Day 25 17/4/06 - Italy

Rome -> Vatican -> Rome

Highlight

• Slokky tried to get his mobile back, but couldn't contact the guy in time.
• We wasted a long time logging a police report. The Italians are so slow and inefficient!
• It rained for the first time since we landed in Rome.
• Another day of having no money. Slokky got ripped off at the exchange place.
• ALL shops were closed today except for some food places. Even the shops at the very very touristy area around the Spanish Steps. Italians sure enjoy their holidays more than they like to make money.
• Visiting the Vatican for the 4th time. As expected, the dome and the treasury both cost money and accepted only cash so we couldn't go. We went to the tombs area, where heaps of people were fussing over the tombs of John Paul II and Peter.
• Spanish Steps - were really not that pretty, I dunno what the fuzz is all about.
• We visited Trastevere - it's a great neighborhood with a slight alternate vibe. There were heaps of cool side Sts filled with restaurants.
• Park area:
  • Fonte Acqua Paola
  • Porta San Pancrozio
  • Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaudi - great view over Rome
• Highlight of the day? Visiting St Cecilia church and the Piazza di St Cecilia. Very pretty with a nice garden outside.
• Piazza del Popolo - very symmetrical. You can get a great view of Rome from the top.
• Santa Giovanni e Paolo - another old church.
• Palazzo Massimo - like the Santa Maria degli Angeli. They also close earlier than their stated time though, and we were almost pushed out the door.
• Walking all the way in the rain to get only ok gelatos.

Food

• Welcome Residences buffet breakfast.
• Gelato from It Gelato di San Crispino - valrhona chocolate and honey (2.5).
• Gelato from Fiocco di Neve - rice and chocolate & zabaliogne (2.3).
• Orange juice.
• Dried squid.
• Rice crackers.