　おいしい！

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Rome- the historical city of love. The beautiful Foro Romano (Roman Forum), the breathtaking coloseum, the Pantheon, the vibrant and colourful piazzas all around the city, each with their magnificent fountains and beautiful sculptures. Three words to describe this voyage - Roma, Ti Amo.

Flying over the Mont Blanc

The mediterranean coast

The super friendly pilot couldn't stop explaining the sights and sounds that we saw along the way and how it was a lovely day to fly. I was wedged in the middle between an Italian guy who was dozing next to the window (What a waste!) and Kiba and thus asked very nicely if I could change seats with the Italian. He agreed and ho and behold! I had all the wondrous sights under my eyes!

Approaching Italy. Reminiscent of the French countryside

Once we touched down at the Fiumicino airport (Aeroporto Leonardo Da Vinci), we got ourselves the ROMA PASS, which includes free transportation regardless of the metro or buses in Rome itself and 2 free entries and other subsidized entries to a list of mainly museums and a few places of interest). Since Roman transportation is quite cheap - 1€ for the buses and MRTs per trip, it was a bit steep to pay 20 euros for a ROMA Pass per person.However, since it was our first time there, it's better to get this pass for easy access around the city rather than be troubled to pay tickets each time. However, since Rome is actually very walkable, I'll advise you guys to forgo the Roman pass and just get around like the locals.After all, do like the Romans do.

Roma Trastevere! Our first station in Rome. We need to do a transfer to take another suburban line to our destination. Since all the hotels in downtown Rome were fully booked, we had to find a hotel in the suburbs.

Initially, the scenery along the way was quite depressing. Along the way from the airport to the suburbs, Italy is actually very underdeveloped with unruly forests and the like.It reminded me of the villages of Indonesia or the under developed parts of Bangkok. I had no impression that I was in Rome at all.

Just look at the houses in the background, doesn't look very Roman eh?

Yay! Finally reached the hotel! It looks better than expected!

We had reached the hotel at 1.15pm and had to wait till 2pm to get our rooms. Sigh. We left our house at 7am that particular morning and our flight was scheduled at 8.50am. Since I had miss my fight in Amsterdam, Kiba no longer had any faith in me and insisted that we woke up earlier. The traffic jam in Paris is totally not surprising even though it was a Saturday. If only les embouteillages stop forever and ever. We decided to answer nature's call since it was a longgg morning without any washrooms.

Guess what does this signify?

Wrong! It doesn't mean women's washroom! Haha! It should be a conference room or multipurpose room by the name of nana. Since sala could be salle in french, meaning room. Haha, it'd be very salah to think otherwise! Heehee

My Kiba loves to pose by stairways. Oozing charm eh?

Can't resist taking a picture with the xmas tree =)

Les amoureux

Pasar pagi looks the same everywhere. Not a lot of interesting stuff though

The metro station Cornelia- the nearest to our hotel, about 2km away

The metro in Rome. Doesn't it remind you of the NEL in Singapore? This is one of the new trains though. Very clean. At least cleaner than the metros in Paris

Ok!*Clapping of hands together!* Are you all ready?

Presenting to you.....

Kiba and the coloseum!

Lovers in Roma

Latin inscriptions that I can't read

Look at the scenery! Gorgeous! I wanna live in Roma! I will start to call Rome by its Italian name Roma, cuz it's definitely more romantic

Me doing n'importe quoi! haha

L'arc de triomph displaced?

Heehee

I like this picture, it has a very gothic feel to it

Roman knights gossiping! Heehee, they must be so bored

Maintenance work done at site

Look at the wall erected to support the structure

The glory of the old. Makes us feel so insignificant indeed

Simply happy to be walking the streets of Roma

Egytian Mummy in Roma? We gave him a coin cuz that's what lovers do in Rome. Delirious with love

Say cheese! =)

Heehee, we are cold and Kiba is hungry

Yay! I'm happy to be here

Guess what's a bibite?

Kiba posing by the ruins

The ruins are unrestored and it adds to the charm of the city whereas others might find it a bit messy, I like it!

Dusk is falling

Thou light shinest bright

A horse carriage in the ancient city. Tempted to go on a ride around the city but I deemed it too touristy.heh. However you guys do give it a try ok as it's so incredibly romantic. Romantism à ROMA!

Oops, a fallen column

Miscellaneous ruins

Oops, got to go for lunch, shall come back and update some more! Bye!

12:02 pm　うまい！Y