Head to Foot 40 hours in Rome.

 Stopped clock at the Vatican

Head to Foot 40 hours in Rome

Legend says you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain.

Some years ago I was in Rome creating a team building challenge around the city for my old company Catalyst Events. I managed to throw a coin in the fountain.  

The legend works.This weekend I returned with Gill to celebrate her birthday.

Now home stunning sites, monumental architecture, great weather, good times running around my head along with a selection of blisters from not entirely sensible footwear.

Flying BA from Manchester with a change at Gatwick, with just over 30 minutes to make the connection. Not an easy task these days, as bags need x-raying and the tiny tube of tooth paste purchased in Manchester must have the seal broken before continuing. I often wonder if some security personal has Middle Eastern appearance mixed up with middle-aged appearance.

Touch down in Rome, straight onto Leonardo Express straight through to Rome’s main terminal. 

11 euro each.

 Using Late Rooms, I found accommodation close to the station, for 120Euro for two nights Bed and Breakfast. Ensuring as full a day on the Sunday as possible. I decided  to live a little extravagantly as it was Gills birthday.

Alex from Incanto Romano had sent me a mail asking to check in at his restaurant.

Alarm bells flashed through my mind at this point.  But hey all we wanted was a place to sleep; we were there to see Rome not the inside of a hotel.

Finding the restaurant easily, Roberto brother of Alex greeted us, welcoming us like long lost friends, sit down have a drink. Then off to the room.

Four keys later we were accommodated, Bed and Breakfast apartments in a typical Rome apartment.

Open and closing the huge double doors to the lobby and courtyard making us feel like real residents of Rome.

Took dinner in the restaurant where we had checked in, full house but once again greeted with open arms, table found complimentary drinks in hand.

Rome was feeling good.

Our regular approach to a short city break is taking a hop on hop off bus tour. Even better if weather is good and the top deck is open. Using City Sightseeing. 18 euro each with the ticket lasting through the weekend. 

Commentary in 8 languages. 

Rome has so much for visitors to witness, discover and enjoy all well documented and covered in numerous guidebooks.  For us the bus was the perfect introduction. Getting on and off wherever and whenever we wanted. Finding us eventually rather a long way from Incanto Romano long after the bus had stopped running for the day.

Enjoy a few snaps of Head to Foot in Rome.

Gill at the Vatican, 2 hour wait to visit Sistine Chapel. Many offers from guides able to fast track wait.

I found the fact that one of the clocks on the Vatican was stopped. Or is there something I don't know.

The Pantheon, second visit here, each time my breath is taken away. Built in AD 118-125.

Throwing a coin in the  Trevi Fountain. Looks as if Gill will return to Rome.

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore. Stunning decorations and riches inside.

No idea who this is but just loved the pose.

                 How on earth do you get to live in a place like this. Centre of Rome on River Tiber.

Piazza Navona the place for some very good and some very strange street performers.

Spent some time, longer than planned as fascinated by this. Italians flocking round a parked  orange Lamborghini to take their pictures with it, pretending it was theirs. Many times.

 Grilled Lamb from the Old Marconi.

The blisters will heal but the memories will remain. Architecture, history , Religion beyond my imagination, statues that want to make me create Gothic Horror stories.  Wonderful food, wine, ice cream and desserts. To much for one weekend.

I would like to give a big thank you to Alex and Roberto from Incanto Romano who greeted us like old friends, with their open arms. Extending to not allowing us to pay for any part of our meal on Saturday night, when we finally finished walking and wandered into the restaurant around 10.00, letting us stay with them while they ate at the end of their day. There had been mention of a  free meal on the booking, but to pay nothing at all including drinks was so kind of them.

Grazie Alex and Roberto

One little warning if buying a ticket to the airport at the station you can save a  Euro a person if you get the ticket at the official ticket office rather than an agency office in the station.

This is another trip on the Head to Foot never ending tour, more nights away than Bob Dylan.

Head to Foot is currently working on two London walks which will be recorded in April and downloadable for £6.00 each by the end of April.

There are two audio walks of Antwerp, one for Maastricht and Bruges currently available for download.

Click on the town to hear samples.

 Antwerp        Bruges           Maastricht

Take a look at the Head to Foot Gallery