Day 32 - 27th May. Roma- Coliseum, Palatine Hill & the Forum

Day 32 – 27th May

We both tossed and turned during the night as we possibly had one of the hardest beds in europe!! They felt like tables, so late in the night I swapped a sleeping Danni into our bed as Graeme was fast asleep, and slept in her fold out.

Woke to a grey day but with promise of fining up. We decided to come to Rome a day early to see the Coliseum and Palantine Hill, as it wasn’t clear if that was included on the Trafalgar Itinerary. No-one at TT was sure if it was a “visit”or just a “view of the coliseum” on the tour, so we decided to go alone as it was something we really wanted time to see.

We walked from the hotel, only took about 20 mins and found it no problems due to Graemes amazing sense of navigation – you would think he was born in Rome (He made me type that)!!
There was of course a huge queue we could see, but were approached by a company offering guided tours, English speaking, with headsets and no queue. All for €6 more than if we waited in the 45min line. Even better they told us that Danni was free as she was from NZ and under 18yrs! Guess which choice we happily picked?! The tour was great, lead by an Italian god ‘Daniella’, who would have all the girls at home drooling. He gave a great tour and the headsets were so much better than the TT ones we had at the Eiffel tour.

We spent several hours happily wandering around – I think we were lucky there didn’t seem to be huge crowds even though it is a Sunday. Filled 3 sticks of memory with photos! Then went outside for a gelato – a rip off at €4 each! But in the heat it was a necessity!

Sat with the crowds outside the forum until the next tour they told us about, which was free. We were split into 2 groups and lo and behold this very Kiwi accent tells us he is our tour guide.
A young guy from Masterton who came here 3 years ago to study Anthropology, he was so funny and it was great to have that typical easy going, humour around us again (Makes you realize that eurpoeans on a whole seem to more serious by nature).

He took us on a great walking tour of Circus Maximus and Palatine Hill – boy was it getting hot?! We were all sweltering but the guide said the temp actually reaches about 47C in July. Not sure it was that hot today but nearer the 40’s probably.

It has been a great day today, to stand in front of the Coliseum was amazing and something I've always dreamed of.

After we had had a good look around we walked very slowly back to – yet again McD’s!! Their icy cokes are great!.

Back to the hotel and caught a taxi to the Mercure Corso Trieste where we are staying to start our next Trafalgar tour – Best of Italy and Greece and 3 day Aegean cruise.
We have learnt quickly to just suck it up and pay for taxi’s when we are transferring with heavy suitcases, its just so much easier and safer with the metro and buses being prime targets for pickpockets- some of whom we have heard are very aggressive.

Met our tour guide, reminds me of a English professor, sure he will be good?!
We are off to our welcome dinner and then think he is offering an optional of Rome illuminations, Trevi fountain and the Spanish steps – plus a Basilica. Think we will do this as we haven’t seen any of these yet.