Our Mediterranean Cruise 2017 - Part 3

Day 5 - Rome

The port of Livorno disappeared into the distance, as we relaxed the evening away, knowing full well that we had another long day ahead of us. We started day 5 with another very civilised breakfast in the 47° restaurant. It is so nice to have a quiet breakfast, served up by extremely attentive waiters, it makes a lovely change to the free-for-all buffets we're used to. After breakfast we scan ourselves off the ship and onto a waiting coach and another knowledgeable tour guide escorting us on the first leg of our excursion. We left the port of Civitavecchia and headed to the local train station, just a short hop and then it was off the coach and onto the Roma Express. There will be no slumming it on an hour or so coach journey for us! No, no. We have the luxury and exclusivity of an express train straight to St Peter's Square station. OK, so the luxury was a little dated, but it was a plush carriage with comfy leather seats and it was exclusive. Exclusive to tourists who had booked. Matters not, it was lovely and quick, with a modicum of air conditioning to keep us cool.

Once in Rome, we headed to another coach that was waiting for us, where we picked up our Rome tour guide; Anna, who was just lovely - straight talking and to the point though, you did not dare speak when she was speaking, otherwise she would berate you with a motherly scold! Which was perfectly acceptable, we've paid for her services, so the least we can do is listen. She gathered her "family" and shepherded us around the sights, giving us ample time to rest, listen and take photographs.
We started at the Colosseum, a magnificent sight and very busy with tourists. Unlike Pisa, the surroundings were a little disappointing, no landscaping or tidy gardens. Don't get me wrong, the splendour of such an ancient site is not lost on me, I just feel that the modern Romans could take a leaf out of their ancestor's book, put in the effort and make the area more attractive. From certain angles, it looks like a building site! Does that make me an architectural heathen? It's not meant in that way. I guess what it is, is that for years and years thousand upon thousand upon thousand of tourists, have plodded the same routes, taken the same shortcuts and probably ruined the area. Maybe they need to limit the tourist areas and do some beautifying. I digress.

From the Colosseum we drove close to the Spanish Steps, which is where we left the coach and continued through central Rome on foot. It was at this point, as we headed towards the Spanish Steps, that the first rumbles of thunder were heard. Soon after we could feel a few big spots of rain, then a few more. We headed for some shop awnings to shelter from the rain, just as the heavens opened!
Typical, we couldn't move yesterday for "Looky, looky" men flogging umbrellas when there wasn't a drop of rain in the sky, but today, when you needed them most, nowhere to be seen!

However, just as that thought crossed my mind and quicker than Mr Benn's tailor, they appeared! Anna was still providing a commentary through our wireless earphones, interspersed with shouts of "Just give them €3 for the small ones! €5 for the better ones with a cover."
Mrs Dave asked for an umbrella from one chap who was chancing his luck by shouting;
"10 euro, 10 euro!"
Mrs Dave, ever the bargain hunter said;
"No chance!" and pulled out a €5 note, which was soon grasped by this chap, but Mrs Dave wouldn't let go and grabbed the brolly!
"8 euro, 8 euro!"
"Sod off!"
"6 euro lady, 6 euro"
"Give me my fiver back!"
"5 euro, you have it for 5 euro".
There was a moment of quiet tension as each opposing person slowly relinquished the grasp of their half of the deal. All the while, I'm getting quietly soaked.

Soon though we were walking safe and a tad drier, under a €5 umbrella. A quick stop at the Spanish Steps, then on to the  Trevi Fountain. Get ready to throw your coins!

After a quick toilet break at the Trevi Fountain. Not in it! There was a restaurant that allowed us use of their basic facilities. We walked on to the Pantheon, then Piazza Navona and just a quick glimpse of the Corte di Cassazione. All beautiful stops, albeit extremely busy. Anna did her best to keep us entertained and informed. Rome is such a beautiful city, but it might need a bit longer to see and appreciate fully the sights.

We re-joined the coach for another quick tour of Rome, as we headed back towards St Peter's Square and a pre-arranged lunch stop. Lunch was basic, but extremely enjoyable, you haven't tasted lasagne until you've eaten one cooked in an Italian restaurant in the middle of Rome. Delicious! Plus the added bonus of Prosecco for those that like that kind of thing and some really lovely red wine, which went down a treat!

After lunch we took the short walk to St Peter's Square itself. Now unfortunately, the Pope was carrying out some Papal duties that day, so the Sistine Chapel and the Basilica were out of bounds and it was debatable that we would get into the square at all, as the Polizia were standing guard. Luckily Anna had a quiet word and we were able to nip through the airport style security and see the awesome splendour of the square, Now I have been to Rome before, but it is still amazing to see and many photographs were taken in the next hour or so.



We ended that part of the tour, by meeting at the gift shop. Typical! Everywhere you go now, it's exit through gift shop! We then took the short walk back to the station, with Anna still giving us the running commentary on Roman history. Very enjoyable indeed.



We left Rome behind, as the express train took us, in our exclusive luxury, back to Civitavecchia and then onto the coach back to the port and finally back to the comfort of the ship.

 Part 4