Final day

As with Paris, after a few days we have a feel for the city and are familiar with at least the part of it we have covered. Navigating is still a little hit and miss but any wrong turn just takes you to unexpected views. I am very aware that in this timespan we can only cover. A tiny percentage of what a city like this has to offer.
This morning we headed towards the Pantheon, determined to avoid the Main Street and negotiated our way successfully through alley after alley, across Piazza Navona, through a church (in one end out the other just to confuse Anita) and voila The Pantheon. Last night we found a website with podcasts of guides to many Rome sites. Having listened gave us a great insight Into what we were to see.... I have admitted before to painful ignorance of European history and this has become more obvious in a city with such rich history.
Coffee stop with a wonderful view and wander down towards the river and into Castel Sant'Angelo. Wow, what a structure and a great view from the top as well.
We all have that, 'ready to go home feeling' that occurs when you know it is close. So lucky that Rome is showing us some sun to end the journey.

Roma (continued)

After visiting the Vatican Museum yesterday and seeing the enormous crowd for St Peters, we decided to come back this morning. Our apartment is 5 - 10 mins walk away so we got up early and were thrilled we did. Straight to the security check and then into the Basilica while there was still a sense of peace. Serge has long wanted to relive the walk up the stairs inside the Cupola that had been the source of much fun when he was here with his dad in 1986. So up to the first level via the lift and then onward via the spiral staircase (he can describe this at a later time as only Nita and Serge ventured that far).

The timing in the early morning made for a spectacular scene as the lighting was superb as well as the fact that the crowds were thin. One of those moments that cameras (especially simple iPhone cameras will never truly record). We had plenty of time to return to the basilica afterwards. So glad we got up early !

So off to the other end of the city and a tour of the Colosseum. Blessed by perfect weather, we enjoyed the history lesson from the guide.

Last night we walked to the Spanish steps and I admit to being a bit underwhelmed.. Am I too hard to please? Do the hundreds of tourists milling around put me off? Do I get tired of the salesmen trying to give away roses ? I think so. I am far more affected by the little scenes we see in the side streets etc than some of THE sites!

The photos I am publishing are mainly taken on our iDevices and easily transported, many more to be filtered when we are home. (Don't worry, I will not bore anyone with them) One more full day to go ...

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Roma

So this morning our plan was to head to the Vatican City and connect with a walking tour. We headed off and noted how quiet things were... Oops... Despite being told to plan ahead and check for closure days (which we did) we failed to note that New Years Day was a public holiday which means all museums are closed. So Plan B, hop on board one of the Hop on Hop off tourist buses for a tour (cheaper at this time of year), meander through streets, have lunch, find Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, monuments, churches, fountains, coffee shop, tired feet and wine - not in any particular order. My usual reasonably good sense of direction is severely challenged in the tight and angled lanes, but it really does not matter as if you don't know where you are heading you can hardly get lost ! Highlights include deciding to pop in to one of the many churches we passed and being presented with an amazing gallery of art from 1500's Cesari if I remember correctly. The sun was out his morning but we felt the chilly air, it warmed as the day progressed but the clouds also arrived.

After the relative peace of Paris and non tourist trip to Sicily, we are surprised how busy Rome is. After our initial issues with the accommodation we have settled in well, not locked out again and have not tripped the fuse box again ;)