Chock full of culture

Sunday 22nd Nov
What an insane 24hours we’ve just had. The red eye flight makes perfect sense…we’ll just sleep on the plane…but the reality is a whole different kettle of fish.
We sat in the middle row which meant we didn’t disturb anyone else as we got up and down and in our third seat was a lovely Italian Nonna who had been on hols in Bali with her grandkids, (got to see the photos of them!) She knew as much English as I know Italian so it was fun chatting but confusing! Her Matriolo was coming in the brrm brrm machine to take her home to Firenze.(Florence) In lovely Nonna fashion she was worried about us getting off the plane in t shirts, as Roma very cold she mimed. We had jumpers in the overhead but the plane was very hot to us…she was very sweet. She asked me if I was Italian? My mother or father Italian? I have family in Italy, no? Must have looked like an Italian, hey?. (Yesterday in little India in Singapore) they thought Russ was David Boone (Boonie) the cricketer…hilarious!)

We arrived in Rome at 6.30am; you would have loved us soothing ruffled feathers as a plane load of really rude Americans pushed into our queue. They’re going to need all the kindness they can get I explained in a whisper to the dozen or so around us. They all agreed…besides its Sunday said Russ. Everyone had that nice little contented “good deed for the day” smiles on their faces…the Americans got to the customs officer and had come to the wrong place and had to line up again. We were all waved thru… you Australian? Off you go….
See if you put yourself first, you end up last!!! Got to love those scriptures.

By the time we checked into our dear little motel it was 10 am so we took off for an explore, coffee at McDonalds first to see if I can get free wifi but not working???( I don’t know Jake it’s so confusing. Keeps asking for my password and an Italian sim card???? But I’ve not got a phone, it’s a netbook?Internet café close by will do.)
I know it’s crazy that our first meal in Italy was at Macca’s but I have to say it was fabulous. They don’t muck around with coffee, it was delicious and the buns on the Il Maca ,a new creazione ,were divine. There was a huge screaming argument between two of the Macca’s ladies and a customer, it was ferocious and all because there weren’t the right amount of prawns in their wrap. It was a bit unnerving!
We got ourselves onto the hop on & off bus and did the tour of the city. Got to love those Rainman photos from the moving vehicle. Just a few to show today.

Our good photos are on Russell’s Camera and the pic of me is from him but the others are my little quirky ones. Don’t expect photographic genius on this blog people its all about sharing our holiday and how much fun we’re having. We sat at the top of the bus and it was freezing…not really but I felt the chill. Its unseasonably warm here at the moment they say, but to us coming from a heat wave and 2 days in Singapore, its chilly!.

We had to have an hour or two snooze just to feel a bit human, then to a little Ristorante around the corner at about 5.30pm for the most delightful minestrone soup for me and pizza for Russ. The waiter was so patient; you could see him trying to get a read on us. When we explained in our broken Italian we were jet lagged, he couldn’t be lovelier. They really do the whole nurturing with food thing so well. Although he did turn a bit when we asked for what he called “American coffee” hey we were way too fragile to be jumping into espresso!
So tomorrow we’ll look more closely at this fabulous city. As Russ will tell you…it’s “chock full of culture” We stick out as Aussies… its like “Dave and Mabel’s European vacation.” Found some little shops for our bread and cheese and wine and fruit for brekkie and lunch tomorrow. Time for sleep now…
Love love love
Lin X