Returning to Rome was both a delight and tinged with some sadness, as it meant we would soon be returning home (and back to work 😵). The taxi delivered us to the street nearby our apartment, and once we found the door to the apartments I headed upstairs with one suitcase, as the door was ajar. I had only climbed one or two flights when I heard noises from above and Marco, one of the family who owns the place, came running down the stairs to carry the bags. What a relief!
The apartment was the Michelangelo Room in the Navona Tower Relais, and is literally around the corner from Piazza Navona. We had a huge room - one of six the family owns. Marco or his sister work for most of the day in the apartments and are on call 24/7 (including organising airport transfers and responding to WhatsApp messages at all hours!)
It was crowded in Piazza Navona when we arrived, so we grabbed a quick lunch just off the piazza before a short stroll around the local environs.
A big change we noticed from our last visit six years ago was the number and nationalities of those wandering around the piazza trying to sell their items to tourists, and the products they were selling. By the end of our very short stay in Rome we were SOOOO over being accosted by those trying to force us to purchase selfie sticks or power banks.
After leaving Jules in the apartment for a rest after two exhausting trips up six flights of stairs, I headed out for a wander a little further afield, getting my head around the lay of the land in Rome. I really enjoyed my trip to the war memorial, and the view from the top as it helped me to remind me of just where things were.
Breakfast was provided in a local and very busy little cafe a few doors down from the apartments - croissants, coffee and freshly squeezed juice. (As delicious as it was, I have to say I have been hanging out for some good muesli and a lemon and ginger tea!)
Over the next day and a half we took in the sights, making the most of the pink Hop on, Hop Off bus, to ensure as little walking as possible. It always amazes us how crowded these places are even during the shoulder season on weekdays.
Our first trip to the Trevi fountain was unbearably crowded so we had to visit yet again, of course, especially before we left to perform the obligatory tossing of coins into the fountain, to ensure our return visit.
The ruins of the colosseum and other ancient areas were absolutely amazing, and I do love how when you're out on a walk, suddenly you can encounter ruins just in the middle of a normal street, where they might be doing some new archaeological work.
The gelato was amazing as was all the food, especially our last meal in Rome which was amazing, not far from Piazza Navona, where someone spent hours entertaining the crowds with bubbles...
and the restaurants tempted us from every piazza and every corner (as well as every second or third shopfront on just about every street)!
The churches and sacred spaces like The Pantheon continued to impress, as they do right across Europe, including the one at the top of the Spanish Steps (as I'm not sure if I visited that church on my last visit).
We do wish we had more time (and more money) to fully appreciate the shopping that Italy offers, including Rome. (I'd enjoy the shoes, clothing and gift shopping, whilst Jules would always prefer the food and wine shopping). That just means we know we definitely will need a return visit (and a lottery win)!
The trip back to Sydney was long of course, and we were so grateful in actual fact that one flight was cancelled meaning we ended up with a 15 hour layover in Dubai (at 43degrees in a dust storm 😷), as we were able to grab a few hours sleep and a shower in a Dubai hotel. Then our flight from Dubai was only about a third full, so we both managed to grab a few more hours sleep onboard. We are hoping that this will reduce the jetlag. We are yet to see! Sadly I return to work on Thursday but Julie was smarter, so organised a work from home day on Friday...clever thing!
