Blogging Around The World

Cover Design: Cara Williams Photography: Cara Williams Copyright 2006 by Cara Williams All rights reserved

By Cara Williams

CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Parsnips in the Bathroom!? The Vatican Spanish Steps Coliseum Home! 3 5 7 8 8

Chapter 1
5th January 2007 Well I managed to escape from work at 3.45pm after a lot of sucking up to my boss and my mum picked me up in more than enough time to get to the airport and check in twice. We got a taxi to the airport at 4.30pm ready for our 6.40pm flight. A bit extreme you may think, but my mother believes in getting everywhere four hours ahead of time. We got there at 5.10 (in record time) this was great for me as I will only fly if Im extremely drunk and arriving there four hours early meant I could start early. I ended up buying a cute little Fat Face handbag at the airport thanks to my sister who encouraged it. In case you were interested, it was 9.25 reduced from 22.50 bargain! We had pre boarded online and had lovely colourful printed passes, but as we went to get through check in they couldnt scan the passes in so we had to go back to check in and do it the traditional way which annoyed me. I took my anger out on the lady who served us and she didnt like it. We got through security to find out mum wasnt with us because her bag wouldnt fit in the compartment so all our rushing to the airport was pointless as we had to wait ages for her anyway! Anyway, I was very drunk on boarding (as per usual) and was in good spiritsI decided part way through the flight that I wanted to go into the cockpit I told the stewardess so and she politely said no but said the pilot would come and talk to me later. I forgot this and proceeded to drink more until the stewardess came and told me el Capitan was waiting for meI went and asked him about various things but the only thing I remember him saying was that 90% of the flight is controlled by the auto pilot and the pilots are only there to take control if something 3

goes wrong. This didnt instil me with too much confidence! He also said that turbulence was unavoidable and could happen at any point. Well, that wasnt the answer I was hoping for. As we landed, the stewardess reappeared and said I could go into the cockpit and speak to the pilots again, which I did and dragged my little sister with me. All the flashing lights were lovely, but before I could ask what each one did, I was ushered out as I had been there for 20 minutes. So we left the airport in a private mini bus with another couple and were charged 60 Euros which we later learnt was extortionate it should have been 40e at the most. No wonder he gave each of us a business card and pleaded with us to call him on our return to Fiumicino Airport on Sunday! The bus took about an hour to get from the airport to our two star Hotel Baltic. It was convenient as it was close to Termini Metro Station, which is the main Metro to and from the airport. It was also near Repubblica Station, which took us to all the tourist sights. The Hotel was fine, apart from the fact that I was convinced there was a parsnip in the bathroom. (I later found out it was an experimental home made soap Christmas present from mums Goddaughter). We had en suite rooms and breakfast in the morning (rolls, croissants, tea and juice).

Chapter 2
6th January 2007 We got up at 7am this morning! (and I thought holidays were meant to be relaxing!) We had breakfast and headed to Repubblica, got our tickets (4 euros gets you a days travel card up until midnight of the day of purchase) and went to Ottaviano Station (which took us to St. Peters Church). We got in a queue to get in, which took about 20 minutes to get through. After airport style security checks, we got in (just). The place was packed to the point where you couldnt move, but the building was still breathtaking. Ornate, high ceilings and beautifully decorated walls. We were lucky enough to be inside while Mass started and the Pope appeared. The chanting and singing was really atmospheric. I felt very calm and soothed. We then headed towards the Sistine Chapel, but realised on the way that it is a Roman Bank Holiday, so the Chapel was not open (or many other sights!). We should have seen it coming that sort of thing happens to us. So, our solution was to head to a caf for some comfort. (I should say at this point that there are two cripples in our party. My mum had a bunion operation a year ago and can barely walk any distance and my sister has what I can only describe as housemaids knee. So sitting down and resting regularly (as well as trying various Italian biscuits) was essential.) So we stopped in Antica Choccolateria, which Faye claims does the best hot chocolate ever.

Next, we walked to Castel Sant Angelo (an ancient mausoleum built by Emporer Hadrian a good while before I was born.) It was 6.50e to get in and was well worth the visit. There were lots of rooms with original weapons and features in them and there was a fantastic view of the city from the roof. Unfortunately, Faye and I got separated from mum and Zoe and we panicked as neither of us can read maps. Its embarrassing. (I have trouble finding my flat most days after work.) We decided the best thing to do was to wait at the exit, which we ended up doing for an hour. I had just started figuring out the best way back to our hotel (a cab!) when I spotted Zoe. I have never been so grateful to see my sister! It turns out that mum and Zoe had been enjoying the sun on the roof oblivious to the fact that me and Faye were almost in tears. But nevertheless we recovered and headed off again, this time across the Angelo Bridge towards The Pantheon. On the way, we inadvertently came across Piazza Navona (Romes most famous square) which is picturesque, lined with flowers, restaurants, unique little cafes and unfortunately for us, tourists. It took us half an hour to cross it, as there were so many people on the streets. On the up side, we spotted Angus Deayton (left yes that is him!) I have been to LA twice and have never seen anyone remotely famous, and here I stumbled upon a disgraced British TV host. The Pantheon was closed for the bank holiday which really disappointed me as it was an intriguing building; very dark and mysterious. It was used first as a temple and then as a Church and now is the most complete ancient Roman structure in the city. So we sat down for lunch at a completely-over-priced restaurant and kept quiet about the awful service and tasteless food like good Brits.

We then headed to The Trevi Fountain, (a huge, Baroque style structure of statues and rock). It is attached to the side of a Renaissance Palace but is really beautiful. We came across it by accident and only realised when finding our bearings that this was the infamous fountain, where rumour has it that if you throw a coin over your left shoulder into it, you will return to Rome. By the time I had emptied my purse into the fountain, it was getting dark, so we left to find the Spanish Steps before heading back to the hotel. We barely saw the steps for crowds of people playing instruments, taking pictures and generally obstructing our view, so we decided to come back after dinner for our own cheesy photos. We were pretty tired after all this walking, so headed back to the hotel to rest, shower and get ready for dinner.

Chapter 3
Rested and changed, we got the Metro back to Spagna (Spanish Steps) to find Otello alla Concordia, (a highly recommended authentic Italian restaurant.) It was situated down a pretty alley and was small and intimate. I was disheartened slightly by the fact I couldnt smell pizza on the way in, but figured that Italians have pizza most of the time and were entitled to something different. It turns out the reason I didnt smell pizza is that it wasnt on the menu. Neither was Spaghetti Carbonara. My two favourite Italian dishes and I ended up eating roast chicken and potatoes. Still, it was tasty and cheap. After dinner, we went back to the Spanish steps, climbed them and got our pics. This made me 7

very hungry for ice cream (a must in Italy!) and we ended up in Barcaccia with ice cream and wine. The service was great and the view of the Spanish steps was gorgeous, so I recommend it as a place to have a quiet and civilised post dinner drink. After a bottle (or so) we headed to the Metro to take mum home before going on to a bar nearer the hotel, only to find the Station was closed. It was only 10.30pm so we had to get a cab. (The early close of the Metro is something to bear in mind when planning your city break). However, the cab was only 8e which was great, because that amount would get me from my front door to the end of the road at home. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Chapter 4
7th January 2007 Up at 7am again (with thoughts of my dream about James Bond going round in my head) for our carb rich breakfast. Afterwards, we went to Castro Pretorio Metro Station to see the highlight of my trip The Colosseum. As you exit the Station, it looms over you magnificently. It was worth going to Rome just to see this ancient building. I felt very emotional thinking about the reason this place was built, but it is an awe inspiring sight and worth the 11e entrance fee.

We left the Colosseum for the Roman Forum;

(an ancient village where people used to gossip and get together.) It is a huge area and was impossible to see in one afternoon. Plus, it started raining so we wanted to find shelter. As we headed out of the Forum, I spotted lots of tourists round a statue of two dwarves suckling at the breast

of a wolf. I thought this was very strange until I was told that those two dwarves were actually the founders of Rome. The story is that these twins (Romulus and Remus) were brought up by a wolf in a cave until they were adopted by a Shepherd. Hum. By now, we only had a few hours until we needed to be at the airport, so I knew it was now or never to try my authentic Italian pizza and luckily everyone else was curious too. We stopped off at The Antico for a delicious 9e pizza and then felt rejuvenated enough to find the best ice cream parlour in Rome. And it was very good. (Not as good as the ice cream place I went to in Leicester Square, but almost as good!) It was Gelateria San Crispino round the corner from The Trevi Fountain, so we ate our 2.50e cups while watching the sun set.

Chapter 5
Reluctantly, we started our journey back to London by getting the Barberini Metro back to our hotel to collect our bags. Mum was in so much pain she was almost crying, so we made the decision to get a cab back to the airport rather than the Metro, which would involve lots more walking.

The cab back was a respectable 40e and we got there in good time considering there was a huge carnival parade that held us up for 15 minutes. Once at the airport I settled myself in The Duck and Dog drinking a 4.90e bottle of wine and all of a sudden it was time to board. We had to get an escalator, walk, shuttle, escalator and more walking to get to our boarding gate. I was an embarrassment to my family, talking to everyone who came near me on the plane and speaking about 300 decibels louder than was necessary. But I did enjoy the bumpy landing the only benefit of in flight intoxication. I would have loved to spend more time in Rome everyone seemed to speak good English and the sights are magnificent. Travel is reliable and good value for money, as long as you are aware what time it stops running and I felt safe walking around. In conclusion, for the amount it costs for a weekend break there, and the fact that you could see a Z list British celebrity, it would be silly not to go.

10