18/1/09 – 1pm

Had a nice long sleep and then got the Metro up to the Vatican.  Had a wander round and took some photos, including this one of a grandad feeding the pigeons with his little granddaughter!

A grandfather and his granddaughter feed the pigeons in Piazza San Pietro

I’m currently in a pizza place not far from Cavour Metro station, near a piazza by a church called Madonna dei Monti.  There is a small street leading from the piazza down to the back of the imperial fora.  The thing I love about Rome is the constant juxtaposition between ancient and modern – wherever you go, you’re liable to stumble upon impressive ruins. It’s amazing!

It’s warm again – relatively speaking – which is nice.  One feels so much more relaxed when one is not having to expend all one’s energy on trying (and failing) to keep warm.  (Although that said, at this specific moment I am a bit cold cos I just drank a bottle of chilled water!)

Not sure how I’ll spend the rest of the day – wandering down the Via del Corso to the Piazza del Popolo perhaps.

6.20pm

Part of the stunning Garden Room frieze from the so-called House of Livia (Terme Museum, Rome)

I ended up going to the Museo Nazionale next to Termini Station, where I spent several hours admiring some absolutely incredible mosaics and frescoes.  I hadn’t realised that the entire breathtaking garden room frieze from the House of Livia would be there, so I was very much taken aback with joy and amazement!  I was also very happy to be able to see the statue of Augustus as Pontifex Maximus, and I spent some minutes photographing it from pretty much every conceivable angle.

Augustus as Pontifex Maximus (Terme Museum, Rome)

My museum ticket was also valid for the Baths of Diocletian, which were unfortunately closed, so I got the Metro back to the Circus Maximus and wandered about the centre of Rome for a bit.  I had yet more pizza for an early dinner and then went to San Crispino’s one last time.  I took some photos of various monuments lit up in the dark, and I’m now rather tired and aching from all the walking I’ve been doing!

The Trevi Fountain at dusk

Shame I have to go home in the morning, but it’s been great – so great – to get away for a couple of days.  The only thing that would have made it even better would’ve been having lots of money with which to indulge in some shopping!  I have been exceptionally restrained, and have only bought a couple of postcards.

The Colosseum by night