DAY 20 - Jesus, I can't keep this up.

My holiday is drawing to a close, but it's still bloody hard going. I guess the final lap is always the toughest. The weird thing is, as crazy as it sounds, I went into only my second (of two) days in Rome not really having much of an idea of what to see. I knew about the Vatican, of course, but other than that, not much. Sounds strange, but it's true.

I did something very silly before my day even got started. I drew out 200 euro from a cashpoint at a Barclays bank, and I only found 190. Hmm, looks like I've been short changed, I thought. So I went into the bank and spoke with the woman there, who's English was pretty limited. I gave her my debit card and we started arranging for them to put 10 euro in my account. When she asked for ID, I pulled out my passport - with a 10 euro note attached. Ah. I felt like a fool (I don't think she understood what "I've wasted your time" meant, but I apologised anyway and she didn't seem bothered - she was probably bored anyway) and went away to finally begin my journey.

I jumped on the Metro, which is very similar to the Milan Metro, but I love the old-school graffiti you get on some of the carriages. London Underground have a policy of not allowing trains with graffiti out on the track, so I'm not used to this. Needless to say, it doesn't happen in Kyiv either.




So, off I went to the Vatican City. I had my passport but I didn't need it because - you guessed it - I didn't go in. I didn't see much point. Complete ripoff, like the rest of the city.






There were plenty of people who did want to go in, of course - another reason not to bother. I had better things to do with my time than wait in a queue for hours.






There's the uscita. Erm, exit. I'm so used to that word now.











They build the walls pretty high: don't think they like "outsiders"...








This door-ish thing on the side must be recent, given that it mentions the new Pope.







Like I said, big walls.








I tried to nonchalantly walk through this gate and a ridiculously-dressed Swiss guard man thrust his arm in my path and said "Hello!" in a threatening way, so I threw my hands up and turned volte-face (ooh, Latin, how appropriate. Actually, that could be French).




The gates to the most accessible part, St Peter's Square.








Lots of columns around the square.








Must admit, it's a big square, with a lot of people.








And so many queueing up.








Two fountains. Here's one. I think they're the same.








Big thing. Seen a few of them in Rome.











Statue sitting above a big telly. Nice of the Holy See to upgrade to big tellies for the masses who gather to hear the Pope giving it large.






It looks empty here, but there really were people everywhere. Honest.







Who?








I hope this gives a good idea of the amount of people queueing. Such visions give me nightmares. No way am I going in there.







I walked away, but took a parting shot.








Now I'm nearing Castel Sant'Angelo, so here's a... bridge, thing.








And there's the castle. I seriously considered paying to go up there, given the lovely view it'd offer. I think you know the result.







The Bridge of Angels. No idea why they call it that.








I mean really.








Oh well, maybe next time. Having a good viewpoint on Rome is a bonus, so maybe I should've untightened the purse strings on that occasion.






Never mind.








Hmm, reminds me of Copenhagen's Kastellet. Very similar design. But that was free...







This Palazzo della Something is covered in scaffolding, sadly.








Still looks bearable I suppose.








But where is this, you may ask?








It's the Trevi Fountain! What a lovely place - and as you can see here, a big tourist attraction. Pickpocket senses on full alert.







Fortunately nobody felt me up. Or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it.







Church next to the fountain. No, I don't know what it's called.











The Piazza del Quirinale has these guys next to the steps leading up to the Piazza itself.







And these... oh, these captions write themselves.








The Palazzo del Quirinale is on the left. I won't tell you where this is, that's your job.







The Fontana dei Dioscuri, in the Piazza.











Erm... this situation happens too often. That is, not knowing what the hell I took a pic of.







Get on the Metro, it's time for a change of scene. You may remember I went to the Circus Maximus. Well, the Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth) was nearby and I forgot to see it. Fool. So I went back there. You do get a nice view of the ruins from the other side of the road.




This is... a guy.








I thought I'd take another shot of the Circus from the other side (on a cloudy day).







Ooh, it's the Mouth! But I'm in a queue. Still, only 50 cents for your pic with it...







Or you can take a pic like this and run away.








And then lean in and take one like this. Ha.











Nearby, the Temple of Hercules Victor is visible.








That's better. See, this cameraphone is capable of half-decent pics.








Just looking around the area.








Time to head over the bridge into no-mans land. Sort of. This is on the way to Tiber Island, the only island on the river in Rome.







Er, ditto.








I think there's a film festival on the island or something.








There's a church-like place, San Bartolomeo all'Isola, on the island.








Off the island and on the other side of the river, I had a walk around.







The streets around here are so quiet, and rather nice.








There's a big church in the background there.








Ah, pleasant.








Another church-like building. This is where I'd have dinner later.











Lots of walking ensued.








I reached (after some real effort climbing stairs and such) this fountain.







It's certainly in a good position...











...do you see? It's a better view in real life, as with anything taken on my camera.







A monument.








Another one. A big one.








Okay, this is where I got lost...








Very lost.








I mean...








...this all looks nice, but I had no idea where I was: I was off my map, so I was basically screwed.







It was so bad I took a picture of ants marching in a line.








Then I found another fountain. Still don't know where this is.








Eventually, after a LOT of walking, I got back where I started. My feet were feeling the pain, so I stopped at a charming restaurant which offered a tourist menu of a starter, two more courses and dessert, to which I added half a litre of house red and some water, and afterwards felt drunk, full and very satisfied. I think the price I paid given the amount of food was pretty reasonable.

I then made the frankly crazy walk home, way too far. After all that, I really didn't fancy doing anything else, and with a super early start the following day, I did nothing in the evening. I'm flying to Madrid, and I have to get up very early indeed. So I'd better go to bed now...