When In Rome....

Day 10 - 18 Sept 09:

Today was a whirlwind of events. Because of the ferry schedule for Corfu, we only got 1 night in Rome instead of 2, but we got 1 night in Sorrento instead, a bonus of sorts for us.

Today we were on the bus at 7 after a long night out at Space. Everyone on the bus slept until 10, when we had to get off at the services. Even Chachi got in some shut eye!! We got into Rome at about 12.

Once in Rome, Chachi took us to see the Spanish Steps, which get their name because the Spanish Embassy is right across the street, way to go you lazy Italians with your naming of stuff! He also took us to see the Trevi Fountain which I did throw coins into for good luck! Bec’s mum messaged her with her tips of the day for Rome. The most important one was that Mum had the best gelato she reckons she’s ever had near the Trevi Fountain…so what do Bec and I do? We get gelato, it was only after getting gelato that we realize that Chachi had left us! So…we ran to catch up with the group. After catching up with them, Bec and I realized that the only 2 things we will ever run for are alcohol and gelato!! The Trevi Fountain was short and sweet because we had a walking tour to get to.

For our optional walking tour our guide’s name was Gabriella. We met her and immediately walked to the Roman Forum. I couldn’t believe that Rome is a city on top of a city, meaning that Rome from the Romans time was 5 meters below what Rome is today. There are 4 levels of Rome going as deep as 10 meters!! Gabriella didn’t give us as much information as I had hoped. It was a combination of being hungover and really hot that made all of us not pay a whole lot of attention. Gabriella then took us to the Coliseum (?). The Catholic Church stripped the seats from the Coliseum for St. Peters Basilica.

After leaving the Coliseum we were all hankering for some water, and we found the best thing of all!! FROZEN WATERBOTTLES!!! I didn’t care that they were 2E apiece, they were fabulous indeed!!

At the Coliseum one of the girls on the tour, Tegan, collapsed and we found out that she had left Australia with appendicitis without having it removed. We call Chachi and he meets her and Alana at the train station and take her to the local emergency room.

After the Coliseum we meet our tour back at the meeting spot and wait for Chachi for about 30 minutes. Chachi meets us and takes us to see the Pantheon. While we were there we couldn’t get in because there was a wedding inside the Pantheon!! I got a peek inside and it was beautiful. The Pantheon has no electricity going to it, the only light is the hole in the ceiling.

We then walked to have our walkabout dinner in Rome. Chachi was heading back to the hospital to meet Tegan, so Idim was going to pick us up in the Piazza Navona after dinner. Bec, Amanda and I met up with a couple of the other girls and I had pasta with red sauce and bacon…very, very good!!

We meet Idim after dinner and head back to the campsite in the dark for our quick turnover in Rome.

The Cabins were very nice! The rooms were huge and the cabins are new this year, its too bad that we don’t get to stay there another night.