Thursday, September 6, 2007

La bella Roma

Our week in Rome is going fast and although I can report that we have hit all of the tourist high lights there seems to be much more to see. Around every corner seems to be another church with glorious paintings or another picturesque piazza. We are very lucky in that we have been able to walk everywhere so good to know that all of those hours in Melbourne on the Internet researching apartments paid off. On Sunday we, and it appeared the rest of Rome, went to the Trevi fountain and the Spanish steps. Monday we got up early and were amongst the first tourists at the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. I heard one Aussie tourist say she could just imagine Russell Crowe there. Her imagination is obviously much better than mine!

Tuesday was yet another fine and sunny day with blue skies and we just walked - across to the Tiber and then to the Piazza del Popolo. Also made it to the Campo Del Fiori fruit and veg market where I bought and immediately ate some figs.

Wednesday was another early start and although we got into the Vatican Museum quite quickly we were far from the first tourists there. It was not a good day to chose (depending on your religious affiliation) because the Pope appeared in St Peters Square. The antiquities and art work in the Vatican is almost obscene (especially when one considers the number of poor and
starving Catholics [and non Catholics] in the world).

Some observations and questions about Rome:
Why are bananas grown in South America cheaper here than bananas grown in Australia are in a Melbourne supermarket?
How do those stylish Italian women (that is most of them) manage to walk on the cobblestones in high heeled shoes? Do they learn it as toddlers?
I have been surprised by the number of beggars, especially young disabled men with untreated talipes (foot deformity). It would be unusual to see this now in Australia.
Milton will post some photos of Rome soon.

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