And last day in Rome

Tuesday 31 October

Evelyn and I caught the bus to the airport where she gave me my boarding pass. I checked my bags all the way to Johannesburg.

Left a rainy Switzerland.

I love clouds!!

I caught the bus into Rome. 10 euros return instead of 14 each way. And it took just a little longer.

Taken from bus as we got closer to Rome 

Back in beautiful Rome!

I stumbled onto a second hand shop (a chain I realised) called "Human Vintage" which had a poncho I liked. Decided that if it was still therr when I returned at the end of the day, then I would buy it. The shop was very busy but I didn't want to walk around with it all day.

Just beautiful buildings wherever you walk.

S. Maria AI Monti

My first stop was the Roman Forum. 

There were bands playing on the street and it was festive. I hadn't realised this was the Forum which I'd walked past last time I was here, although I think it extends further than just this.

I wandered around taking selfies with pretty buildings or statues 😀

I ended up doing a tour of Capitolino Hill.

Obligatory selfie 😀

I walked up the stairs and then realised it was one way - you had to do the whole tour, which I enjoyed.

This bird!! He was super tame so I offered him some water. He didn't seem impressed and looked like he wanted to peck my eyes. So I took a selfie Video and as I stopped he bit my shoulder!! People shouted who saw and I laughed. Cheeky bugger 💜😀

Alfred Hitchcock bird!!

See the Colloseum in these two pics?

I went back to the Pantheon and video called David. He'd told me the door was 2000 years old!! And still opened and closed perfectly. Incredible.

Called Dad and Mom too 💜

Had an icecream and charged my phone in his shop while I ate it.

This building outside.

While eating my gelato (ice-cream) I read in my guide book that Piazza Navona is interesting and was close so I walked there.

I enjoyed the birds perching on their heads.

I decided to walk back slowly past the Colloseum to see it one last time.

Fountains you find all over Italy to drink from.

Pretty courtyard/garden I walked through.

Recognize this but not sure what it's importance is 😊

And I reached the Colloseum from a different angle.

Treat too big to swallow 

I walked towards "Human Vintage" where I bought a zebra skin belt in the first shop.

And my poncho was still there, so I got it and a pair of leather boots.

I'd seen a restaurant I liked, so walked back to it and had my last meal in Italy. It was good.

My pizza and friendly waiter.

There was a 17:20 bus or a 18:50, so I decided to rush my meal and take the earlier bus. Got here way too early considering my bags were checked through from Zurich and I had my boarding pass (checked in online) but I've had time to relax and finish this blog.

Leaving on the bus past Rome Termini (main station).

Some traffic initially

My flight is just before 11 tonight so I've got another two hours to wait still. Hope I don't fall asleep.

Had a horrible flight. It looks like every seat was taken and felt like a sardine with an aggressive big man on my right who splayed over into my seat, waking me all the time with knocks and a lovely Indian man on my left who I couldn't really understand. My seat reclined and then slowly took me back to upright. Not much sleep!

But, I'm halfway home. Waiting at the gate for my flight to Johannesburg at 8:40.

SAA serve really nice wine - Anura. I drank it with my sushi today and I'm going to look to buy some.

I had a streaming nose my last flight so told Dad I should rather get an Uber, but he was at the gate waiting for me. Was lovely to be driven home.

And I woke up feeling fine so I think it was just my reaction to the dry air of 5 flights home!

Was great seeing my dogs and cats and I slept really well in my own bed.

Was a great holiday!!