And in no particular order, the recollections begin.
Rome, Italy
A few excerpts from the diary of the Kiwi Traveller – yours truly
Today’s theme; Roman heat. It was 36 degrees at least today. How did I survive?
Sheer resilience and piles of complaining…
We did the Vatican tour so I had to add more layers to my outfit (keep those sexy knees and shoulders covered) and walk around in crowds. HOT! Worth it though for the Vatican. Some of the most amazing art and St Peter’s was incredible.
…
But dinner, oh, our Tuscan dinner. THAT was something, so much fooooood!!
We started with cold meats and bruschetta, followed with spaghetti bolognaise, penne pesto and ravioli. Next salad, meatballs and mashed potatoes AND chicken stroganoff. Finally an icecream cake thing and a shot of limoncello to finish. Did I mention the free red wine?
By this point, I was giggly and bursting at the seams. Our fat, sweaty Italian waiter had started winking at me and I’m sure I was glowing.
Me and Bec tried to visit the ladies but had a hard time working out how to turn on the sink tap. After a few minutes of whacking it like Neanderthals we were sufficiently clean to head out into the night.
….
What a brilliant Roman day. It started with basic cook duties for breakfast, which to be honest I rather enjoyed! I miss food and it’s preparation. I’m going to be a dinner making fiend when I get home.
We took the Metro into town and did a little walking tour starting with the Spanish Steps, then to the Trevi Foundation, which was really rather beautiful. There’s a little fake window there on the building because it was filled in after a suicide. I threw two coins into the fountain and made myself a wish. Guess I’ll be going back to Rome!
After that we continued to the Pantheon, which is quite a fabulous building. So strong, the walls are 6m thick and full of holes from wartime conflict. I understand why it’s considered a temple of the gods.
We went on to see the ruins in the Forum and walked through to the Colosseum. All of Rome is so epic. It’s really awe inspiring. I feel incapable of capturing it in words and pictures. The heat though. Momma mia. I need to come back here in autumn when I can comfortably walk around and take it in.
Me and two friends went off to see the Cappucin Monks at their friary. The cappucino was actually named after them because of their brown robes and white caps. Their museum was full of their works. Embroidery, book making, medicine formula. I didn’t realise monks were so productive!
At the end of the museum is the crypt. Room after room of bones arranged to form patterns and images. Whole dressed monks still wasting away. Was quite a sight. Hard to comprehend those were once actual people much like me.
Last stop was the recommended Gelato shop and oh my I’m so glad we made it there. It was incredible. Literally so many flavors. A good hundred of them. I had six, plus taste tested ones other people bought. I had:
– Chocolate and cookie (there were 20 different kinds of chocolate to choose from?!
– White chocolate
– Banana & honey yoghurt
– Vanilla, lemon and berry
– Blackberry
– Passionfruit
ALL with free cream on top, I’m sure the guy serving me enjoyed it just as much as I did. One day I will go back there, when I turn traveller again and my Trevi coin brings me back to Rome.
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