Travel Update

Hello again  and again this family is still scattered wide and far in Europe. Since we last wrote, David has been trekking through France (Bordeaux) en route to another horse sale in Baden Baden in Germany.  He has been fortunate enough to visit some world class vineyards and we look forward to his next update about these experiences.

Karyn has spent the last three days in Rome, ticking off a visit that has long been on her bucket list while Julia Rose flies back to New Zealand tonight as she starts work on Monday and Lydia of course is already back at work!

Rome has been everything I imagined and much, much more.  Three days doesn't really do one of the oldest cities of the world justice but in the hands of a brilliant Irish guide Anna (who has lived here for years with her Italian husband who owns a restaurant) I have experienced and learned a huge amount.

Briefly what have been the highlights (as I don't want to go on and on about it!) :

History leaps out at you in Rome every which way you turn. For centuries, Rome was the largest, wealthiest and most pivotal city politically in Europe and indeed probably the Western World.  Etched in my memory will be -

The Colosseum
The very symbol of Rome known the worl over.  When you see this structure in person, the sheer size and engineering feat blows you away.  A huge arena used for everything fronm entertainment (of variouskinds) to sport, it housed between 40,000 and 60,000 people. Tiered seating was arranged according to social status.

The Forum
Right next door, the Forum was the focal heart of life in ancient Rome.  It was the public town square effectively, as well as a marketplace - a social gathering centre for intrigue, political and simple social interaction.  To see and be seen in ancient times. Wandering through the ruins and frangments of architectural greatness, you could alnost close your eyes and see the old world that belonged to the citizens of ancient Rome.

Pantheon
This building just amazed me - once I got past the thousands of tourists - was I really one too? Of course not a religious building when constructed, it was built as a temple to worship the Roman Gods.  Its design and completion defies logic when you think what tools, resources and knowledge was available to its architects and constructors nearly 2,000 years ago! Standing right under the dome and looking up is something I will never forget.

St. Peter's Basilica and The Vatican
Sadly this was only a "drive by" but it is still majestic and the Pope's empty aprtments (where he ahs chosen not to live) were pointed out to me.  There are lots of pilgrims in Rome! I did however visit the Pope's actual church - where he sits as Bishop of Rome - including beautiful art works and a two bejewelled boxes purported to contain the heads of two of the disciples.

Trevi Fountain
Too may tourists and plenty of police stopping them from swimming in the fountain - still it was a stunning must-see and I did turn my back on the fountain and throw in a euro with my right hand over my left shoulder which apparently ensures my return to Rome in the future.

The Spanish Steps
No citizen of Rome or Italian apparently calls them this - the term has obviously been coined by visitors and tourists (as the Spanish Embassy in nearby).  Built in 1723, the flower-covered steps number 138 and are the widest in Europe. The Barcaccia Fountain by Gian Lorenzo Bernini is at the foot - and no, I didn't climb them!

Piazza Navona
Every corner I turned, there was something new to fall in love with - and this square dating from the 15th century, with its distinctly Baroque architecture, was no different.  There are three fountains, the most famous the Four Rivers Fountain by Bernini.

There were too may other spectacles to detail including being on hand to witness the canon salute that takes place every day at noon to pay respect to the feats of Garibaldi and his role in the unification of Italy.

So farewell to Rome tomorrow and six very quiet days only reading and updating the website from southern Portugal with good friends who live in Faro.  Not too long until we are home now which will also be lovely!