Well... the fun never stops here! I got to be a forensic anthropologist for the day!!! Phil and I were invited to go to "La Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Roma" where we got a crash course in examining human remains. It was so cool! I can now tell whether a skeleton is male or female, how old they were when they died, and even in some cases how they died - isn't that exciting... or I am just being a complete geek?

A lot of the bodies had major pathology like femoral fractures that had re-healed in rather awkward positions. There was even one with evidence of spina bifida in his lumbar and sacral vertebrae. One of the male skeletons had a massive hole in the back of his skull apparently from a severe blow to the head with a sharp implement... I like to think he was having an illicit affair with a young lover, his wife found out and sought her revenge with the help of a fatal blow from a kitchen utensil! Screw medicine... I know what I'm doing the rest of my life! Still my usual capricious self then... haha!

It's also our penultimate day in Roma - I have no idea where all the time has gone! Phil has decided, on a whim, that his final day in Italy is going to be spent climbing Mt. Vesuvius, seeing as the weather is so glorious. Yes... that's right... he's going to travel on the train to Naples, walk onto the Circumvesuviana to Ercolano, dander up Mt. Vesuvius (right from the base.... haha!), stroll back down again, get on the train back to Naples, catch the slow train back to Roma, pack when he gets back, and board a flight to Athens the next day. Perfectly normal behaviour, if you ask me! If he doesn't get back in time... I'm leaving without him!

I, on the other hand, intend to spend my day (in the sunshine - 16 degrees ain't bad!) in the Villa Borghese and then perhaps do some clothes shopping (I have a desire for some black levi jeans and grey converse shoes, you see!), before dropping a coin in the Trevi fountain to ensure my return to Roma.

Ironically, despite my tearful reservations after Christmas about travelling for such a long time - causing much annoyance and strife to my parents, I'm sure - I will probably shed a tear upon my departure from Rome! I've come to call it home over the past 3 and a bit weeks; I feel so safe, comfortable, and at ease here, and the best part (which I love) is being able to wandering the streets with no sense of aim, purpose, or direction (sigh!). This is despite the continual efforts of the "rude, arrogant, and lazy" (Phil's words) Romans to have stare-out competitions with us, obstruct our path on the pavements and roads, and cause general annoyance!

I will also miss the pizzeria (near Ottaviano metro station at the Vatican) which I have frequented nearly every day for the past 2 weeks; due to their comparatively low prices. I have a conversation with the staff every time, but I don't even know their names. Perhaps I'll rectify that tomorrow...

Enough emotion for now though - BRING ON ATHENS!!! Woo! Ciao caro amici! x

P.s. Hope you all liked the postcards - I think they've all arrived! (maybe)