Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Gah, Blogger did it again! Oh well, only one day left!

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Bertolotto Cova Apartment, Levanto
0802 EET

Mom woke me at 0658 for my shower, which was followed by our standard breakfast fare. Afterwards more cleaning followed with laundry of towels and bed sheets being done. The last of our packing, bathroom things for us and beach towels for the gift suitcase was also done. Our train leaves at 0858 and Zio and Zia offered and somewhat coherence Mom into accepting a car ride for our luggage and us at 0830.

One thing I neglected to relate about our beach trip yesterday, besides seeing Angela again as well, Zia actually told us the number of the procession crucifixes that were usually carried—fifteen to thirty! And they come from all over Liguria so it is no wonder they were saying the procession had been short, although the black crucifix and also the largest, was once again present as they always remember it being so. The black one was the one that got hung up on the overhead street light.

Pisa Centrale, Pisa
1027 EET

So we were delivered by Zio and Zia to the Levanto train station in good order with our now three suitcases. Saying our goodbyes, we parted ways, with us heading for Platform 2 where our intercity train was departing from. The train was tardy and of course, or car was 009 at the end, as were our assigned seats in the car, and we were on our way by 0907. I once again admired the scenery, taking note of Monterosso’s cemetery; a photograph of a stone yard with its blocks of stones; a helicopter dismantled in a coast guard centre; said farewell to La Spiza the navy town from which Zio has seen warships; a race track where horses with jockey slings were being exercised; and house watching.

Stone yard from train.

Upon arriving in Pisa, we located the platform of our 1100 train to Roma, number 3. While I watched the luggage, mostly by sitting on it and journaling, Mom fetched and returned with €3.10 [$4.0067] paninis, vegetable with nice warm buns from Chef Express which is most likely a franchise and in violation of our eat local rule.

Room 8, Casa di Rosy, Roma
2117 EET

From Pisa we were on the train and our way at 1059 and most of the journey we spend dozing in our six compartment area of the train. No looking at scenery really, because we did not have window seats and were facing backwards from the train’s direction. We arrived in Roma in good time and progressed to Casa di Rosey, gained access to the building because of the insecure door, but because it was 1436, there was no one there at the B&B. So we sat, and waited, and finally I popped a memory card into my camera and set it on the slideshow feature. The music gained the attention, and I think irritated, the neighbour who did not speak English, and who phoned the B&B for us. Some minutes later, a gentleman came and fetched us but he didn’t speak English either so we had to call again to understand that we were to go with him as Casa di Rosy had double booked on something and was hosting us elsewhere. So, this isn’t really Casa di Rosy, but it is Room 8 and kitty-corner to the B&B where we will go for breakfast tomorrow.

Roma building with our second B&B.

After depositing our luggage in our room, we returned to Roma Termini to catch the metro to Baberini to see Fontana di Trevi as recommended by Zia and Zio. It was a quick jaunt and neat seeing the metro bend around corners when standing inside an almost empty train. We soon found Fontana di Trevi, and its mass of people, and admired Poseidon in his shell, the tritons with horses, and the vegetation carved within the marble fountain. And for good luck and to ensure our return to Roma, we each kissed and tossed a five cent coin into the fountain’s waters.

Fontana di Trevi.

Poseidon of Fontana di Trevi.

Triton and horse detail of Fontana di Trevi.

On our return to the metro, we went to Gelateria Creame & Cioccalao once again, €2.00 [$2.585] cones and I was greatly disappointed by the white chocolate flavour this time, greatly, but enjoyed the raisin flavour. We return to Roma Termini and then our afternoon adventure, of finding a restaurant across the river began, as directed by Zia. We misjudged the metro station and disembarked at Colosseo but enjoyed greatly seeing the monument again, and the walk down and around Circo Massimo although there was frequent map checking. I got some great views of Palintino from overlooking the ancient chariot track and of an old section of bridge still standing in Tiber River. While we did quite a bit of walking up and down the otherwise, we selected Pancotto as our restaurant. Mom rated her dish over Monte Arci, I did not as while I enjoyed my spaghetti with tomatoes and pesto, it wasn’t as good as the first Roma meal, Levanto, and Firenze (first, second, third). I did like our peach and avocado salad starter and our shared dessert of tiramisu expect for the strongly coffee flavoured ladyfingers layer. Mom happily polished off my share.

Colosseo.

Circo Massemo looking west.

Section of Circo Massemo with Palintino behind.

Detail of section of Palintino.

Section of old bridge on the Tiber River.

Alanna at Pancotto.

Walking back, we stepped of the main road to travel along the road where we encountered a choir and violinist who was also the conductor. Passing the Templo di Vesta again, having noted it again during a map check, I photographed the area again. Upon reaching Circo Massimo I hugged a tree and Mom photographed me. We boarded the metro for a final time though the late hour meant we were a little less sardines-in-a can like than the second afternoon ride had been. Also we found out that the €1.00 [$1.2925] tickets are only good for the metro once, but within 75 minutes for the bus.

Templo di Vesta.

Alanna missing trees.

So after returning to Room 8, and fighting with the air conditioning unit and finally settling on using just a sheet, we bedded down for our last night of sleep in Italia.