Italy, part XVIII - Rome (viii): Wrapup - Roman Forum, Colloseo, Termini and Freccia Bianca

Sipping tea here and typing. Just polished off the other half of the Dominoes pizza I ordered last night. I do feel guilty about that - all the excessive food, I mean.

After the Vatican, I went over to the Roman Forum to use up the third part of my ticket, and slipped into the Roman Forum about an hour before its closing time. It was an interesting place - I know some people refer to Rome as a city with 'loads of broken bits', but to me, it was fascinating, seeing the remains of people who had lived and died here thousands of years ago. It had finally stopped raining, but the weather was still blustery, which was still vastly preferable to boiling heat.

The Collosseum from the other side

Next morning. I had an early morning train to Florence, aboard the Freccia Bianca, one of Italy's high speed trains, and I walked around the Termini whilst waiting for my train. High speed trains are the only means of transport that actually run on time here. I was honestly flabbergasted by the incredible lack of punctuality (and that is a massive understatement) of the buses here.

My favourite kind of train ride: when the day is still dark

We will meet again.

Italy, part XIV - Rome (iv): Rome Termini station, more Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola, outer Pantheon, a bit of the Trevi Fountain and the Baths of Diocletian by night

Pantheon, outer facade

The Irish sun is shining, birds are chirping happily, there is a coffee machine in the house that works like the proverbial charm, the tables and my coffee mugs are all IKEA, and I am left to my own devices in this house, with no one and nothing but my thoughts to keep me company. No one can claim to know what perfection looks like, but to me at least, this is as close as it gets.

Back to Rome. Here are some pictures of the Pantheon's outer facade, since you've seen so much of the inner workings.

And some more of Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola and la bella Roma..

I turned a corner and accidentally walked right into the Trevi Fountain.

Walking back to the hostel and seeing this beauty rear up at me out of the Roman night.

My hostel was situated in the neighbourhood of the Baths of Diocletian and Roma Termini, Rome's main railway station.

The Baths, and I only got one picture in because I really couldn't see anything by night:

Then I sloped off to the shopping hub in Termini to get some late-night food because I was peckish, and the shops I passed were boring, so I figured I could get a wider range of choices in the Termini.

Where to this time?

I'm getting myself one of those fur-tipped jackets this winter

The hostel by day.