Roma!

They say in Rome, do as the Roman's do, well I sure as shit wont be driving! It appears that all rules are ignored, you are to drive as fast as possible, zig zag and weave your way in which ever way you please, take two lanes if you feel you are worthy and if someone DARES drive "slow" (ie the speed limit) in front of you, you are to drive an inch from their butt and yell obscenities at them untill they brave jumping on out into the other lane. This was SURELY the funniest ride I have ever had. I am suprised I survived it!

After deciding to sleep it off (12.5 hours! :O) instead of wandering the city - well ok I did give it a darn good shot, I went to the Metro, wobbled around, decided I couldnt read the sign for getting a ticket, so i wobbled back, to make it just in time to collapse on the bed and sleep for gosh knows how long.

I wake up feeling pretty fuzzy, but over the cold! YEY!!! My head is swimming with Jet lag, but seeing I am well again, I head on out to explore the wonder of Roma! The Metro I find is clean, easy to understand and FAST! There were few people around at 8 am, so I felt completely safe and at ease.

After an hour an a half of wondering the Termini district, I succumb and ask someone for directions to the Hop on Hop Off station nearest - it appears it is about 10 feet from where I left the Metro - you can see the Info lady thinks I'm possibly the dumbest person she's layed eyes on.. but I dont care, I'm in Roma!

I stayed on the Hop on Hop Off for 2 rounds (HOURS and HOURS). In heignsight I should have hopped off occasionally, but I figured I would see most of this on the tour and I just wanted an easy day today so I would be 100 % when I meet my tour group. This tour was a great way for me to orientate myself around the city, and it gives you so much information about all the sites!

At 4.45 I met with my tour group, Pier Luigi is our guide for the trip, he is a charming Italian man who is happy and considerate. I meet Ann and Aubrey from South Africa as well as Sheila and Don from Canada. There seem to be a tonne of Americans which is cool.

The Pantheon is MIND BLOWING!

Piazza Novona for our "Rome by Night" optional. Ann and Aubrey took me under their wing and we ate some pizza in a side street :D how charming!

St Peter's Basillica is AMAZING by night!

We meet Amelia, our local guide and she shows us numerous lovely spots, including a special spot overlooking the Roman Forum!

As we head for "home", Pier tells me my room mate has arrived while we were out! Mary is a fantastically fun woman who lives in Jamaica (From New York state up near the Canadian border, so she has the canadian ring to her accent Ey). She is a Dental Hygenist and is married to Metal, a Reggae musician.