Roma!

Here we are in Roma ! What a fantabulous place. I cannot post any photographs yet as it has taken me the best part of 20 minutes to get into this blog! After a very long flight from Singapore to Rome, we finally arrived. First impression of the place (the airport that is) that is was dated and a we bit dingy, not dirty, just dingy. Our driver was there to meet us and off we went. We had that much baggage and the van we were in (9 women with bags) barely fitted. So for the duration of the trip, I was hoping like hell that the bags at the back of my head didnt (no apostrophes on Italian keyboards, that i can find) rush forward if he had to stop suddenly. Safely we made it.

Seeing as we have only just found this internet cafe and that i dont have my journal with me, i will just recall what i can remember and correct anything later...

firstly, we went for a greet and meet on the rooftop of our hotel, then we walked around Rome, taking in a few sights and orientating ourselves. Out to dinner that night and we all crashed heavily (Piazzo Navona was the name of the square where we had dinner, i dont remember the name of the restaurant).
In amongst all the days we have been here, we have visited the colosseum (that place is amazing), the forum, and there are so many squares, piazzas, roads, nooks and crannies that i have to get together with out host to work out what roads we have been on etc. We visited the vatican today and that was un-believable. i cried when we went into the sistine chapel. even though i am not religious, it was just a special place. we were also privy to a private tour of a palazzo ( not to be confused with a piazza and is a REAL palace), where the film roman holiday was filmed (well part of it) and Audrey Hepburn stood on the same steps we stood on. This blog is very brief and not detailed but will go into this all later.

Tomorrow we will be going to Venice and we are all looking forward to rest on the train as we have been going pretty flat out but not exhaustingly flat out. We have been to some wonderful restaurants and eaten some fantabulous food, but i dont think i have put on an ounce as i have been walking soooooo much.

We also have been to pompei and that is amazing also, oh and how could i forget, the amalfi coast, road trip coming up girls, i have found the perfect place, wine, song, and a beautiful beach, hire a villa on the coast and live it up

I have learnt these words that are invaluable
buongiorno - for the morning to 4pm greeting hello, after that it is bueno sera (good evening) bueno notte (good night)
per favore - please
grazie - thanks
grazie millenia - thanks a lot
scuzi - excuse me
and the most important one quanto costa - how much does this cost (HA HA)

we have had a wonderful guide taking us through the colosseum, the palace and today the vatican, Ginevra. Her website is secretrome.com.it (I think) and she is wonderful

Ciao

Shel