Our last day in Roma!

***Added photo's on 13/05
Top: Colloseum (they are rebuilding part of the arena floor)
Bottom: Roman Forum

This morning is our last morning in Roma as we train it to Firenze (Florence) this afternoon.. Yesterday was the first day of our Intrepid trip and was our busiest and most exhausting day here so far...

We were led on a 'famous sites of Roma' walk which literally took us from one side of Rome to the other, and back again... up stairs, down stairs and every which way in between !!! All up our walk took 7 hours !!! Gym workouts, eat your heart out !

Our tour took us to the Spanish Steps (which is apparently renowned as a 'hot spot' to pick up - for all of you who might benefit from this knowledge).. Trevi Fountain (again, the size blew us away... so much bigger and more beautiful than pictures portray - yes we through in some coin which ensured we'd return to Rome one day!), Pantheon, Aurea Sacra - the senate building where Julius Caesar was murdered, Trajan's Forum, The Roman Forum and the Colosseum.

We were glad to have had our extra days here in which we'd already viewed many of these sites in detail - as this walk really skimmed over everything and didn't give everyone quite enough opportunity to appreciate these amazing areas.

Yesterday afternoon we decided to further explore the Vatican City, this time checking out the museum and the Sistine Chapel.

Let me just say this... you've got to be REALLY committed to seeing this divine chapel because getting through all the museum to get there is a MAMMOTH hour-upon-hour kinda walk! By the time we got there, the old brain was on 'museum artifact' overload and we'd stopped giving each of the million ancient pieces of art the true respect and time they deserved.. However, the Sistine Chapel really is an amazing prize awaiting those with enough stamina and commitment to get there. The roof and main fresco was painted by Michaelangelo, the former when he was in his early 30's and the latter in his 60's... Dunc could see the improvement in his painting style from the ceiling to the wall fresco's - but for a girl who can barely draw a stick-man, I thought the whole thing was pretty impressive! The colours in the main fresco are simply beautiful !

After such an exhausting day, we dined out last night to refuel and relax.. Dunc ate a mixed meats grill and I ate the best lasagne I've ever eaten in my life... and I've eaten some pretty tasty lasagne!! Vinos all around, then a very well earned crash into bed!

Anyway, off to Florence... Arrivederci !

xox