Food Babies and GRAPPA

Monday, June 27

We made it to breakfast today (thank goodness) cause that's all we had to eat all day. Bobbie was ready ... after 3 cuppacinos!! We went to the Colosseum and that's where we found the population of Rome. A street tour hawker explained why ... the last Sunday of every month is free to enter St Peter's (Vatican) so consequently all those tourists decide to go to the Colosseum on the Monday. Logging that one down in my Travel Agenty stuff. The line was enormous just for tickets so decided to go with the street hawker. It was good, straight in and they give you a good commentary on the history of the building and allow free time before the next meeting point which was the Palatine Hill.

It was stinking hot so a purchase of the touristy sun umbrellas was in order. Damn street hawker wanted 5 Euro. No. Offered me 4. No, I've seen it for 3. DONE. he he (though, I may have been able to get him down to 2? maybe). Met David our guide and went through the grounds of what was the most important hill in ancient Rome. Even walked on marble floor fragments that the emperors would have walked on. David introduced us to the concept of tour group bullying. At the last stop on the tour we were instructed to form a wall and walk all together towards the lookout balcony. He would yell and shout and we were to watch all the other tourists scarper away. Worked a treat and we had prime position! Couldn't stay for the last couple of minutes as we had to allow time to get back to the hotel for an organised tour of the Catacombs. Bye David ... you were awesome!

Panic set in when the time of our hotel pick up was drawing near and after a couple of phone calls to the supplier we decided to flag a taxi. Couple of minutes later we were safely at the meeting point .... where we wanted for the next 45 mins. *sigh* There was a big drama as one of the other tour buses had hit a car and then pushed it LITERALLY under the bus in front. What a mess ... I took photos and when I get a stick - that's definately being posted. Finally onto the tour bus and we have 3 stops over the next couple of hours. The first being St John (English version). Apparently, this is the most important church of Rome ... not St Peters.  Reason has something to do with someone being in power of something ... kinda can't remember but, it was another great church. Only hitch was ... Bobbie was scantily clad for church going today. Singlet shirt and shorts ... OH LA LA!!! Draped her scarf over her shoulders and then had to borrow an American lady's very stylish navy hoodie to drape around her legs. WOW, she cut a stunning profile! Another highlight was that this is the church that houses the steps that Christ ascended on his way to Pontius Pilate.  Correction: The Holy Stairs are not in St Johns ... but in another little church pretty much across the road.  The steps were apparently brought back by St Helen. They're protected by brass coverings but you can walk the same path ... just on your knees.

After that we went to the Catacombs which was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!!! Absolutely worth the trip ... there are no photos because the catacombs are owned by the Vatican and therefore no photos allowed (certainly not there anyway). The Tour Guide was so blase, slapping the centuries old marble and digging off tiny bits of the Roman soil called Tofa. After that we were on to our last stop ... St Maria Maggiore. If I remember correctly this is the only church of the 4 (?) principal churches that has not been rebuilt. Another church meant that Bobbie needed another church outfit. On went the scarf and when the next street hawker came up to sell a scarf (she was a prime target in her shorts!) ... I talked him down from 5 to 2 Euros. :)

Caught a taxi to the Trastavere area of Rome tonight and had dinner at the Ristorante Galeassi. Our waiter was very friendly ... no, not THAT kind of friendly! Great meal, though we just can't eat like the Italians. We don't eat nearly as many courses and yet we're the ones with the food babies!!?!? Bobbie tried Grappa aka Rocket Fuel at 40% alcohol. Apparently you have this at the end of the meal as it aides digestion. She got halfway through the small glass and with glazed eyes could not drink any more ... so tipped it into the lovely trailing plants alongside us. She now claims she is dissolving from the inside out. Grappa is eating away her pasta baby. Walked around the little alleys for a while before waving down a taxi for our ride back to the hotel.

We found the perfect taxi driver for the Amazing Race. We had a true roman experience. Clenched knees and closed eyes. A thrill of a ride .... but it wasn't a race and there is no million dollars waiting for us.