one week down and now very much into the groove of it all
so time to take on rome again after last week's tired attempt
today's excuse is the australian election and a vote to be placed
driving confidence now up also so the plan is to take the car in
this despite most online commentators advising against this action
aggressive roman drivers and the no-drive zone both causing issues
but off we go - google maps and a driver/navigator team make it easy
the biggest hassle is parking - none of it - cars are jammed in everywhere
round and round we go until we spot a centre-street space being vacated
it's illegal but we seek assurance from a police officer - shrugged approval
the australian consulate is a few blocks away and found quickly and easily
we deal with the security and bureaucracy to complete the official business
then with no real plan for the rest of the day it's agreed we take a wander
trip adviser also coming into it's own and consulted - we have a list of sites
first up is musee di villa torlonia which is hosted on a large block of land
a whole city block that has a gallery, theatre, villa and grassed areas
oops though - monday - the buildings all closed so it's outside only
an immediate observation though - the grounds are looking - tired
long grass, weeds, dead leaves indicating a budgetary/cash issue
and thinking this may be a sign of the current times for italy
we consult trip adviser for the next p-o-i and are surprised
everything is relatively close - and walking distances - march!
we both agree that aimless wandering on a fine day is rewarding
so we set a vague target for the tiber river and head off southwest
passing the university, roadside markets, hawkers and monuments
campo verona - a cemetary with an impressive entrance calls us in
equally impressive headstones and crypts - rossini, garibaldi, oliveti
famous names at least but we're a bit creeped out by it all so moving on
it's hot and we're happily slogging it in the less celebrious part of rome
but we cross a road and things lift - cleaner streets, fresher paint, tourists
we approach and pass through the imposing and ancient aurelian wall
then that most famous of landmarks - the colosseum - is in the distance
we circle it and agree once (inside) is enough for this monument to death
the tiber river is in striking distance as gelatos and iced tea fuel us up
we visit the 'mouth of truth' made famous by the roman holiday film
and that's enough - no cafes of any appeal around so let's head home
but now it's peak hour - we wait and wait for a bus and end up walking
back to the colosseum via a high road looking across an ancient valley
into the metro we go and a not-unpleasant trip back to find our car
cruise on out of the city and an arrival back home tired but satisfied
the combination of driving and walking in rome proper an achievement...
