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Published: April 20th 2008
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Farewell Dinner Take 2
From the left - Nessa, Ash, Angi and Sami So technically this morning's breakfast is the last formal part of our Contiki tour, but as half of our group had left already last night was really it - so no goodbyes for those I didn't see at the "Farewell" Dinner!
Anywho, after jumping in and out of bed about a hundred times to try and catch Kat on her way to the airport - luckily our room was almost in the lobby of the hotel - we dragged out butts out of bed and up the stairs for breakfast.
Catching up with John, Bob, Angie and Sami, Nessa and I confirmed the plan; we would all head into Termini Station and along with some of the others, after dumping our stuff at our various hotels, and grab a coffee with the boys before wishing them well on their onward journey.
Lucky for Nessa and I, Bob and John helped with all our stuff to our b'n'b, which was really cool - our room had a bit of a Mexican theme going on. Back at Termini we had a bit of a nightmare reestablishing contact with the girls and completely missed Holly and Ash, who we were also catching
up with - we had to say Ciao to Jess on the train rrying along our dirty laundry, we headed across the road for a spot of lunch, and dare I say it, yet another coffee! Then, the inevitable happened, we had to say goodbye to Bob and John. This was actually much harder than you would think; not even 2 weeks and they were integral to Team Duomo. But, it had to be done. So, ciao to the boys, missing you still...
After this emotional parting, Ang and Sami did the best thing ever - they took us to the laundrette! Now, you can imagine how excited I was with that. Love the domestic cleaning duties (most of the time) so to have clean socks and jocks again was going to be a massive novelty. That and the fact i had to change my pants in the laundry in order to clean my jeans too! Ah well!
So a couple of hours later, emails and facebook status's all up to date, Nessa and I headed back to our place for a well deserved nap - before our brains exploded! I honestly don't think I have ever seen
Ms Nessa look as tired as she did that day. I was even so tired that when setting my alarm so we wouldn't be late to meet Ang, Sami and Ash for dinner, I set it for the am not pm. Oops...
Thankfully, we made it to the Spanish Steps meeting point on time and headed for dinner with the girls - the second farewell dinner!
Arriving home at a reasonable hour and completing all those obligatory duties, Nessa and I were soon snuggled up in our beds watching some crazy game show, complete with drag queen judge who looked remarkably like Grandma when he dressed up as Dame Edna for Gangshow... Ah, the memories!
The next day (Thursday 27th March for those of you playing at home, and yes, I'm aware that this is over 3 weeks out of date), Nessa and I headed to the Vatican. After spying the massive line out the front, around the side and down the road for the museum, we headed straight to St Peter's Basillica where we wandered around, debating the appropriateness of taking photographs of the bodies of dead popes and hoping to the universe that this most
massive of duomo's wouldn't fall/burn/be destroyed because of our heretical presence! After writing and sending postcards from the Vatican, we headed back to the museum and the line and proceeded to jump in somewhere closer to the front...naughty I know, but done now.
Wandering through the maze that is the museum and somehow avoiding beating up anyone who shoved, kicked or generally pushed their way through, preventing any actually appreciation of the artworks before you get to the Sistine Chapel, we arrived. This is an amazing structure and for someone like me who has literally no artistic talent other than the fact I can hold a pencil, this is a phenomenal feat. Ironically enough I manage to get a seat right across from the section where it is written... Daniel...a point I didn't notice until I had glanced around the chapel a few times. After escaping the madness that is the chapel we were able to calmly wander through the rest of the museum, funnily enough, without the pushing and shoving that had been the first section. Oh, by the way, there is another Dali in this museum, Gnome.
From the Vatican City it was off to the
Wedding Cake to meet Ash. Unfortunately for us there was no especially direct route and no Metro to avoid the walk. Passing the castle (no idea what it is called) and stopping for some lunch, we made it to the Wedding Cake, along with the rain. Visiting the museum that is part of the monuement, Nessa, Ash and I moved on to souvenir shopping and hanging out in coffee shops. Oh, and I bought a fountain pen. It is green and little and I like a lot - no, it isn't called Squishy.
Meeting Ang and Sam at the Trevi Fountain, we walk Sam to the Spanish Steps where we window shop for a while while we wait for her friend that she was catching up with. We end up seeing what we assume will be what the Olson twins will look like when they're old - seriously. If I could have taken a photo without getting into trouble I would have, but just take it as read, they were very dodgy. Heading back towards the Trevi Fountain after seeing Sami safely ensconced with her friend, we stumble across what has to be one of the most awesome places
to eat in Rome. Seriously. We waited out in the rain for almost half an hour until we headed inside to a menu that had Angi, Ash, Nessa and I scratching our heads because the options were seemingly endless. All in all, we had the most fabulous meal, a truely awesome, Final, Final Farewell Dinner.
Unfortuntely though, at the end of the night, when we arrived at the Metro stop - it wasn't late, mind you, only about 10.30 or so - it was shut! Now, that isn't very cool, especially in an urbane city like Rome, it's raining and one of us had no way to get home. Popping Ang into a cab and beginning the walk home to our place, then back to Termini to try and get a cab or something for poor Ash, eventually we stumbled on a bus that would take exactly where she needed to go, only now it was almost midnight! Ah well!
Heading to Termini the next day, we checked our email and I headed to the post office in an attempt to post some of the bits and pieces that I have acquired during my Italian travels - I
am still hoping that it will arrive, somewhere! I also picked up a cabin bag so that I could take more onto the plane with me on the off chance my luggage had suddenly gained weight. Heading to the airport, Nessa and I hung out, reading, I updated the journal and even bought a new suduko book (yay) before finally boarding the plane to Paris!
Ciao, Bello...
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Christelle
non-member comment
Enjoy!
Hi Danielle I am from South Africa, and have been reading all your blogs, I find them quite funny and it was cool too see all the pics. It seems that you boys and girls have had lots of fun! Enjoy the trip to Paris (not sure if it is over yet) in that case I hope it was awesome! Cheers Christelle