Yesterday we arrived on the overnight train from Paris to Rome. The ride was fairly non eventful and our bunk mate, who spoke more English than our Italian, was very quite. He was a pacer and spent about 3 hours pacing the car before bed and a few hours in the morning, kind of odd. The train was pretty much empty by the time we reached Rome which is more than I can say about the rich smell of urine drifting throughout the car in the early morning.
The temperature when we arrived was about 150C, well really about 30C, it fell like hell coming from Paris and London. A quick ride to our hotel which is close by the Vatican; it resides on a major road where the big trucks vibrate the entire building as they zoom by at all hours. Lots of Vespas, Jan and Nelly you would love it here. they get the right of way even to buses and people. Smart cars park perpendicular to the curb when everyone else is parks parallel.
Late afternoon we walked down to the Spanish steps then over to Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, all very beautiful. We were hoping to skinny dip in the fountains but a) they were packed full of people and b) security was a little tight that even a slight intention of toe dipping the whistle was blown and finger pointed, with embarresment, or shock, the idea was forgotten.
Today we had a lazy start and headed out about 10am caught a cab to the Colosseum, which was a bit of a feat in it self. A half hour line up then we were in, searching the lions, and the scaraficial tourist but none to be found, only 30 sum temps and lots of scacraficial potentials. The Colosseum is under restoration, and is dire need of repair. the foundation is brick and motar which was covered in ornate plaster or something which is pretty much gone. It was built by Emperor Vespasian in AD72; it had 80 arched entrances allowing access to 55,000 spectators. Next we made our way, or should I say attempted to make our way to the forum. Gail has this theory of follow the masses, or perhaps its the lemming theory, in the heat we staggered up this long winding narrow road, up and up and up, yes there is the top, an old church and a dead end, well wasnt that just fun. Back down the hill we go, thank God for the Ice Tea vendor at the bottom for 3 euro a pop, ouch. Well we make it the Palatine and to the forum, hot, tired and not sure what it was we were looking at, but it was neat. Back to the hotel for a siesta. Michael thinks he caught the bug I have had for the past 4 days, god forbid we need one more invalid on the trip. Kind of looking forward to home, you know when your not feeling well there is no place like home, or a nice warm beach with servants to cater to your every wim, Gail is tired of catering to us, and Rome is no beach.

We tried to import pictures the past few times but with no luck, hopefully we can hit a internet cafe to share some of the cool places we have seen. Until then, close your eyes and image the visions we have shared with you.

Love to all,

Ciao (bye)