Essexgirl's Roman Adventures Part Two

It was a late start on New Year's Day. Our original plan to get a bus tour was thwarted by the huge queue and the fact that the ticket office refused to sell anymore tickets as it was too busy.

We got the tube back to the Palazzo del Popolo, via the posh shops of Via Conduitti. There were loads of people out on the street and there was quite a nice atmosphere. We then walked back to the Spanish Steps which was crowded with people, then down to the river and along the angel-clad Pont Sant Angelo, by Castel Sant Angelo, which was also closed.

We started to get hungry at this point but struggled to find anywhere open, let alone anywhere with room. After wandering for ages we ended up having a take-away pizza in some remote side street. It was a bruschetta type, with fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella and was delicious. We then continued our meanderings through various squares/piazzas. We went to Piazza Navona, it was heaving as there was fair and market going on, so we left hastily and went to see the Pantheon, one very old church (also closed), before wandering back, via Area Sacra Di Largo Argentina which are ruins, where it is rumoured that, Julius Caesar was slain. Now it is a cat sanctuary for numerous stray cats.

That evening, we found a little locals restaurant for dinner. This was the first place where they had not had an English menu, so our weak language skills were put to the test! I had an OK asparagus risotto. Then we all went to find some interesting bars that were featured in our guide books. It was quite a trendy and expensive area around Piazza del Fico and Piazza Navona. We went to Jonathan's Angels first which was a very quirky place, with unusual decor. There was no room inside so we had to sit outside. My guidebook recommended the toilets, saying they were interesting. The big bath was quite interesting, the piss stinking squat toilet wasn't. Next was Bar Del Fico, which was quite nice, but expensive. Cocktails were only 1 euro more than a regular short. We then decided to go to a nearby Irish bar. I don't remember the name, anymore than I remember leaving, or the Fiat Multipla taxi home at 4am.

It was another late start for us and we went to The Colosseum. We queued for the obligatory 20 mins and paid our €10 each to get in. But that was it. Tours, audio guides and books were an extra €7 or 8 between us, on top of our admission. It was a bit of a con, and as a result the building (which is spectacular from the outside) was quite dull inside as there was no information. We walked through the vast Roman Forum after which was free and is the remaining central part of Ancient Rome. We went to see if the Pantheon was open this time, and as it was busy again thought we were being clever as it was near a McDonalds! The McD's was packed to the gills and in fact I think they had run out of food as no one came back through the crowd in the ten minutes we stood in the queue. We ended up with greasy take away pizza for lunch. The Pantheon was open. It too, was crowded, and part covered in scaffolding where they were re-doing the ceiling inside. Still quite impressive for something over 1850 years old.

That night for dinner we explored Trastevere (or transvestite as we nick-named it). It is a nice, local, area with bars and restaurants. We found a couple of nice places and I had my first pasta dish of the holiday. Still, we noted, they can't bring everyone's food to the table at the same time! This was not too much of a late night either. After the last two and we made our way back to the hotel about midnight.

After checking out of the hotel, we had a quick walk about before catching our flight home and got in at about 5.45pm.