25 May

We touched down in Rome just before 07h00 and were greeted with a warm spring day. We caught the train into the city – Stazion I Termini. After dropping off our luggage at our lodgings (Independence Square Inn) we head out to explore.

Caught a city bus tour. Perched on top of an open-top red double decker bus we viewed a few of the notable city sites. We also had a hysteric introduction to the pulsating traffic and Rome driving. Chance-filled chaos are just a few words that come to mind. Busses, scooters and cars all determinedly competing for the honour of ‘winning’. All with the fervour of the renowned Italian spirit and accompanying hand gestures. Scooters seamed to come out on top, but not without life risking manoeuvres. Weaving indiscriminately between cars, buses and pedestrians. As we witnessed this an ironic scene epitomised these events. An ambulance struggled through the traffic, blue sirens blearing. It rushed passed us – and in its slipstream, the peloton – a dozen scooters! With pedestrians, the opposite applies to the tranquillity and order of Auckland City. Pedestrians do not have right of way. Be very grateful and if a vehicle stops to allow you to cross at a designated pedestrian crossing.

For lunch we had a pizza and biere at a local place, a few streets away from the tourist throngs -Mondpizza. Very tasty and highly recommended. We then made our way to the Colloseum – the Colosseo. A truly breathtaking structure where one can quite easily imagine the duals between man and beast. Viewed of course most closely by the emperor.

We then meandered through the many archaeological treasures of Palatino. Walking back through the city we enjoyed an ice-cream from one of Rome’s famous Gellitino. Then as the day’s shadows began to lengthen and after what appeared to be twenty different sets of directions from well meaning locals, we found the Fontana di Trevi. Fountains believed to have magical powers. We were not the only ones to make this discovery, and each battled through the crowd to throw a coin over the shoulder and make our wish.

On the way back to our lodgings we had a spaghetti and a warm beer at a nearby restaurant. As our weary heads touched the pillow we reminisced on a full and exciting first day in Roma. Two well known sayings now made more sense – “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and “when in Rome do as the Roman’s do”.