For some reason blogger.com is Italian in Italy, but hey, ho, it makes it an adventure!
I'm just having a bit of a "down" afternoon to recharge my batteries. My dad left this morning (boo hoo) and I'm meeting up with Lauren this evening. I thought it would be a good time to do a few postcards (my favourite is the one of Pope Jean Paul II arising Spirit-like above the Vatican. It reminded me of the part in Ghostbusters when you first see the Staypuff Marshmellow Man descending upon New York City. I'm currently in the internet room at the hostel. It's a sure step back to Steerage Class from where I have been staying. All things considered though, this is still a pretty good place.
My first few days in Italy have been fantastic. I have decided that Rome probably has the most relaxed security ever. I was waved through customs...literally...I didn't even stop walking as I waved my passport in the general direction of the man sitting behind the desk (I fart in your general direction - ha ha!) and it was so un-customs like that I didn't even realize it was customs until I was out at the luggage area. Who knew?! Annoyingly, I didn't even get a stamp. Don't the Roman authorities know that half the purpose of travelling is to get a stamp? I'll have to make my own! BYOPS Bring your own passport stamp!
My time with dad was absolutely wonderful. We roamed the streets of Rome, ate Gelato, and poor dad was "Mamma Mia!!!!"ed at by a lady in her restaurant after he failed to shut a door properly. I didn't know Italians actually said that! We wandered through the forum where dad very obligingly pretended to be dead at the place where Julius Ceasre was killed, and we wandered up and down several little streets and alleys in Centico Storico.
Gosh, I don't want this to become long and drawn out, so I'll just finish by saying that today Anna and I climbed the stairs (well, we had to take the lift part way because of my bad knee) to the dome of St Peter's and on our way out there was a loo on the roof (a true God send) and we're very excited to be able to tell our friends that we've used the loo on the roof of the biggest church in the world. And for all of you "My Fair Lady" fans, we realized that "The throne in Rome stays mainly on the dome".
More when I have pictures to go along with the commentary! Oh yes, you're excited. I can tell already!
Oh, how very exciting! I'm still in awe that you get to visit all these sites I've only read about in books, or seen in movies :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I come to visit, I think we should "feed the birds for tuppence a bag" - what d'ya say. Though feeding the birds may only consist of dropping the crumbs and running, since I'm a bit nervous about birds (ornithophobia, I think it's called).
We'll talk when you get back.
Say hello to Anna for me! As always I've been terrible keeping in touch.
Andrea