I took way more photos than I realised in Rome, finally finished going through them all and resizing my favs for internet consumption. Alas by the time we got to Venice my battery ran out pretty quick so the number of photos is somewhat miniscule in comparison.
Flew to Rome on November 17th. This was the first country on the European tour-athon that I had never set foot in before (unless a childhood day trip to Sicily from Malta counts as Italy. I says not) so it was especially exciting. Not to mention the fact that this was Rome, The Eternal City, center of the Roman Empire, home of various Renaiisance masterpieces and in the top 3 of my places-I-have-to-visit this lifetime list.
The first thing I noticed about Rome, after how much coffee costs near St Peter's square, was the almost comical abundance of ancient ruins. Seriously, in addition to the actual ancient roman area they have piles of columns and bits of buildings in neatly stacked piles around every other corner. I saw bits of ruined columns being used as benches, tables and baths by the more discerning pigeon.
The next thing I noticed was how insanely cheap (and good) pizza and icecream is. An average of 5 euros for an entire pizza! Even in the more touristy areas. In fact it was so much cheaper than everything else on the menu that I ended up eating an entire pizza to myself everyday for 6 days in a row. Along with icecream and the odd burger. Yep I'm pretty sure I gained some extra pounds, But it was sooo good!
It was pretty much a perfect trip, with glorious weather and productive days packed full of walking, climbing to the top of
St Peter's Basilica, visiting
The Roman Forum,
The Colosseum,
Castel Sant Angelo,
The Appian Way and generally exploring and eating way too much! Oh, actually.. perfect except for the Sistine Chapel being inexplicably closed as we attempted to visit it on the penultimate day of the trip (the last day of the trip being a sunday, when it is always closed).
Castel Sant Angelo, walked past it every day
( lots more pics under here, with captions and everything )After 6 days in Rome we got an overnight train to Venice. After finding 2 literally gross and large obnoxious men in our reserved seats we promptly upgraded to a sleeper carriage. Best 30 euros I have ever spent. And much to my wicked delight we had the 4 person bunk-bed carriage to ourselves for the entire journey. Arrived in Venice at something like 5am. Despite the early morning gloom and heavy rain I still squealed quietly in delight upon stepping out of the train station and finding that Venice really is exactly as people told me - like a odd pretty film set, literally nothing but slightly crumbling looking beautiful buildings and bridges, no roads in sight (and hence, of course, no cars - which was a dream after the mania that is traffic in Rome. Guidebook's advice on crossing roads on Rome - walk at a steady pace into the oncoming traffic and they will probably stop).
We only had 2 days in Venice, and it was grey and rainy the entire time but it was glorious anyway. If I weren't a hard hearted cynic I may even have used the word 'romantic' (bah humbug! :p). Venice somehow suited the overcast skies and damp cobbles on every winding street, made me think of Labyrinth. Got lost constantly! But I think that was probably the best way to appreciate the place.
Pretty pretty. everywhere was so pretty.
( and a few more pics of Venice! rather less abundant than Rome after camera death )And so ends the 2009 part of Euro-tour! Spending the rest of the month in London, resting and finally watching Battlestar Gallactica from start to finish. I'm only a small way into the first season and already a total addict!
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