Just after my previous post Stacey and Brie (here after referred to as 'them', 'they', or 'the girls') and spent over an hour just trying to leave my bags at the train station. We were all glad for the air conditioning because outside it was stuffy and sweaty. Stacey guided us through the metro system (after Brie haggled with a street urchin for a ticket from the automatic machine) and we popped out right in front of the Colosseum. Although the caretakers between the Romans and modern day Italians really let the place fall apart it is a really impressive building. Naturally I took plenty of photos but they can't do the thing justice (though the night shot I have of it is pretty cool).

   Next on the list was the place where the chariot races were held. There is a funny photo in the works titled 'Something Racey'. The girls will email it to me once it has been developed :-). The Roman Forum was the heart of ancient Rome, and it is a very interesting place to walk around. So many integral parts of their society, and now it's just ruins. We threw coins at the ledge that other people have been doing for quite some time, none managed to stay on though, I don't know if that means we are going to be cursed or something, judging from the rest of the day we are pretty well blessed actully.

   From there we walked to the Pantheon and again were suitably amazed by the huge buildings that those clever Roman people could build. This particular one used to have copper roof tiles, but they were removed and melted down to make part of St Peter's church and 80 cannons! Keen to investigate this grand copper theft we continued our tour and came to none other than the center of the Catholic church, St Peter's. I had to put on the leg parts of my trousers/shorts and the girls covered their shoulders because thats the dress code in there. As Brie mentioned, nothing in America (or NZ for that matter) has had the attention devoted to it that was spent even on the floor of this place, let alone the acres of detailed wall paintings, marble sculptures and other incredible pieces of art. The Pope Crypt was kinda eerie but refreshingly cold.

   The Sistine Chapel was closed for the day, but I understand the girls will be back to see it another time, I will when Bronwyn, Nina and I roll through town some time later in the year. Stacey has been here before (hence the designation as tour guide) and she took us to Piazza Navona, a lovely city square with a fountain, street performers and restaurants. It was there that we watched as day turned into night and food and wine came and went. A very special evening there in Rome with my two new road friends. Everything on this trip has been brilliant and this is the sort of thing I hope to reminisce about for years and years to come.

   By now I had very little time to get my baggage and train but with a bit of a power walk and humming along to 'Eye of the Tiger' we made it with time to spare. I bid the girls good bye, hoping that it was just a 'see you later'. There is a chance that we will cross paths in Holland, and I am getting more determined to go back home via the states. The train ride that night was ok, but in the morning I woke to the news that there had been a landslide in the Monte Carlo tunnel (actually it happened on July 3rd and the guy in Rome neglected to mention it) and there was some complicated plan to get us all around it. I missed my planned connection but managed to rework it, and modify the ticket that the silly guy in Rome sold me. Despite showing him a piece of paper clearly printed with Barcelona, he only gave me a ticket to Cerebere which is in France. Either way, I got to Barcelona last night and finally connected with Bronwyn and Nina. Yay! They are supposed to be writing up today's events so I sign off now and let them take over.

photos added August 20th

Brie telling off a giant!

Inside St Peter's Church

Stacey, Brie and I after dinner

The Colosseum at night