as Romans in the background. It is after all tourism season in Italy!

Chris battling with the crowds at the Roman forum
With Lonely Planet in hand. After five months of travelling we really don't care if we look like tourists.

The Pantheon inRome
This structure dates from 125 AD.

Kirsty making her wish at the Trevi fountain in Rome
Throwing one coin into the fountain means you will return to Rome. Throwing your second coin grants you a wish.

The guy in the blue with the string is fishing for coins in the fountain
I wonder what it means if he collects my coin. Takes away from the romanticism some what.

They really love their Vespa's in Italy
Religion and society intertwined!

The Vatican museum's are full of roman and greco roman marble statues
It was all a bit overwhelming if you ask me but the fresco's were fabulous.

Some of the brilliant artwork in the Raphael rooms in the Vatican city muesum's
Raphael painted this particular room around 1508.

Inside St Peter's Basilica
Pictures do not do this place justice. It's massive and completely over the top, but exceptionally beautiful at the same time.

The interior of the Colleseum
The colleseum is absolutely huge, hence its name. The upper wall of the colleseum was pilfered to build part of St Peter's Basilica.

One of the gorgeous cats at the cat sancturay in Rome
There is weekly adoptions for the cats on Sundays. All of the cats are de-sexed and vaccinated. The visit to the sancturay was extremely traumatic. Many of the cats are blind and kept bumping into the wall.

Comments

[Sharni & Dan]

Yes, we are jealous!
Hey guys! Wow! Rome looks sensational. Italy has been on our 'to do' list for too long. Thanks for the photos to tide us over until we get there. And yes, we are jealous of your adventures. Lucky devils!