Dead Pope’s Society (also featuring pizza in a piazza)

The weather continues to be lucky for us with some overnight showers and warmish, mostly sunny days. It gets light about 7.30 am. We headed out mid- morning with a plan to catch a taxi. We walked and walked but hailing one was rather elusive. We needed up in a piazza with a well preserved obelisk. Lost and needing to make a new plan of action, we had a very Roman breakfast of croissant and coffee.

We walked to the colosseum for the taxi rank and then got a ride to St. Peter’s Basilica. We had a bit of a wait in line to get through security. It was lovely to see the nativity scene and tree. Hate to think what the crowds would be like in peak season.

Once inside it is incredulous the size and opulence of this building. The Michelangelo statue, Bernini’s ‘four post bed’ sculpture over the crypt of St Paul and the cupola are highlights but everywhere you look is some masterpiece. Then we walked through the creepy crypt of dead popes before exiting.

We then walked by the Castel Saint’Angelo which is the Emperor Hadrian’s tomb. Nearby the courthouse was worth a photo as was the view back to St. Peter’s.  On the way we felt our first Roman rain, only for about 5 mins fortunately.

It was definitely way past lunch time so next stop was the wonderful Piazza Navona. There are 3 amazing fountains including the famous Bernini Four Rivers Fountain. There are also Christmas markets on at the moment, which included a carousel, shooting galleries etc.

Weary and starving we found a Trattoria and had pizza and beer. A tomato, cheese and anchovy, the other with egg, mushroom and artichoke. The former and simpler was the favourite. We had to leave much crust to get through.

Soldiering on, the Parthenon was our next visit. Its massive concrete dome always impresses plus everything else. Raphael’s tomb is in here too- so we have covered two of the ninja turtles today. Then much wandering through the narrow streets, asking for directions, feeling like we were going in circles, finally the Trevi Fountain appeared. To be honest it felt like something to just tick off. Very crowded, Barb still felt the need to throw 3 coins in the fountain as she has done twice before and has returned each time. Having really been in tourism central today, we were continually accosted by the Africans trying to sell things or scam us. Also common is women with a fake young child or baby asking for $$$. Thankfully we found a taxi quickly and home.

A bit of a relax, loving that we have Netflix. We headed down Via Gallia and Cafe Urbana looked nice. We had a pork belly asian flavoured soft taco for entree. A pesto gnocchi plus prawn and zucchini spaghetti. All very nice. And, well, we didn’t have dessert last night. The menu was in Italian, so we really didn’t know any we ordered. A ricotta mousse type think with berries and more mousse stuff with Nutella and biscuity things, washed down with an Amaretto chaser. All very indulgent, what the hey!

An episode of The Crown and bed. Zzz