Rome - an unexpected day

There I was, standing on the floor of the Italian parliament, thinking how lucky I was and how magnificent this all was. Not an especially large room, it was hemispherical and steeply raked, decorated in dark wood and red velvet. I looked at the crudely written name on the desk I was leaning on - D'Ippolito - who was he? Not a minister, because the ministers (including the Prime Minister) all sit at desks in front of The Speaker, looking out on the chamber. The President, when he appears here, sits at a balcony above all.

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Over breakfast we had got talking to a couple of young women from Sardinia. They were very excited about the day they had planned, and managed to convince us that we should come along even though they spoke no English at all, and so were sketchy about what was ahead. A musical concert of some sort, then a tour of a government building, we gathered. They bustled us to the Metro, onto a train, off a train, down streets ('veloce, veloce') until we came to the building. It was grand, and we queued outside on a red carpet, behind ropes, surrounded by soldiers in ornate uniforms. Inside, we had to check everything we had in the cloakroom, so sadly no photos. But we'll remember...



Polly: As we said goodbye the girls informed us that the building is only open to the public one day per year.

After the tour we said goodbye to the Sardinettes and spent the rest of the day walking around Rome on the tourist trail - The PantheonPiazzaNavoneCampodiFioriArgentinaetcetc. Polly bought a Prada - yes genuine, fancy that? - handbag from an African that will allow him to buy enough paper and glue to make 100 more like it.











At the bus stop was a field of ruins - in the centre of the city - that was used as a cat sanctuary. Liking cats, I descended to a café to buy a souvenir but made the mistake of taking a breath - the air was yellow with cat piss! I ran away, not before my clothes permanently lost all their colouring due to the ammonia. True story.

Another nap, then out on the Metro to a new part of Rome to the movies to see Casino Royale (****). The night was full of people; it was great. But by the time we finished and walked down a long tunnel to catch a train the station had closed; we took a different exit and emerged in yet another new part. No buses here; when we got to a bus stop they were all going to destinations unknown (those that stopped). Very few people around. Polly fading fast after huge walks of the day, no taxis. Worrying. After a long walk, eventually a bus stop, eventually a bus, dinner at 11pm and fall into bed.