This is the waiter at a café we had breakfast at – he was so lively and was proud to own a Vespa 1968


This is the vespa parked near the cafe!
He offered for us to ride it – but we weren’t sure if it was a misunderstanding…the café was very busy and he was about come out with us..but we said we had to go!


Check out what they serve coffees in – jars!

On our way out of Piombino:

Busy traffic! Slightly chaotic!


Pol – sock drying


(Not a toll road – we can tell the difference in the road – shocking road – holes and uneven surface – felt like we were on a roller coaster ride! We kept checking all panniers were on board!)


This is a pub / small lunch bar – next to the petrol station on one of the motorways!!!!


Roma!


Merging in Europe – efficient and effective!


(Getting closer to Rome – noticing the Italian flag and European Union flag together on buildings)


Roads that are being repaired are marked with yellow lines


Toll road!






Riding into Rome – the lane markings – if there were any, were very faint and cars also parked intermittently in the far right lane – next to the parked car row!!! – which made it a little tricky checking blind spot before moving back into traffic to move around the parked car – which comes up as a surprise sometimes. You don’t expect cars to park in the middle of moving traffic!


Culprit – Rover – parked in the right hand lane!


Beautiful architecture – and check out the 458


Streets of Rome:







Ros had to hold the GPS – which is practically yelling out directions (we have it on the highest setting to hear it) and taking pictures at the same time.. we had a lot of zig zagging to do through cobble stoned streets and groups of pedestrians!!! We actually got there without having to reroute!!


Ros isn’t actually as happy as she appears – the door to the hotel was locked and had written to call reception via mobile phone so they would let us in…we called…broken English experienced and no one came down for 20 mins..we later found that the Hotel reception is 2 blocks away from where we’re staying.


Ros’s couldn’t believe all the 3 wheelers in one spot!!!

Our room:





Good bathroom! Loving the bidet!


The bedroom is stunning! (and airconditioned)


Late lunch – 4pm – and a little bit of blogging


Exploring time!

Streets of Rome in the evening:





(Randomly parked and decorated Fiat! – people were taking photos of it!)












(Cobblestones are everywhere here…we wondered how women can wear high heels on these!!!? Also how long it would take to lay all these down!!!)


(Check out the little umbrellas attached to individual tables for shade!)


(At times there are cars trying to make their way through the crowd!)






These guys can park in the bike parking!


Dinner - pasta overloads! Yum!

The Next Day...

Pol found a place that hires bikes and has a tour guide to take people on a general tour around the major sites in Rome. Pol thought 4 hours on a bike would not be so hard…which in the end it wasn’t but it was very hot…and…Ros hadn’t ridden a push bike for a while.

Just before the tour started, Ros thought it would be best if she practices some slow turns etc to get used to the bike

Ros – figuring out how the gear system works!


…and then the pedals…


Listening to the tour guide – Francesco – a lively and heavily accented Italian


And we’re off!

The weather: a stunning (debatable) 35degrees, full sun and little wind.


(Pol had to ask Ros what this was again as forgot..we both forgot…we’ll just say it’s the baby Colosseum…but we remember one fact – it’s the first building with arches and columns that were used as a decorative feature rather than structural interity)


The Roman Forum - Largest area of ruins in the world!


The pavement was so hot that Rose got stuck in the pavement….check out her shoe imprint!




Ros – engrossed in the history..




Even though it looks like Ros listened…and Pol did too…we can’t remember every site we visited!!!
We do remember a fact about this site: the tour guide described Rome as a ‘Lasagne’ – layers of houses each built on top of each other in a different period (they didn’t bother demolishing)


Colosseum!


Check out the photo-bomber behind!!


Pol – coming up the rear!


She finally overtook!


Ros is back in the lead!


Ros – NOT happy – sweating
Behind us is the original chariot racing arena – the ruins behind it is the private emperors palace


We rode up a big hill and saw a beautiful view at the end!!


…then we found the bins were full of empty beer bottles!!!


These are pretty cool…literally. The water from these fountains – which are free to use by the public come from a water channel higher in Italy which supplies cool water to thousands of these around Rome. There is actually a technique that is easier than what Ros is demonstrating here….but we managed to find that out after a tour guide demonstrated!


Behind us you will see people looking through a keyhole….what lies behind it?




This is the main square of Rome – Francesco mentioned if there is a strike; stay away from this square as it becomes chaotic!

Some pics of the Pantheon:






Next – Gelato – apparently the best and oldest in Rome

The crowd – psycho.


Spanish Steps


Beautiful laneway


Twin churches






This used to be nicknamed ‘The Blonde River’ – now its green and dirty!




It’s now 6.45pm – Ros is b*****ed! (Tour started at 3pm!)


…said to be the most beautiful square in Rome


After 4 hours of riding!!


Dinner time!