It’s 6 o’clock in the morning in Rome and I have woken up very excited about exploring this ancient city. There is so much to see. I look at the tourist map and I don’t know where to begin. We wandered the streets last night and in reality every street and building is very beautiful and it is quite different to France. I wasn’t sure about Rome before I came but I have fallen in love with it instantly.
Fountain outside the Quirinal Palace
Leaving Les Restanques des Lions
Should there be a shop in the road?
“Turn around when possible”
Thank you ©TomTom
A tear was in the eye as we left the tranquillity of Les Restanques des Lions (Terraces of the Lions). We had a big day driving to Nice and returned the rental car (incredibly in one piece with no scratches). A big thanks here, to Deb and Paul for lending their ©TomTom, the essential GPS guidance system which (at most times) directed us to our destinations.
We would have been literally lost without it. With a couple of hours to spare before our flight to Italy we walked around a large mall in the city centre (Nicetoile). It was four levels of shops and very nice. Modern trams run up and down the main street and we saw lots of fit triathlon types out jogging.
Nice Triathlon 2012
Checking online we confirmed the Nice Triathlon was on the next day. Anyway the airport beaconed and we returned to catch our flight. It was quick and uneventful with no customs queues in Italy, just straight out the doors.
We were immediately picked up at the airport and then whisked into the city centre on a grand prix-like ride, the driver weaved in and out of cars with great skill. It was a change from the slow steady nervous approach that I had adopted over the last three weeks at the wheel. I enjoyed being relaxed instead of cautiously winding my way through narrow streets and crazy drivers.
Tony at the wheel
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The apartment in the Via Vento building in the middle of Rome is beautiful. The doors at the entrance are enormous and open slowly and mechanically to let us in. The foyer is majestic and we then catch an old fashioned tiny lift to the 3rd floor. I thought it might be busy and noisy in the city centre but our room is very quiet and luxurious.
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Open-Top Bus Tour
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We are going on the open-top bus tour of the city this morning and we will decide what we want to stop off at and see. The Vatican City, the Colesseum and the Pantheon are must do’s.
Arrivederci from Rome.
Quirinal Palace, the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic.
Mmmmmm Chocolat
Donna last night in Plan de la Tour
Tony last night in Plan de la Tour
Tony and Donna in France 
Caio Caio
Had a great pot luck dinner for mums birthday. Missed you both. Rome is a very user friendly city. I know you will love it as we did. Glad Tom Tom was of assistance. It is a good feeling to say goodbye to the rental and deliver it without damage having negotiated those narrow streets.
A pui tardi
Ha, you guys stayed away one week too long – best ever potluck dinner tonight. No pretensious European food, more like Asian fusion with a kiwi twist. And the rugby last night – as usual just the right amount of constructive officiating from the northern hemisphere ref and clean running rugby from the boks!
Now for Christ sake the Romans don’t do rose, try something with a more interesting name like valpolicella or Barbarossa . See you jet lagged next week.
Ciao roger
Damn . . . we went out for pizza and pasta instead. I did catch up with the rugby result. Bit of a struggle by the sounds of it. We couldn’t find Rosé in the Roma supermarket and bought a local Pinot Rossa and a tasty Lambrusca instead, both went down well. Yes. Home soon. I have forgotten what cool weather feels like.