Afternoon walk to Augustine hill! Just had to tell another story today!

Unusable relics from old Rome!

Up a hill and one of the seven hills of Ancient Rome! A path less travelled!

And the views at the top – all of Rome is in walking distance

Looking back at our side of the river!

The old road leading to the top of Augustine hill – unused and under renovation (this area is very close to the coliseum an the Roman Forem)

The Vatican in the distance (actually not that far away)

A selfie from the top of Augustine hill – one of the seven hills of the Roman Empire!

And concert music in the gardens – it was beautiful and peaceful apart from the French school group all in yellow hats!

A little bit of Malta in the garden!

And a little more of Malta with with great specimen of automobile history! As we affectionately know as Fiat Bambina!

Off to the keyhole – a big door with a queue and one eye…

https://c8.alamy.com/comp/D3CATY/the-knights-of-malta-

The view of the Vatican. Dome off the internet and this is what we saw – I took a picture and it was amazing

Through the keyhole (iPhone photo taken up to small keyhole) – the Virgin Mary praying! Wow this was wierd!

The Augustine hill was the site of wealthy Romans and a monastery and the site of the Maltese order of the knights!

Quite a discovery for the wanderers off the beaten path!

Another basilica and down the hill, to find our tram home, we looked across to the palentine hill castle ruins

Home for the evening! Eight days in Rome is proving to be an amazing experience!

This mornings adventures were centred around walking shoes for Sue! This week of wearing jandals and chucks has taken its toll! So now sporting a very supportive pair of New Balance, sensible, shoes ready to roam again! Soled appropriately!

However today’s story is about yesterday afternoon/evening adventures in the “Heart” of Rome.

Yes the Vatican! Missed the pope by a day – he had presented himself to 100,000 people on Sunday! Nevertheless, we didn’t avoid the usual tourist crowds, arriving around 3.00pm to extensive (and slow moving) queues!

And a sea of empty chairs (yet to be removed from the previous days activities)

A family photo with the fountain then off to see if Russ could get into the Sistine Chapel (as this was his goal) only to be informed it closed at 4.pm – he has now booked a time (and jump the queue ticket) for tomorrow.

Time to rest the soles (feet) in this very papal side street.

Souvenirs mats and wall hangings

Every colour and size (one) perfect for the next P party.

Not to be eaten and for trash only! Just note the cobbled street and understand the pain of the soles! (Feet)

Street entertainment while sipping a cool Heineken!

Then on a mission, at dusk, in search of the degustation Italian restaurant Jill had come across a couple of evenings ago

One last view of the Vatican as the sun is going down

Across another bridge. In case you hadn’t realised by now, the Tiber River snakes it’s way right through the city of Rome and every 500(or 1000) meters there is a bridge connecting all quarters!

Another Church! Many of these too – all through the city!

Jill had a little handbag and shoe shop – and laden with bags,

Jill’s shopping!

We continued on our mission to find this restaurant! A city of thousands of restaurants, narrow cobbled streets, tourists and crazy drivers!

After some time circling and backtracking, we chanced on the elusive destination! Not yet open at 7.00pm, we returned after 30 minutes only to find it almost full.

Bluffed our way in and proceeded to consume a five course meal!

Uneventful tram trip home by 10.30 pm! Hearts full and Soles sore we rolled happily into a horizontal position!

Monday morning, it’s business time for the Italians in Rome.

The roaming Kiwis, plus one, set off on foot (again) in search of an allied forces memorial to the fallen soldiers in the 2nd world war.

Another bridge across the Tiber to the other side

Looking back at the rail bridge (can’t quite get enough of these views)

A very modern apartment building in a city of old and new.

Then through an industrial area and littered with, not only trash, but amazing Street art…..

The full facade of this building painted with faces

A leg up under the railway bridge

A wall of colour!

A wall in black and white

Standing tall!

These are but a few of the images brightening up the streets!

A little further to the Commonwealth war memorial, in memorial park (address for those interested)

Via delle Conce, 20, 00154 Roma RM, Italy

Beautifully kept enclosed park and gardens

Two of the ten New Zealanders resting here (average age 22)

A sobering momento to one of the many wars fought in and around this city!

Luke took off for a run and to return home to shower and pack ready for his next journey. Sue, Russ and Jill took the scenic route in search of a coffee

Elias Cafe – and a bit of monkeying around on the wall.

Coffee art – heart for Jill, flower for Sue and a smiley face for Russ!

These accompanied by a delicious pastry each and all for €6.70 (about $11.00NZ).

Sated again, we continued on our loop. Thinking we were doing well avoiding all the tourist traps, we came upon….

St Pauls Basilica at Ostiense, only about 30 tour buses. We had to cross the road and see the place while we were there!

The entrance to the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard and this Statue of St Paul (this is his final resting place) greets us.

The balcony roof art!

A sneaky peek inside, as Sue, totally unprepared for church visits was sporting a singlet and mini skirt (the protocol for dress is shoulders covered and skirt below knee!)

The front door (tall people catered for)

Jill and Russ went inside, Sue hung out in the garden, and then we headed back over yet another bridge to meet Luke for the key swapover before 1pm when he had to leave for the airport.

On the rivers edge we had full view of the coast (river) guard station!

Up the main shopping street with blinkers on (as all shops were talking to us) and back at apartment for lunch.

This is only half a day, we are leaving mid afternoon (appropriately dressed) to visit the Vatican and Sistine chapel).

Feet already sore a change of shoes is in order, jandals are a struggle on these paved hard surfaces!

This morning we have enjoyed…Street Art….memorials….modern architecture….ancient architecture and history…coffee art and community services (coastguard river style) all within a 5km radius from our home in Rome!

A planned market morning, for a couple of hours, then rest day for the tired legs (almost happened)

Jill and Sue headed off around 8.30 and only about 5 minutes from home it began (much sooner than expected)

Not too overcrowded, but that soon changed and the market place was huge; roads closed for around three kilometres.

Everything you can imagine

Ice cream on a pole – wedding and evening dresses, bags, underwear, tables of clothes, shoes, jewellery, leather goods and more of all of the above.

It soon became very busy and, much in need of a coffee, we dived off to the side to the first cafe we spied!

Very nice too, after 2nd coffee we hit the throngs again, with a bit more energy.

Headed back to the apartment around midday with only half of the market (if that) explored.

Sue headed back into it again, with Russ, to look for swimming shorts, as these were left behind in Malta and might be needed for the Amalfi coast at the end of the week!

A bit of a hard ask as all summer stock off the agenda with winter in Italy on its way!

Finally we found a 2nd hand table with a wide choice (summer stock) for 50c a piece, so brought two for that price to ensure one is useable (or at least fits)

We then detoured into the antique market streets

A stall of retro furniture set up as a room

Chrystal chandeliers! (Or glass maybe)

Paintings and frames

Figurines and statues

And lamps and lights in many shapes and colours!

A very colourful and interesting part of the market and some very unique pieces of art and collectables. I guess it’s lucky I am only travelling, this trip, with a carry on bag – no room for extras.

We wandered back and had a bite to eat, at a local kebab place, and home to put these travelling feet up! (8.30am to 3.00pm – a little more than a couple of hours for Sue!) I’m sure that is not a surprise to those who know me!

Having purchased our €24 unlimited transport pass for 7 days, three days ago, we finally got off footing it and caught a 7.15am tram to the Colleseum (to beat the crowds!

The morning sun catching the top of this magnificent architectural structure. NO people at 7.30 as it doesn’t open until 8.30am! Time for a coffee and pretty much first (we were 10th in the queue) – Jaxon would be proud of us!

Janine and her family rocked in, on schedule, just a little after 8am and we decided to take an English (Italian tour) which included the Colosseum, the Roman Forem and Palentine hill ( all three sites)

A great decision as our guide ‘Nico’ was a hive of information about the events of the Colosseum – The life and times (and battles) of animal (elephant, tigers, bears and many more), gladiators (teams and individuals). He was armed with a book (written by himself) with many pictures of how it used to be! (Which was very helpful to visualise how it all transpired!)

The inside of the now crumbling structure and

Through an archway on the upper level looking back at Palentine hill.

Alana, Janine and Luke waiting for the next part of the tour, the Roman Forem,

Jill and Russ taking a more leisurely approach to the interval!

Then off to the best part…The Roman Forem (the ancient Roman hub of the government, including Julius Caesar, and where the Roman Empire and its reaches were run from)

Aerial view of the city ruins from high up on the Palentine Hill lookout

The business street – shops and trade area

Remains of one of the basilica alters (and Russ)

Courtyard area lined with marble statues

Sue with one of the more intact statues (only an arm missing)

All that is left standing of another Basilica!

While a lot of this historical site looks like lots of broken bricks and marble, it is thanks to Napoleon and his team of architects restoring this, having been totally covered with silt, sewage water over many hundreds of years, that so much of the city is uncovered and one can see the layout and foundations of what was once a fantastic city!

A late lunch and by now a very hot afternoon! We left the other kiwi travellers and Jill, Sue and Russell headed to the Chariot race track

Maybe the first horse racing in history?

Enjoying a nice cool drink before we left Jill to go join another evening tour! She went one direction – Russ and Sue heading home and off to catch another tram!

Back to our local for a cool beer – Sue needing to use the bathroom

And this happened! Life is just full of surprises!

Friday morning in Rome and the sun was shining – a few household chores completed and a cappuccino at our local with Russ, who had a rest day planned.

Jill and Sue took off to retrace yesterday’s steps in hope of retrieving the very expensive prescription sun glasses lost on earlier travels!

A very colourful roadside florist (and Jill) basking in the morning sunshine!

A bit of a flurry and…

The Italian military police are on a mission! (I guess they were also looking for Jill’s glasses!)

Alas the Sunglasses hunt was unsuccessful and we decided to head to the boutique shopping areas

Across the Tiber river and into the thick of it! Expensive boutiques, and lots of tourists!

An out of the way coffee garden for refreshments around 1pm (and a toilet stop as no public toilets in Rome)

Then off in search of the Jewish quarter! A small diversion (wrong turn) and here we are..

The Jewish museum and Mosque

Sue taking a little shade under the palms, then walking the back streets into the Jewish ghetto (an area of Rome where all Jews were rounded up to live in the 1500s and from which the Nazis send more than 1000 Roman Jews to concentration camps in the 2nd world war, few returned).

We chanced to find ourselves at the back of the Theatre Marcello (which we had passed from the other side yesterday)

Jill is framed by Roman architecture

Sue and the back of the Theatre Marcello.

Around in another circle to head in the homeward direction we passed…

The bicycle street park! And possibly the most efficient mode of transport!

Over the Ponte (bridge) Fabrico

Which crosses to Tiber Island in the middle of the Tiber River (this image is of the maternity hospital where all true Italians are born , evidently, on Tiber Island) only to get caught in police scuffle (about 10 running officers)

Arresting and packing up illegal street hawkers before they can get away. (Still no sign of Jill’s glasses)

This called for a gelato on Tiber island before crossing another bridge to our side of town..

We then decided to take the scenic route along the lower side of the Tiber river – heading in our home direction.

Sue blending in with the local street art under the bridges. One or two other humans passed us on our 5km hike in the burning sun with lots of weeds, rubbish and abandoned bikes. Not to mention numerous “Homeless” homes built into the vines and growth, beside, above and below!

Finally, Jill and Sue a little frazzled, thinking we were never going to find a way back up into civility, and having already passed under our recognised over bridge , we found a way back….(with a sigh of relief and sore feet)

Through someone’s homeless home! At least we would have had company (and relative comforts of home) if we hadn’t been able to get back! When in Rome….

The unexpected from day to day adding to the wanderers adventures!

Left the appartment in Trastevere to walk to the Treve Fountain to meet up with our kiwi friends (around 6kms)

Tree lined street with the GPS taking us on our journey

Across the river (a grey looking morning) . Crossing roads was a challenge even on a pedestrian crossing one has to play dodgems.

Passed the Theatre of Marcello a historic site with several ruins (piles of rocks) in the foreground

The art gallery (and Russell) in the middle of a very busy roundabout

And finally….

The Treve fountain – one can throw in a coin and it means you will return to Rome! I will reserve this decision until the end of my stay

Found our friends!!!

Sue, Janine and Jill…

Then off to the Spanish steps

Yes we climbed them!

Next stop on the walking tour – the pantheon

Outside, we went inside with the thousands – built in 27AD

All starting to feel the stomach grumblings so we headed to the Piazza Navone for lunch

Check out these shoes – with wings – no red bull in sight

Made it to the lunch destination just as the rain started to fall! Great timing!

The red dog playing in the square!

One more stop

The market place in the piazza Farnese (lemoncello in abundance)

Finally coffee and drink time

Janine enjoying her ice cream coffee and Luke looking on! Still raining and about to make our way back for an afternoon siesta! Tired legs, good food and lots of must see tourist traps ticked off

This morning was a big flat clean up, last minute packing – and off for a coffee and baguette at Vittoriosa before collecting Kev to drop us to the airport

Malta airport crazy busy with people and the best smoking room (lounge) in the world!

Just like the koru club!

I sat in 12D Russ in 33D (back of the plane) I nearly finished my book as I had a very moody chap next to me! An hour and a half later we landed in a cloudy Rome – still warm!

Found Jill at the airport and then off to catch a train to our new hood!

Our new wanderer for the next two weeks!!

Train trip to Trastevere all as planned and found our apartment no problem (despite the language barriers)

A longish wait for our host and apartment not ready so off we went in search of some supplies

Found a great little bar on the corner then supermarket across the road!

Jill has her €3 bottle of wine and we have our local beer! And a salad and chicken for tea!

We are on the busiest corner in the world – ambulances, fire engines, police and a million cars and motorbikes! Good double glazing! And great aircon – let the Rome adventures begin!

Russell is now officially Maltese!

We left (on foot again) this morning to walk to Bormla and take the ferry to Valletta to collect Russ’s Maltese passport.

Taking the Valletta coastal route from the ferry

Through the Victoria gate and up the hill

Passed these couple of classics then stopped in at the lower Barrakka gardens

Looking very lush after the last two weeks of intermittent thunder storms.

Standing at the wall with the entrance to the grand harbour and the “Bell” memorial to the fallen soldiers of the 2nd world war in the background

Then across the road

Russ close up and personal with the bell tower.

Last leg of the mornings hike to the passport office

Past the Valletta point seaside cottages (a little Riverhaven carved into the wall of Valletta)

Passport duly collected, we made our way up Merchant street (otherwise known as Cafe Alley perhaps) to a well deserved cappuccino and Maltese bruschetta for lunch!

And the city got busy…

This little tourist train passing very close to our table.

Caught up with Kev and Rols and ferryed back to our side, catching a ride up the hill with them back home!

I will just finish today’s story with a couple of pictures from last nights stroll to the neighbouring town of Zabbar, in search of the cannonball stuck in the stone wall. (Another of Russ’s great finds). This ‘Ball’ was fired from the Notre Dame gate (entrance to the three old cities and about 3kms away) in 1798 attacking the locals, by the French (who were being pushed back off the Maltese land)

There it is! Still there (secured by a cross of wire) to the left of the window frame.

Zabbar is an old city, 6th largest in Malta and has many really old houses

Imagine getting up these after a night out!!

And of course a magnificent church (also hit with cannonballs during this same time when the Maltese insurgents battled against the French)

A couple of great walking exploring days – practicing being car-less in Italy for the next two and a half weeks! Tomorrow’s story will be from a new country!

This morning promised another day of warmth and sunshine.

We decided it was time to start thinking about our next adventure and packing 18 days into a small carryon bag for the plane to Italy on Wednesday. This done and armed with a list of jobs and purchases needed to be done, we left on foot. All achieved within 200meters of our house, we carried on down the back streets towards the Bormla waterfront for our morning coffee.

Passing a pet shop, I couldn’t resist checking out the local pets….

Rooms and rooms of birds and more birds who, upon our arrival, screeched extremely loudly…

Until the owner arrived in this back room to see what the ruckus was… (kiwi birds visiting local birds)

These blue parakeets were scared of foreigners! Upon explanation of our presence, (using the tourist story) the owner relaxed and explained these parakeets were originally from Australia but now bred in Bormla.

A very expensive hobby – these green ones €650 (NZD 1200) each!

Thanking the owner and apologising for upsetting the locals, we carried on our way.

We spied these hand made(of wood) children’s clocks – the picture doesn’t do them justice as they were all moving and wiggling with each tick!

A glorious mug of Coffee consumed, we spied a bus that we thought would drop us back up the hill – leapt on and realised it was bypassing our area, so we still had a couple of km walk (at least along the flat rather than up hill).

Back in the apartment early afternoon, we hung the washing on the line (in the bright sunshine). Then five minutes later the thunder rolled in.

I tried to catch the wind tunnel which spiralled down out of the thunder clouds! Then heavy rain!

Washing rescued, it was a great time to point our noses into our books! The pattern of our lives forever changing!