Today was going to be a quiet one. Thought I’d just go get shopping done that I had promised to do while here in Rome. Had to make my first bus journeys. The online planner is very helpful … it tells you how many stops to go, and the name of the stop to get off. Problem is bus doesn’t stop at every one so you can lose count: and often can’t see the stop name sign because of traffic or trees. And I wonder how long a Rome bus lasts before it falls to pieces: they rattle along over these dreadfully cobbled and unevenly paved streets, giving you the full massage treatment if you happen to score a seat. Anyway I found the place I was after near the Piazza Colonna; did my buying, then wandered through a few of the other nice stores in the area before hopping bus back to Termini. Next challenge was to find a shop that sold packing/posting materials. Eventually tracked down a UPS agency that did. Packed the gear, plus stuff I have bought for myself (DVDs etc), and sealed it all down. Conventional wisdom is “don’t trust the Italian Post”… so I humped the box halfway across Rome to do the deed at the Vatican Post Office. Problem #1: Swiss Guard wouldn’t let me through the gate in shorts. Apparently the Pope doesn't like bare knees. Kindly, he (the guard, not the pope) directed me to a branch post office in the square. Problem#2: the Vatican Post Office doesn’t handle anything over 2kg. So frustrated I headed to the Italian Post near closing time, took my number and waited… and waited .. and waited. Several counters were empty with staff just sitting there: but they obviously didn’t do parcels. Finally, well after the doors had been closed, a nice lady called me, gave me the customs forms to fill in, weighed and did the paper work, the asked for 34.15€ in cash only. Imagine my relief: I had exactly 35.50€ on me. Not even enough left after all that for a gelato
Anyway, over the lunch period I had taken the subway to the Coliseum, joined the queue, paid the fee and enjoyed a good clamber over the interior of this wonderful ruin. As always, you learn something new at every turn. Despite all the gruesome stories we were told in religion class, apparently Christians were not fed to the animals here – just gladiators faced the lions and bears etc. The Christians had their day up the road at the Vatican Circus. Then I took the subway a few stops further to visit the basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls. Although several km from St Peter’s, this too is Vatican territory and one of the Pope’s cathedrals. Has a papal altar reserved to him. The reputed tomb of St Paul lies below, apparently authenticated by recent archaeological research. The current church is the 3rd or 4th on the site, and only dates from the 1800’s after fire destroyed the medieval one. It is a bit simpler and much less cluttered than most other Roman churches. RAI was there setting up for televising the beatification of a local on Sunday.
After all that my feet really do need a rest, so the trip to Naples tomorrow will allow me to have a quiet day.
Todays pic offerings are here.
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