Roma! The REAL day 1...

Finally at 7:40am Italy time we made it to Rome! We got off the plane straight onto the runway (so no that doesn't only happen in Tassie!) and quickly learnt that people don't line up and wait in Italy...EVER! It was each for their own to get onto the bus that would take us back to the terminal!

As soon as we landed, I loved it...the warmth hit me like a blanket...but wasn't stuffy! The sky was blue, and the sounds of crazy Italians who talk like they are arguing all the time, but are just having a friendly conversation, filled my ears! First issue was trying to buy a train ticket into the city. But we figured it out...remembered to validate our ticket! and with all valuables locked and hidden, jumped on the train!

Our Hotel was located two blocks away from the train station, so after orienting ourselves we made our way there on foot, wheeling our luggage over the cobbled streets. We learnt a good life lesson on the way there....Italians don't care much for road rules...just like the line up thing, it's each for their own on the road as well!

Because we arrived at our hotel really early we weren't able to check in to our room till a couple of hours later....this sucked as I smelt REALLY bad...and had ankles the size of an elephant. Despite this we headed off for our first walk around Rome.

Rome is amazing! Everywhere you look there is History and Culture...it's just like you imagine!

One things for certain! They like the 'man on horse' statue...this was the first of many that we came across...

 Everything is so grand and large...and old! Here you can see the average water fountain that you find around Rome...you also get a glimpse of the cobbled road...

 Here's me on some random steps...check out my fat ankles!

 Finally after wandering for a bit we stumbled across this...

 Michaelangelo's magnificent Trevi fountain....

 I can't believe how amazing his sculptures are!

I loved the feel of Rome, it really 'felt' like Italy, with the shutters, and bikes and cars and laneways!

 This was the view from one of our Hotel room windows... we had shutters! wee:)

After getting into our hotel room, a quick nap and shower we headed out for some dinner.

 MYTH: all Italians can cook, and all Italian food is good italian food!

We stumbled across the closest resteraunt we could find (they are EVERYWHERE) it was a nice meal with a nice atmosphere (the Eurocup was on telly with Italy playing Spain)...but in all honesty I thought our first taste of 'real' italian food was average...so yes. Be picky! Hayden didn't mind it, but the burst of flavours that I was hoping for didn't come...but boy did we make up for it the next day!

Finally it was time to crash and sleep before our epic day 2 adventure!