Date: 2008-02-16
To: Rome
Miles today: 0.0

Enjoyed my second day in Rome yesterday, I have added many pictures so check it out if you have not already.Rome is a great place, and iit has been a real joy to experience it with my own little Italian. I do not have to look at any maps, I just follow Nick around. On our first day here we just did a reconnaisance walking all over the city. Yesterday we went back and did a few things in some more detail, the first place was the colloseum. It is as large as any modern day sporting venue, in fact it would be about the same size as telstra dome. I like the fact that it is in ruins and half fallen down, as it leaves much to the imagination. Where there are gaps your mind fills in the blanks, and seeing it stripped back to its superstructure enables you to see how it was created. The pictures or video that you have ever seen do not do it justice, it is one of those things that you have to touch and feel and experience with your own senses. It was another day of wandering around rome, we seem to stumble across something new, there is just so much to see. We have taken a new approach and often just sit out front of a monument and end up people watching, and breathing in the experience. Then we charge onto another monument, down some narrow streets, there is always something to see, from stalls and markets, exculsive shops, or just mingling amongst the locals. We went up and saw the Medici gardens at the top end of the city, very green and lush, and then down amongst the many piazzas. They are big squares for public purposes and they are a great touch to the city. When we reach one we just sit back and rest our weary legs and feet and take in the atmosphere, the weather has been devine. We went to a church, just an ordinary one, and it was so different to the ones I have seen so far, far more lavish and ornate, and so different to the Protestant ones I have been looking at in Londond and Zurich. There were two paintings on the walls by Michaelangello, they were magnificent, and free to see. That is the thing about Rome, what you think is just going to be an ordinary church turns out to be full of suprises. In the afternoon we walked along the Tiber river, and ended up at the Vatican, we plan on seeing it on Monday, but thought we would have an intial look. The huge spquare that you see on TV, is something to behold, it is very grand. It is such a big open space and it takes your breathe away. Walking towards it down a long open boulevard was a great experience, we felt like a couple of pilgrims. I think any serious Catholic shoudl make a journey here at some stage in their life, well that is what I am going to tell Peter when I finally get home.At the moment I am getting some cds burnt, got so many pictures, Ill try and download some more right now of Zurich and Oxford, I dont think I have added those ones yet. ON tuesday morning we shall leave Rome and head to Florence for a few days. Then Padua to catch up with Nicole, and then on to Venice to stay with some friends of Nicoles. From there we shall fly out to Madrid, and make our way to Barcelona. Then I might travel up through France before ending back up in Zurich, some more time in London to finish it off, and then off to the US. My fitness is improving, we are covering so much ground by feet, great training for the AT. I keep forgetting I have to walk 3500km after this trip. We have been having salads each night, and breakfast at the backpackers, the only thing we tend to buy is lunch, so that has kept the costs down, and neither of us is a drinker. All our money is spent on gaining access to museums, monuments etc. I am certainly making the most of this expereince, it does get pretty tiring, it has been action stations the whole time. My legs have finally recovered from the snowboarding, if only you could have seen how wonderful the conditions were, or how steep and wide the runs were, or the surrounding views of all the mountains.Today will be another day walking around Rome, some more churches, more Roman ruins, and of course the odd stop for Nick so he can enjoy a coffee. He has the smallest coffees, this small little shot of black muck, seems to give him a lift. I should mention that we are sharing a double bed together at the moment, but just for the record we are not gay, but not that there is anything wrong with that. The only problem is the flatulence, I think we will be both looking forward to seperate beds again soon.If any of you get a chance, keep writing to me, always love to hear from you all.