Rome 28 June – Hot and sunny. Another big day. We had a big brekky and off on the metro, one stop to the Colosseo. Had another look around and decided to jump on the metro again and go to Villa Borghese Park in the centre of Rome. We had to change metro lines at the Rome Termini.
We got off at Piazza Spagna and walked around the park. It is a huge park much like Centennial Park in Sydney. The Italians ride horses in here and there are some horse parade and jumping arenas. Heaps of open space, trees, statues and ponds and fountains.
We had a drink at a little café (saw a cat with no tail) and then walked to Piazza Popolo, a huge piazza with monuments and churches.
There was a stage being set up we think for an open air concert. We then caught the Metro to Octaviano and walked to Piazza St Peter (St Peters Square) and St Peters Basilica. St Peters Basilica is the biggest church in the world. It was huge. The piazza had large columns all around and there were people everywhere.
A centre balcony on the Basilica is where the Pope does his announcements from including Christmas and Easter speeches, often to hundreds of thousands of people in the Piazza. We didn't go in but Mum made us promise that when we come back with our friends when we are older, we have to go in. Mum said it is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I don't think we have mentioned the public drinking fountains yet. All around Rome there are these fancy taps that have running water gushing out of them. The water is beautiful and cold, and just what you need for a hot day sightseeing in Rome. When we were at St Peters, there was a Chinese boy cooling off his arms in the water, we waited for him to stop and then refilled our bottle. He was so excited when he saw us and said "wow, is this drinking water?" we said yes and them watched him gulp down a bucket of it. He was so cute.
We then walked to and along the Tiber River. We walked along the path. It had lots of shady trees. The river water was a greenish colour. We took some photos of the Castle Saint Angelo. It was massive but looked a little out of place. Mum and dad said it was more like a building you would see on the English coast.
We then walked to Piazza Novona. This was a beautiful piazza with fountains, churches, a museum, markets were happening and people everywhere.
Buskers were playing music and there were lots of Africa people trying to sell sunglasses, umbrellas and other things. We had resisted until now but we bought a couple pair of sunglasses for Erin and Holly. Mum and dad bargained them down from 10 Euro to 4 Euro each. We then had yum gelato. The best yet and our last one in Italy. We went inside an amazing church and saw all the paintings and frescoes and statues.
We then walked to the Pantheon which is the best preserved Ancient Rome building. It was built BC, about 2000 years ago. It is circular and has columns at the front that were brought to Rome from Egypt. It was an incredible building. There was also a column in the square also brought from Egypt which had hieroglyphics on it.
We then walked around the streets past churches (went in some), government buildings, old ruins back to our apartment. We got back about 6.30pm and had a little rest and then went out for pizza at one of local outdoor cafes. There are heaps of pizza and café places where we are. It is a great spot, very central, plenty of eating places and a little supermarket just up the road.
We have to pack tonight as we are flying to Paris tomorrow. Sad to leave hot and sunny Rome but getting excited now about Paris and France. Arrivederci Roma! Bonjour Paris!
Love from Elodie, Holly and Erin :))
We got off at Piazza Spagna and walked around the park. It is a huge park much like Centennial Park in Sydney. The Italians ride horses in here and there are some horse parade and jumping arenas. Heaps of open space, trees, statues and ponds and fountains.
There was a stage being set up we think for an open air concert. We then caught the Metro to Octaviano and walked to Piazza St Peter (St Peters Square) and St Peters Basilica. St Peters Basilica is the biggest church in the world. It was huge. The piazza had large columns all around and there were people everywhere.
I don't think we have mentioned the public drinking fountains yet. All around Rome there are these fancy taps that have running water gushing out of them. The water is beautiful and cold, and just what you need for a hot day sightseeing in Rome. When we were at St Peters, there was a Chinese boy cooling off his arms in the water, we waited for him to stop and then refilled our bottle. He was so excited when he saw us and said "wow, is this drinking water?" we said yes and them watched him gulp down a bucket of it. He was so cute.We then walked to and along the Tiber River. We walked along the path. It had lots of shady trees. The river water was a greenish colour. We took some photos of the Castle Saint Angelo. It was massive but looked a little out of place. Mum and dad said it was more like a building you would see on the English coast.
We then walked to Piazza Novona. This was a beautiful piazza with fountains, churches, a museum, markets were happening and people everywhere.
Buskers were playing music and there were lots of Africa people trying to sell sunglasses, umbrellas and other things. We had resisted until now but we bought a couple pair of sunglasses for Erin and Holly. Mum and dad bargained them down from 10 Euro to 4 Euro each. We then had yum gelato. The best yet and our last one in Italy. We went inside an amazing church and saw all the paintings and frescoes and statues.
We then walked to the Pantheon which is the best preserved Ancient Rome building. It was built BC, about 2000 years ago. It is circular and has columns at the front that were brought to Rome from Egypt. It was an incredible building. There was also a column in the square also brought from Egypt which had hieroglyphics on it.
We then walked around the streets past churches (went in some), government buildings, old ruins back to our apartment. We got back about 6.30pm and had a little rest and then went out for pizza at one of local outdoor cafes. There are heaps of pizza and café places where we are. It is a great spot, very central, plenty of eating places and a little supermarket just up the road.
We have to pack tonight as we are flying to Paris tomorrow. Sad to leave hot and sunny Rome but getting excited now about Paris and France. Arrivederci Roma! Bonjour Paris!
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