Roma, Roma, Roma!

Tuesday 31st October

Last day in London. Packed cases and left them at hotel. Two trains to Westminster to hopefully beat the crowds - it was closed for the day! There was going to be a special Service celebrating Luther's 500th so we missed out on experiencing Westminster (bother those Protestants). So we jumped on a 'Hop on Hop off' bus and did a full London highlights tour. It was quite good fun and took us back to places we had already been but also to others we had not had time to visit, like Piccadilly Circus. Lunch in a little café off Bond Street, back to hotel to pick up cases and then two trains (still using our Oyster Card) to Heathrow Terminal 4.The hotel was an easy 10mins walk away via an elevated and covered walkway. Dinner in hotel and early night because we have to be up at 5.00am in the morning.

Wednesday 1st November

On our way to Rome! Up early, at terminal by 5.30am for 7.25am flight, cases checked in and about to go through Security when Merilyn says "I haven't got any jewellery on", of course it's back on the desk in the hotel room. Off goes Bruce for a pre-breakfast brisk walk, back within 20mins and all is well - just as well Merilyn realised things weren't right before we had gone through Customs. No where to get g/f food and did not realise there would be no food served on the plane except coffee and a biscuit, ("sorry, no Gluten free"). It was only a 2 hour flight with some great views over the Alps. We landed smoothly and were still travelling quickly down the runway when the pilot hit the brakes and we came to a very abrupt stop. At the same time an announcement came over instructing the crew to man the escape doors, which sent the hostesses running down the aisles, and smoke (not much) started to appear in the cabin. I was trying to decide how do you gracefully go down one of those tube things but thankfully it did not come to that. I had already concluded the 'smoke' was probably from the brakes and tyres because of the abrupt stop - I reckon we might have been close to running into something. All was well and after just a few minutes we were back on our way, then off the plane and walking into a lovely Rome Terminal in Italy!! not really knowing how we were going to get to the hotel. We decided (got talked into) taking a shuttle bus with four others which turned out to be quite a good deal. The driver took a liking to Merilyn, pulling her case for her through the terminal and into the carpark, making her sit next to him in the front, with me on the other side, and giving a commentary on everything we passed. The trip was quite an experience. We had not known that Halloween (really All Saints Day) is a holiday in Italy and there were people and traffic everywhere  - it was now 12.00 noon and we still hadn't had breakfast. Whilst heading from the car-park to the freeway the driver drove with one hand whilst at the same time putting into his phone the passengers hotel addresses - he was impressed with ours - best part of town, close to everything. On the freeway, still driving with one hand and gestulating with the other, we travelled at 140kph, overtaking many and not being passed, until the 80km signs when we slowed down to about 110kph. When the traffic really became congested the were several "Momma Mia's" or "Sunday Driver" and all the time he was pointing out the places of interest we passed and offering advice about avoiding pick-pockets. We soon realised that at pedestrian crosses the drivers try to get across the crossing before the pedestrians are directly in front of them and will be killed if they don't stop. We  did reach the hotel safely and it is indeed a lovely hotel (4 star, a bit of a step up from some of the Youth Hostels) and is in a great position - 5 mins from the Trevi Fountain one way and 6 mins from the Spanish Steps the other way. So we checked in, left our bags and went, on advice from the receptionist, for lunch (very late breakfast) at the 'It's Amore' restaurant. It was great, a bright hostess who understood gluten free requirements, gave us a seat right next to the window where we could watch the passing humanity heading down to view the Trevi fountain - many bus groups, some following leaders with a country flag  - I saw Brazil, Spain and one other (I needed Jack to help me identify the flag), others with Cruise Ship names and some with an umbrella or soft toy on a stick - it was very interesting to see so many different nationalities in such a short time. After a lovely meal, so good we booked in for Dinner, we of course went to view the Trevi fountain, which indeed is lovely but there were thousands there. You had to wait some time for people to move so you could get a position for a decent look. I am so tired of people taking endless 'selfies' and also of groups of young females who take it in turns to have 3 or 4 'cute', posed pictures of themselves in front of an attraction or view. I can be such a grump! One girl actually got up on a balustrade adjoining the fountain and was doing ballet poses when there was a very loud "Hoy, get down now"! and a policeman appeared. I thought it must have been part of an act because the policeman was in a uniform with lots of gold braid, a funny white hat - a bit like a sailors, and he was smoking a cigar!! - it brightened me up no end. Apparently he was a policeman but belonging to a different group from those carrying automatic weapons we saw in many places during the day. I think a 'tourist policeman' rather than a 'terrorist' policeman. After settling into our room later in the afternoon, Merilyn managed to get some shut - eye. We had a late, for us, dinner (7.30pm) - "hello Mr Bruce, how was your afternoon" said the hostess with a lovely smile as we walked in - she was very good, greeted everyone brightly, could speak Italian, English, Spanish and French, had started work at noon and would finish at 11.00pm, we  were  most impressed. We then walked to the Spanish steps, weather still mild - there had been bright sunshine all day and we did not even take our coats out with us - probably the first time in 2 months. People everywhere having fun, shops open, many dining and watching the passing parade - a great atmosphere. Finally got home about 10.30 after a very long and enjoyable day - we think Italy is going to be fun.

View from our window.