So today was tough, or tough as it can be while you're on holiday. It was a very long and rough flight over, particularly the second leg from Hong Kong to Rome. 12hrs seemed like an eternity. I think they flew over Mongolia or something but it took forever!!! Simone is definitely of the opinion that we're only flying Emirates from now on, straight from Sydney to Dubai and do long haul flight first. She's probably right, I got off the plane with huge bags under my eyes like a panda...panda, panda,panda, panda!
Upon landing at 7:30am Rome time we headed into the centre of town via bus. The traffic here was crazy bad. Was an interesting drive though. It's funny what ya notice when you're a passenger in a bus. I noticed so many people on phones while driving. Even motorcyclists and scooter riders had phones stuck in between their head and the helmet. I guess Rome doesn't watch Oprah!
Other notable sights on the bus in were the remnants of old aqueducts and the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana. It's an Italian Fascist building from the last Bond movie Spectre. It really stands out with its facade of archways and monomaterial of stone.
We finally made it to Termini which as an area we thought was a little underwhelming. But after travelling on the bus and over the River Tiber to our stop Belli in Trastevere, our minds were changed. Rome is a mix of old and slightly less old buildings that somehow fuse together to create a beautiful place.
We checked into our apartment and then hit the cobbled streets to walk off our jet lag and swollen ankles, which we both still had from the plane. Trastevere is charming. Maybe it's the weather but everything seems colorful and full of life. There's vines and street trees that offset the harsh grimy old facades of the buildings, with there thin uneven brickwork and peeling rendered facades.
We wander the streets of Trastevere with no real plan really only that were in need of a coffee and some food. We stop for a prosciutto and cheese panini for me while Sim gets the vego option, Gelato.
We walk some more then eat some more, stopping for coffee and a pastry (or cornettos as they are known here)
We then head to the riverbank which is surprisingly inhospitable. Not very walker friendly. One thing that strikes me is the trees in the city. They have a really high canopy with tall branches and little undergrowth - very interesting and characteristic of the city so far.
We cross the river over the Ponte Palatino.
The river area is much nicer and picturesque. We return to Trastevere on the Ponte Garibaldi stopping to take in the view over the river to the Vatican. Yep, we're officially on holiday now!
Wandering back into Trastevere we walk through its narrow laneways before opening up into the Piazza di Santa Maria. It's now brimming with people as it's lunchtime and the sun is out. Such a nice public space.
It's now 2pm and we head back to our apartment for a shower and some rest.
8pm and sim wakes me frantically saying it 8 o'clock. A long siesta but a well needed one. We were wrecked after the flight.
We head out for some dinner in Trastevere. Hardest part is choosing where. We decide on a picturesque restaurant in a small laneway draped in ivy and vines. Idealic!
We order some aperol spritzs and negronis thinking they should pep us up. A caprese salad with some ravioli for sim and lasagna for me. I also get some calamari crusted in Parmesan. Awesome. Simple and tasty.
After dinner and me learning how to ask for the bill, 'vorrei il conto per fovore' , we head out for some more gelato. You know the saying right, when in Rome...eat gelato. We walk the same streets we walked today only this time at night. They're even more alive at night, people everywhere and crowded restaurants spilling onto the streets. Sim commented how amazing the proximity between people eating and people driving is. It some how all works.
It's now 11 and we head back for some more rest. Still have bags under our eyes!
Plenty more eventful days ahead too.
Ciao
mat + sim
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