On our last morning in Florence we went to the Uffizi Gallery - the oldest and, according to the Times, best Art collection in the world. I have fond memories of this gallery but while it had some good works, it was not as interesting as I remembered - Greg felt the same. However, the audios helped the kids get through. Greg bravely made his way out of the city traffic while I prepared our car picnic. I am getting so good at making sandwiches on a tiny chopping board on my lap! It's not without difficulty, especially cutting the bread with my little knife as Greg has to dodge and weave down the road. We all feel that the blurb we read in Wraclaw which claimed Polish drivers were the worst ever, really was doing themselves a dis-service. Italian drivers are the worst, really DREADFUL in the cities - although at least they do tend to stick to the speed limit on the freeways which is quite novel. However, we don't let bad drivers intimidate us. We're French! Well, at least our car and number plate are. Whenever we see fellow drivers swearing or wildly gesticulating at us we all like to say "Bloody French" :-) We find it highly amusing anyway!
All went well until we hit the heavy traffic on the outskirts of Rome. Although there were only two marked lanes, all the cars were choosing to make it three, which made it quite hairy when it came to traffic lights (when it's like being in some mad car race) or turning. And our room here is in the centre of the city. We have three criteria for choosing accommodation: price (cheap as possible); location (as close to the centre as we can afford) and parking (our car). We are staying at the Borghese Executive Suites which are a stones throw from the Borghese Gardens (apparently gorgeous, but we are yet to visit, I'll report on that later) and all the reviews commented on it's great location. They assured us that there was plenty of street parking, but if not, there was a car park next door to them. Well, our GPS told us we'd arrived, and we couldn't see a single street park, so after doing a blocky we parked in the car park (20 euro a day). I have to say that we have not seen a single park since, and quite frankly our Peugeot is way too big for any of the parks we do see (which are parks in the very vague sense of the word, more a small space and some pavement!). We unloaded and walked out onto the road. It was dark, and very cold, and no sign for the Borghese Executive suites stood out to us. We walked up the road. Asked for assistance, got sent down another the road (in retrospect, they were sending us to the Borghese gardens!), turned around, walked back to the parking place - and sure enough, it was next door. Wasn't the little no. "15" three metres up the wall enough for us?? Apparently, no other signage is needed. And needless to say, the "Executive" and "Suite" parts might be a bit exaggerated, but its a clean room with a bathroom (oh, that's my other criteria. I'm too old to share a bathroom!!). Anyway - friendly hosts, and the location is really good!
Yesterday we set off to walk to the Vatican. Apparently Wednesday morning is a great time to do the Vatican gallery as the pope is speaking and all the crowds are out in front of St Peters Basilica. It was a great plan, but we don't get moving well in these cold mornings, and then when we finally set off we went in the wrong direction... so by the time we finally decided just to get on the metro, it was already 10.30!! We made it past the gamut of hawkers offering us "tours" of the museum (they might be good value but we don't appreciate being hassled). When I say we, it was Greg & I (that camera hanging around my neck marks me squarely as a tourist). Bella, looking too cool for school in her black knee high boots and black fake fur swing coat, strode confidently down the street just attracting admiring glances from the men/boys (who seemed to easily ignore the snarly look coming from her father behind!).
Due to the season there wasn't a line at the Vatican Museum but there were still plenty of visitors! I'd hate to see it when it's busy! There is a lot to see and we saved the best until the last - the magnificent Sistine Chapel. I was sooo itching to take a photo but there were guards everywhere. One bit of feedback we'd have is not to eat lunch at the cafeteria. We all had different selections and it was without doubt the very worst food we've had on this entire trip!! And expensive! I really wanted to see St Peters Basilica and the gorgeous Pieta by Michelangelo, but everyone else felt that they were all museumed out. Liam eventually agreed to come with me and thought it was worth his effort - it is a magnificent church. We took the metro to the Colosseum as I had a restaurant recommendation there, and apparently the building is pretty impressive by night (it is). The restaurant didn't open until 7pm, and it was only 5.30. It was dark, and cold, and we were all a bit shattered (Bella and I are not 100% either, but not too bad thanks to Thomas' inoculation!) so we found somewhere else. Average food, but after lunch it was fabulous. Taking the metro back was hairy. The trains were full to capacity, and all around us are signs saying: "Beware! The worlds best pickpockets work here!". We let a few trains go before bravely squashing in, clutching our possessions to our bodies, and made it back safely. We still had a little walking - we have to work out the buses!!
So today we are off to the Colosseum to brave those thieves again and to do the tour!
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