Home Soil

Back on home soil - but still with a longish flight ahead of us, we look forward to a couple of days of completely chilling-out on Scarborough Beach, WA.  After checking in, the first task is a little shopping trip to buy thongs, hats, sunscreen etc for a very different climate to what we have been experiencing!  We walk down to the shops in bare feet - our European boots would have just been wrong!  

Then down to the beach.  As we approached, people were coming back towards us.  Ahhh- yes - of course - how silly of us!  The shark alarm.....!  Never mind, we sit on the sand until the beach opens again shortly later and yes, we do brave a little bit of a paddle.  Watching for fins the whole time - of course!

It feels much safer to return just before dusk, buy our fish and chips and sit on the grass hill to watch the sun set in the west - over the Indian Ocean.  We can but dream of our recent times on the other side - and our long flight over this expanse of water earlier today.  

It is a real joy to catch up with our niece, Demi.  But otherwise, we do as we planned - chill out for a couple of days.  

Ahhhh...we have thawed out.

Final Day Adventure

The Catacombs of S. Sebastian were so interesting as our first stop along The Appia Antico. Dating from 2nd/3rd centuries they are said to possibly contain remains of St Peter and St Paul, though tourists over the centuries have souvenired so much. All relics from public areas are now removed.
The Church built over the catacombes also provides fascinating artefacts including a sculpture of S. Sebastian and possibly the imprint of Christ's footprints - if you believe the legend.
The amazing thing about Appia Antico is that in recent years there has been a concerted effort to regain areas that had previously been absorbed into private properties. The thermal baths previously had a vineyard planted over the top.
We were fascinated with the circus, where chariot racing took place so long ago. On a beautiful day such as today, our minds easily recreated this image! And the partially restored mausoleum on site was simply amazing.
Catching public transport creates its own adventure so the 2 bus ride home through the suburbs gave us a snapshot of life in the suburbs.

The Day Before Christianity

Visiting the Roman Forum and Colloseum is always going to provoke a 'wow' factor. Is it the sheer size? Maybe the awe at the architectural and construction achievements. Perhaps walking on the same ground as those names we have heard from history. Is it the amazement at the science they had mastered, or maybe the complexities (and sometimes mysteries) of the lifestyle and social factors. I think that it involves the impact of all of these.

As we hear the commentary from our tour guide, our minds recreate scenes, but also there are questions and challenges. Some comparisons to current world and life events...It didn't end so well for The Roman Empire, so why would we still be repeating the behaviours? The missing treasures - some we have been told have been re-fashioned in The Vatican- just like the roof from The Pantheon. The religious and social intolerance. The division of class. The discrimination towards women. The power struggles and use of threat and intimidation. The obsessive collection of 'things'.  Ugghhh.

I asked a question towards the end- before Etruscan inhabitation - any ancient archeoligical finds like Australia's Indigenous history? Clearly this guide had never contemplated the existence of anything other than or before Rome. So, I am left contemplating the millions of tourists who are in awe of these relics every year and the comparative isolation and lack of  awareness of early Indigenous history - all countries!  What do we value? And maybe its a good thing that profiteering has left it alone.

Certainly every step you take in Rome reveals another view of amazement, so it is two very weary travellers who finally tramp home late that afternoon. Our roof terrace sunset is full of chat and we really are enjoying the food and ambience of a nearby Italian restaurant. Feels earthy and genuine - with seats filled with Italians, who seem likewise. Finally I am liking what I'm experiencing. It feels genuine.

Rome wasnt built in a day

...and we won't be seeing enough in 4 days!

I wasnt well on train from Florence so opt for taxi from the station. Good move. They are cheap - much cheaper than Uber. Our hotel faces The Pantheon piazza, which is alive with people and buskers on a mild afternoon. With relief we find a friendly and welcoming hotel awaits us. The real bonus is a rooftop terrace from where we can see the skyline of Rome and look down on the piazza with its fountain. We meet some other guests who recommend a restaurant for dinner.

An early start after breakfast - being one of the first into the Pantheon. How lucky are we to have it to ourselves!

From there we walk to The Vatican for our pre paid tour. We have to wait a short while before touring the museums, including The Sistene Chapel and Basilica as well as the actual museum. So many art treasures, sculptures, tapestries, frescoes. So easy to spend a few hours here. Although it feels crowded, we know it is not. We get seats in The Sistene Chapel in order to study Michelangelo's work more closely.

After a late lunch we continue our walking discovery - stopping to admire Basilicas, Piazzas, fountains (including Trevi) and buildings - from Roman ruins through to the gobsmackingly over sized creations of the Roman state and Church.

A wind down on the rooftop is the perfect way to end this busy day.