Day 30 - ROMA!

27/08/07 Day 30

Inside the Colleseum

ROB: We left Florence today, up at 6.30 to hitch up and head off to Rome. Tom-Tom tried to take us through the back streets, but Jenn was having none of his silliness!! A long drive today about 4 hours, mostly on Motorways, but we arrived at the best campsite so far, a fabulous lake (which gives Rome its drinking water) and a pool, but best of all - SHADE, it is about 38 degrees today, and I am sweating buckets. We also have internet access, so more blogs for you all to enjoy?!? Had a few drinks at the bar (cannot get the access anywhere else - oh well) and off to bed to see Rome!!

Outside the Colleseum

28/08/07 Day 31

ROB: Has it only been 31 days, it seems like ages that we have been on our adventure, and only just 1/3 through it yayyyy us!!

The weather today has been very good, again the temp has been in the high 30's and we have done little bit of Rome we went to the Coliseum today and had a guided tour which meant we could jump the queue! Loads of history and ancient columns lying around and such, it was very interesting, I am now even fuller of little tit bits of info to astound you all, did you know the name arena comes from the Greek word for sand, as the Arena had sand in it?? Well you do now!! The coliseum is in some ruins - made worse when the Vatican stole the marble on the façade, claiming that it was there divine right after all the Christians that had died there - although only one Christian was ever killed there, and he was St Ignatius and our guide reckoned he deserved it! (we sense a little anti Vatican and pro Roman feeling here!) Napoleon tried to rebuild it, but it does look a little like stone cladding on a beautiful old house.

Us AT the Colleseum

After the tour we visited the Palatine - where Rome was founded in 753 BC as all the warring clans got together under Romulus, the first King of ancient Rome. All the Emperors of Rome built houses on top of the largest of the Seven hills of Rome until there was no space left, so Emperor Flavi decided to level all the old palaces and build a huge one that was 1 mile in circumference, he even added a games room that could used for chariot races if he didn't fancy going to the Circus Maximus! This is a fabulous site and one that should not be missed if you visit Rome, incredible history and amazing views over the city. (Jenn - This was the best bit of the tour, this home was so big its perimeter is 1.2 miles, and as its was so big they couldn't call it a home, so they called it a palace, thus the first ever palace Palatine - Palace get it we really do have a lot to thank the Romans for, not just the Vomitoriums!!. Its so hot.. Around 37 degrees and this part of the tour starts at 1300, so for the two hottest hours of the day we walk outside and up hills. Its quite sad really, ancient history lying around like abandoned rubbish, at the top of the hill you have views of broken pillars and scraps of remains everywhere, it looks a real mess. But the cost of restoring this and the practicality of having a city which is half a museum is inconceivable. My morning headache is escalating). We struggled back at around 4 pm and managed to catch the correct bus back to the site after a little shopping, a great day all in all, tomorrow I am going to see the pope, he is popping onto the balcony for us!! (JEN - I get my first full blown migraine for over a year in the afternoon, Rob meets a fellow Brit and is chatting with me excusing myself to be unwell, finally giving in around 1900 to lie die and promise, beg and hope that it will end soon, hope tomorrow is better).

Robs favourite tree

A Roman games room!

Roman 'Stuff' lying around