Exploring Roma - Day 1

Exploring Roma

Out of La Mongolfiera -100 meters - the Piazza Navona – a little rain - a little chillier than Dubai - the magical feelings start to well up - we rose in Dubai and by mid-afternoon we are strolling through the heart of Roma – lots of tourists – lots of everyone - every nationality - every colour - every creed.

Towards the Pantheon - the old is very old – gasp as it appears at the end of the little Via - the crowd? - as to be expected! - Pause a while - we can return later!

Onward - slowly - look at that! – Onward some more - challenge an Italian motorist in a road crossing exercise - slowly - enjoy - Pinocchio intrigues Bernie – she stops -something for Matilda’s Italian fascination-stops again – “photograph me in front of Parlimento – Matilda will love it” – Italian coffee - friendly service – his airport attached countryman are letting him down!

The Trevi Fountain – no need for directions - follow the crowds – everyone smiling - the absence of frowns patent - what is it that makes them all feel so happy? – Children – mothers – grandmothers - grandfathers – fathers – sons – daughters - boyfriends – girlfriends - all position themselves to be photographed coin in hand - Bernie must join them - she loves it – she is 20 again!

Back towards Piazza Navona - the smiling faces still apparent but less abundant - pause at the Pantheon - the crowd reduced – we pause inside – ponder - what will our generation leave behind?

Wander on - think back to Venice - the difference? - these tourist do not have their noses in a tourist guide book – sell your shares in Lonely Planet? – Maybe!

Back towards La Mongolfiera – approach - ah! - clearly the training ground for the Lygon Street Restaurant pimps! - we are tired -we are hungry – this pimp recognizes an easy target when he sees one!

The food? - not great! - the atmosphere? - chaotic! - the table?b- small - adjacent to the payments counter – a confused crowd of Australian teenage travelers come in to pay - nice kids -self obsessed? - Absolutely! - they want their bills individually - they argue about detail - they agitate the staff - they embarrass us – they jostle for position at the counter –their self-obsession makes them oblivious to our presence - they jostle some more - the result? - a glass of red wine distributed uniformly from the chin to the knee - Bernie gasps - rises -the Girl apologizes profusely - the waiters appear – they let the kids know what they think – Bernie settles them all down – it’s OK – it’s OK – its fine – gradually calm is restored – another glass of wine – yet another glass of wine – we sit and smile – Bernie is delighted in her travelling gear – “you know Mike these clothes were a smart choice – the wine wipes of the MacPac top and nothing gets into my pants!” – I smile - she pauses – she realizes what she has said – No! – No! – don’t put that in the Blog!

An another amazing day

Arriving in Roma

As pleasant a flight as mankind could reasonably expect - travelling in daylight to be recommended.

We arrive in Roma - approach passport control - our first example of the European malaise? - for the immediate future of Europe I hope so! - chaos - hundreds - thousands? - of people and 3 passport control windows open - the EU line flows freely - the remaining lines deteriorate into a heaving mass of irritation and agitation - the spare Italian officials stand around chatting - no one cares - this is just the way it is! - an hour passes - we are a little closer to the passport window - we share annoyance with our fellow travelers - I suddenly become a Dubai-phile - it is time for these Europeans to see how the Arabs do it! - the heaving crowd is generally well behaved save for the occasional expression of irritation as one takes the opportunity to progress their position in the race to the passport window al the expense of someone else .

We are in sight of the finish line - I don't believe it - a twenty something couple with a 6 month old baby sound asleep in the mothers arms - they bypass the queue - come to the front of a line occupied by an elderly Oriental couple - please can we go ahead? - we have a young child - of course they go ahead - I feel contempt - I really feel put upon by a young, fit couple who chose to use they sleeping child to progress their own self interest!

Now we are very close to line - start to relax - ah - an opportunity to learn some Italian - La Linea Guilia - the yellow line - please stay behind the yellow line! - the crowd are over all of this - they are pushing forward - the front of the crowd yields - La linea Guilia is violated - the idle official from an E U windows decides he will instruct the heaving crowd back behind la linea Giulia - we laugh at him - we hope that was not a mistake! - he eventually recognizes the futility of his endeavours and retires to his EU window to await the next European.

The welcoming ceremony is finally over - we are through passport control - through baggage collection - the driver is waiting - yes he knows where La Mongolfeira is! - driver is jovial - happy - drives like an Italian - avoids other Italian motorists like only an Italian can! - the trip would be complete should he able to actually find our accommodation - down narrow street after narrow street - the GPS fails - phone a friend achieves the desired result - we are disgorged at a pair of un-inviting wooden doors - some trepidation - we push the tiny bell - the doors open - up a flight of unkempt stairs - is that a lift? - yep - I have seen one of these in an old movie - up we go - we are greeted - we relax - lovely people - lovely B 8 B on Piazza Navona in the heart of Roma.

Towards Roma

It doesn't feel like 5.00 in the morning - we cannot remember being so relaxed on a trip into Europe.

Towards the airport - some of my new found enthusiasm for Dubai has waned in the night - the world's tallest building spikes through the morning mist - what did the architect intend? - whatever it was it is not obvious to me! - seems tall for the sake of being tall - reminds me of a Harold Robbins heroine's description of Arabian male genitalia - long, thin and not very satisfying - if indeed that was the architect's intention then he or she has been entirely successful!

Engage with the Pakistani guest worker driving us to the airport - how lucky are we? - we don't have to leave our families behind for a year at a time to give them the chance of a better life - as usual Bernie encourages a more generous tip - "give him something extra to send home"

We pinch ourselves - are we too relaxed? - why is this all so easy? - through passport control - through customs - easy - easy - ah! - now look at these female Emirates airline staff - the uniform looks appropriate - the chiffon scarves all remain obediently in place - beware trans-locating dress across cultural boundaries!

Roma - here we come!