Rome (Day 2)

At 9.00 this morning it was 26c. Today was going to be hot, hot, hot! So on with the lycra, and the sunscreen. As we prepared to dice with death once again in the city, a pair of parakeet's flew by Marge, gone as soon as they'd arrived, in a flash of green.

An easier ride into the city centre today, as a German man, parked next to us, advised us on an easier route, to get to the cycleway, which avoided much of the busy road near the aire. Once in the city centre, the cycleways stop, and you're either cycling on the pavement, or the road. Because of some demonstrations, quite a few roads were closed to traffic, but one of them was still O.K. for cycling. As a result of these road closures, in some areas, the traffic was being forced down to one lane from four, resulting in commotion. Car horns sounded incessantly, and sirens from police cars and ambulances were continuous. There is a huge police and military presence in the city, and the Italian lady who booked us onto the aire yesterday, said we must carry our passports at all times, because of spot checks. Trying to concentrate on the circus going on around us, we managed to stop and look at everything of interest, including some beautiful churches, where at one this afternoon, we met a couple from Essex, who were lost.

They'd flown out of Heathrow airport this morning at 2.30 and were staying for four days. Despite their tiredness, like us, the excitement of seeing so many treasures and masterpieces, kept them going.

At lunchtime, we sat near to the Trevi Fountain, and enjoyed a delicious Italian delis sandwich we'd bought early from a small supermarket. After lunch, we made our way along some cobbled back streets to the Pantheon, where one of us couldn't resist a strawberry gelato, well, you would, wouldn't you?

Today, we have also mastered the art of crossing the busy roads of Rome. This morning, there were policemen at the crossings, blowing their whistles in a shrill an authoritative manner, at the vehicle drivers. But this afternoon we were on our own. So we decided to adopt the same principle, the tour guide taught us, when we visited Vietnam. Just walk slowly across, and the traffic will either stop, or drive slowly around you. It worked, no ambulance, with blaring siren required!

It has been a tiring day, but well worth it. The temperature reached 29c this afternoon, and now one of us has a headache and feels a little sick, perhaps the cause, not the sun, but the strawberry gelato. We are very glad that we visited the city in May, as we couldn't imagine how awful the crowds and the traffic, will be in August. Even today, we found it difficult to take photographs, without too many people in them.

A bit photo heavy, but here's a tiny selection of today's shots.

Tomorrow, we would like to visit the Vatican City, so have made some enquiries at the tourist information office, which is just 50 metres down the road from our aire, about using the bus to take us into the city centre, from where will we walk the rest of the way.

Note if you want to use any of the photos for any purpose please do so, but put a link to: https://www.muddymarge.com

Rome (Day 1)

The aire we stayed at last night, reminded us of France's Atlantic coast, with the refreshing, fragrant smell of pine, from the nearby trees filling the air. The occupants of the other vans kept us amused this morning. As we've seen before, one climbed up on the roof of his van, whilst the couple nearly opposite, who had a set of crystal candlesticks with tall cream candles in them on their inside table, went through a meticulous process of folding their duvets.

And all around us there were 'capri pants men' dutifully trekking by to the pooper emptying point.

Next to Marge, John spotted a lizard, looking at the photos (see second photo) he noticed a second one in the shot so went back for another look to find them, fighting over their territory.

A big day for Marge today, driving into Rome. But first, we had to negotiate the pedestrians, whose mobile phones will probably be the death of them, as they step out onto the road in front of you, without looking, step backwards into the road outside a coffee bar and just general stand right on the edge of the road. Just one tight spot today for Marge to squeeze through, due to bad parking, in a narrow street in the town of Civitavecchia.

At the port there, we saw quite a few cruise ships, with coaches waiting to whisk their passengers into Rome. Even though the traffic was heavy, and at one point five lanes wide, Marge kept her cool, and breezed into the city.

Tonight's aire, is behind a garage. It is like an oasis, with lush green grass and trees, you would never think, we were just a mile and a half from the centre, well not until you go through the gate and out on to the road, then mayhem! Driving in Italy is one thing, but cycling! Once we'd timidly pushed our bikes up to the top of the road, and rode them down the hill on the other side, an uncomfortable ride on the cobbled surface, we found the cycleway, then it all became much easier, and enjoyable.

It was late afternoon when we arrived at the Colosseum. As expected, the area was busy with tourists. Whilst being wowed by the structure, we were ever mindful of the pedlars and pick pockets, so we adopted our practice of locking the bikes together, when we stopped to take photographs.

At 6.00 pm, rush hour, we headed back to the van. Seeing how heavy the traffic was, and the near misses, was a little disturbing, but we've cycled in other cities in Europe before, so just went for it! Surprisingly, it wasn't the car drivers to fear, but the scooter riders, they think they're immortal. We are planning to stay in Rome for two or three days. We do not know when we will pass this way again, so we need to see as much as possible. May, is suppose to be one of the better months to visit the city, because there are less visitors, so we'll be out on our bicycles again tomorrow.

Note if you want to use any of the photos for any purpose please do so, but put a link to: https://www.muddymarge.com

Montaldo di Castro

Yesterday evening, as we took a walk to the edge of the town, the scent of jasmine filled our nostrils. This is one thing we have noticed here in Italy, how strong the fragrances of the herbs and flowers are.

A beautiful start to the day today, warm, right from the get go. As we ate our breakfast, the friendly German couple next to us, prepared their electric mountain bikes, ready for a ride with some fellow Germans, down to the beach. We have noticed electric bikes are very popular here, and in France, some of them almost resemble motorbikes. Across the aire from us, is a very large English registered van, owned by a young couple, who have given up their jobs, sold their house, and are now part way through a gap year, travelling around Europe. All this we know from Twitter, not from talking to them. (They put their twitter details across the rear bumper).

Whilst we were tidying up after breakfast, we heard an Italian lady recommend, to the German couple, that they visit the town of Castiglione della Pescaia, and its medieval village. So we decided to stop there on our way to tonight's aire Easier said than done. Unlike France, Italy is not so motorhome friendly, and finding somewhere to park Marge was difficult, as all the car parks were for cars only. So when two municipal policemen stopped their mopeds near to us, John jumped out of the van to ask for their assistance. 'Do you speak inglese'. We hoped so, as there was no way they would have understood our botched Italian. Luckily, one did a little, and after some discussion, which drew a crowd of two onlookers, who edged closer to hear what trouble the English were in, Marge was directed to a parking space right opposite, at the side of the road. But that wasn't until we had been given a much appreciated lesson, in Italian parking signs, and the fact, you must make sure you park within the lines of the parking bay. With that, the cheery officers left, as did our two spectators. All this discussion about parking had made us hungry, so we decided to have our lunch before exploring the town and medieval village.

As we left Marge, safely, and correctly parked in her bay, we walked pass a fisherman fishing with a net, that would have been, the ultimate crab fishing net for any child. Descending up the narrow cobbled streets, through the old village, we photographed at every opportunity. The streets were quiet, save for a few tourists, and even fewer local people who lived there. We were pleased the area had remained un-spoilt, unlike the Mont St. Michel in France, which has been turned into an almost Disney themed attraction. At the top of the village, we saw lots of padlocks, locked on to the railings. This we believe, is suppose to be a sign of unbroken love.

Arriving early evening at tonight's aire, at Montaldo di Castro, we found ourselves parked in front of the English couple from last nights aire. On returning from our walk to view the watch tower, built in the eighth century, and walk along the seafront, where once again the sand was grey, something we find hard to process, the English couple waved at us through the windscreen of their van. We wonder if we will see them again tomorrow night, at the aire in Rome. We think we probably will.

Note if you want to use any of the photos for any purpose please do so, but put a link to: https://www.muddymarge.com