Breakfast was a bit odd as in its selection,but yoghurt and bread filled us up. Then off to the Colosseum
It took us about 30 mins to get there after a short trip on the Rome underground (Castro Pretorio to Colosseo). The Rome Metro is not very extensive with only two lines. Apparently is really had to build more stations with all the remains in the ground means that it takes years as they have to be preserved first. I was tempted to take up the tours being offered but guides around the entrance gates but Gemma convinced me to ignore them.
The Colosseum is grander than I imagined, it looks like I expected but I was not ready for the scale. It would really have been something to see working. We passed on the Palatine Hill as it was very hot and we had time issues. We went to a small food bar and had pizza slice and lemon drink. This was some of the best food we had in rome, though all the food was good if not the service. Then we walked to the restaurant to get the pictures. While we were walking along I noticed that Italian rubbish collectors are very pretty, we need to upgrade ours. We just hung around the square then back to the hotel to drop off the pictures and get ready for the trip.
We made our way to the tour pickup point. This is the tour that Gemma was arranging when she was cooking me in the night with the assistance of her Italian boyfriend. Its a very small office with two seats for about 30 people. So we shuffled around and inside and out while we wait. There are several tours starting at the same time but it all gets sorted out. By 15:00 we were on the way to Tivioli.
Its a 45 min trip which was done at a good pace with decent roads. This place used to be where well off Romans came during the hot times. Quite a nice place.
We start off by looking at the Villa d’Este and in particular at the water gardens. The whole water system is powered by gravity, the fountains and the pools etc. Just putting your hands in the ice cold waters is quite a thrill. I found Pegasus and had a shot taken there.
After a time we went to Hardrian Villa. The guide was working a scam of trying to get people not to go to the Villa so he could keep their entrance fee for himself.
Unfortunately we only had one hour. Again I did not expect the size of the place what can it have been like when it was working!
Back to Rome in time for tea. We had dinner in a restaurant near the hotel. This time the waitress was a laugh and so we left her a tip which she seemed to be surprised about. The food was good and the beer was cold.
The place is full of Italian tourists, I expected foreign tourists but I did not expect so many italian, silly eh
Its really hot, the shower in the hotel was a god send.
I like Rome a great deal must come back again.
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