Sep 2007

Well another hot, but well walked day followed us. As the museums and art gallerys are closed on Monday's, we spent the day walking the parks of Rome. I assume there is water restrictions in place as most of the parks we've found to date havent had any grass on them. It appears to be a common theme in France and Italy that water is restricted, and any grass that you encounter, you are not permitted to even walk on - so forget about sitting on some soft cold lawn!

So for us, even with our water restrictions, consider any park that had dead lawn or weeds, to be a little unappealing. So today we did encounter some hedges that were alive, and the glorious parks surround the Villa Bourgese where where lovely. And during the walks in the shady large trees, it was lovely to experience the atmosphere of parks in Rome.

These were the loveliest pictures we took today. They were both taken in the Villa Bourgese gardens, the first is of the water clock in the park, and the second is of the gorgeous greek watergarden filled with ducks, geese and turtles all having a great time.

Today is our last day of free (well with many people always queing) internet use.

Might be a few days before next communication! hopefully will be soon!

Take care

We we had another great day yesterday. Still quite humid and warm, but the nights are getting cooler. Which is a relief when sleeping in the van. Hopefully we'll get to pick up the van tomorrow afternoon. The bill came to E680 which is quite a lot, but we also included a much needed service, which should help us sell the van.

We visited the Palazzo Barberini which was the fabulous manion belonging to the famous Barberini family. Big in the 1600-1700's. Their family insignia was the bee. They had bees added to all window embelishments, and there are lots of sculptures including the Barberini Fountain, that is covered in small dots (I guess up close you can see the bees). Its quite interesting as we've never seen anything like it!

Their family home has amazing fresco'd celings in every room - even the bathroom! The artwork was also impressive. Now belonging to the Ministry of Culture they have installed a fabulous collection of 12th-18th century works from Italian masters.

From there we moved on to the Trevi Fountain. Probably Rome's most famous fountain. All of Rome is amazingly still fed by an aquaduct system built in 19BC which provides the most beautiful clean water free to many fountains and public drinking fountains around Rome. Apart from a renovation and extension added by the popes around 16th century, its still in fabulous working condition! The Travoli Fountain is the most amazing light blue colour. We didnt get any tour, so assume this too is fed by the same aquaduct. There were about a million people huddled around trying to take their shot!

We also found a small sign a block or so away from the fountain to the Travoli Cinema. They were excavating to extend their cinema underground and uncovered the most well proserved Roman ruin. The found some fabulous coins, loads of urns, and a huge 115,000L water storage room. Fabulous. Best E2 we had spent!

Also visited the Pantheon, which was disappointing. Another church plundered roman building.

Hi again, well today has been much better than last posting due to a good nights' sleep albiet in an out of town supposed 4 star hotel. But there is free use of internet, and a huge que that goes with it. But spent the day on the Coluseum tour as well as the Hill that Roma was founded on. We were fascinated by the guides and their expert knowledge of the history of rome, and the interesting facts and figures they gave. We staggered around for 8 hours and headed back to the alcohol contained in our room (as E11 for a drink at the bar is excessive, but as there is nothing around here, there is no choice, except the supermarket about 5 minutes walk complete with E4.50 bottles of gin and vodka which we topped our supplies up with!

Rome seems to have taken on quite a different flavour for us since some sleep, but I still have even less respect for the Popes of Rome as we discovered our our tour today that if you really want to see the stunning marble of Rome, just visit the Vatican City as they basically pulled down half of the old part of rome to build their churches and buildings of the vatican city. Its so sad, but some might say it is green to recycle, but a lot of the statues and all were removed and chopped up to make ceilings and floors in the vatican.

Off tomorrow to the Spanish Steps and Trivoli Fountain and general walking. Van should be fixed hopefully by Tuesday - cross your fingers for us - as its costing us a fortune and now we have decided we want to go to Lutz in Poland www.cityoflutz.pl they advertise on BBC World and it looks fabulous.

More tomorrow. Try and get some pics of my camera now...

Van update...

Off the road again. In shear desparation to get out of contiki city, we purchased some 8 dennier stockings and attempted to drive the 4kms to the nearest english speaking Ford Dealer (courtesy of the poor NZ couple). After much difficulty trying to get served at Ford, found a great English speaking manager. He said we could be stuck here for up to 10 days if the parts arent available in Italy. We suspect that both fan belts and the water pump are broken. Its also needing a service, and a new wheel alignment after the last one only lasting a day before the suspension broke! The parts may have to be ordered from Germany! Its only the next country away, but I cant believe it could take so long!

Steve would be happy to continue to drive on with our trusty (not) pair of stockings trying to keep the belts turning, but with all the water dropping out along the way - not today! Being really humid and about 26 degrees we should be okay, but I beg to differ...

Day of trying to get the car fixed. Called mobile mechanic via the information centre and didn’t show. Another day wasted on the car, but a chance to finally start on the website!

Met a lovely couple in the information centre from New Zealand. They had their Ford Transit stolen from Vatican City. They had their laptop, and other electrical goods stolen along the way and it was eventually found a few days later with the tyres slashed and the ignition lock busted from being jacked. They had been stuck here for 6 weeks awaiting their insurance company from London to try and sort it out.

Made a feel kind of happy we didn’t get insurance! As it was over $1000 for 3 months 3rd party, fire and theft, on a $5000 van, we didn’t think it was worth it. As it happens we’ve spent more money than that, but on fixing things on it to keep it going, but it does drive surpringly well. It’s a 2.5L diesel (which is about 10c a litre cheaper than unleaded here) and as diesel is costing us E1.22/L its worth getting diesel. Given the exchange rate that’s about $2.00/L. We have been getting good fuel economy considering we have a high top, that’s not aerodynamic in the least! We have calculated 7.5L/100km which is comperable to my Golf in city driving.

The poor New Zealand couple, have been ripped off yet again, since arriving in the terror that is Rome. They went to the markets and found a guy selling laptops and phones. At first they suspected that the laptop they were looking at was their’s that was stolen from them. But for E300 they thought they could only afford that. So they went and got the money out and came back and checked it again and some how they switched it and when they got it back home it was water damaged and didn’t work!

We’ve also heard of the pickpockets that frequent the bus that stops outside the campsite’s front door. We hear it’s a racket that goes on day in and day out totally unabated by police. The couple we met in Florence said that the Lonely Planet Guide actually gives details of the viewing position in the Train Station in Rome where you can watch the pickpockets at work. Its really sad to see the capital of Italy reduced to such a level, and it appears the police are either powerless or don’t care less to stop it.

I also cant believe the filth around the park. We are less than 5km from the centre of Rome and the vatican. The park is E29 a night for just an unpowered parking site – which is over $50 a night! They do have a secuirty guard on the gate 24/7 but we left the front door open this morning while trying to phone mechanics (even though we never leave any valuables in the car at all) and the ashtray was open when we got back to the van. We are also right at the back of the park, so its amazing that people will go to such lengths!

Right now I just feel like we should turn around and get out of here. I am not sure I want to see it now. Even the downpour that we’ve had today cant seem to wash away the filth or the smell of filth from the streets. How can a place that is the religious capital of the western world let the people live such lives around them? Maybe we should check out Verona instead. I’ve heard great things about Verona.

Off to try and sort the car now. Cant believe how difficult it is to do. Have been calling and calling places today and no one will answer the phone...