More Rome

Have ome time now as we have moved to another part of the beehive and computer use is not as in demand.Rome was wonderful and we have paced ourselves- Trastavere the first day along with the Balbi for a good insight into the digging up of ancient Rome followed by a walk thru the ghetto to the pantheon and a good restaurant recommended by Beehive people.
Great pasta and we then headed in the rain to St Clement of the underground river and on to St Giovanni de Lateran where all the popes are buried- great statuary there and an impressive size.In the rain braved the bus back to termini and had a meal at a station self serve where the girls grilled meat of your choice 5eveges3e for aserve and a 1/2 bottle of good wine for 5e- cheap and cheerful!Breakfast the next day were charged 27e for 2 capuccinos fresh OJs and 2 ham and cheese panini and 1 croissant- real tourist rip bur oj and coffee were excellent!Breakfast at the railway Italian pasticceria for 2 caps and 2 filled-1 fruit 1 custard croissants the next day was 4e! Go figure.Dinner a disaster fatty meat stew called veal in wine sauce tho Dale roast chicken was fine- real tourist place but we were tired and desperate!
Anyhow good value is to be had in Italy generally, Booked a ticket to the Borghese Gallery for 1pm excellent value as the palace is a work of art itself and there was a Canova exhibition as well as all the other wonders there. Spent 2 hrs and then wandered thru the park to the Popolo place- great misty view over Rome. Visited Spanish steps on way to Borghese- expensive hotels and dress shops Valentinos workroom was one I spotted-fendi gucci etc. all there!Full of Americans and Middle Eastern princesses.
Headed back to the beehive walking as the sun was out and again covered 7km or so!Met a nice lady from Melbourne and had dinner with her at the beehive. Have a ticket to the Massimo from th Balbi visit- went there in 2004 a great little museum with sculpture, frescoes and mosaics from ancient Roman sites discovered during earthworks, building etc.Have rooms reconstructed from the past with original wall paintings etc. lovely.
Also a massive coin display of every coin minted in Italy sine Christsd time amazing to see well arranged and explained.
A mummy of an aristocratic young girl was also displayed- showing all the work done on her- DNA studies,cloth analysis etc.
Jewellery and other artifacts were also shown so all in all a good place to see a potted history of Roman sculpture, mosaic work and frescos.Anyone interested in coinage and history of money would also find it worthwhile.Searching for shoes but found a dressshop instead- poor Dale- finally bought myself something I wouldn't find in Melbourne!
There seems to be some sort of industrial/political activity today- police in their cool uniforms and boots strutting their stuff on the street. Large marches with banners and lots of people and balloons-can't figure what it is all about.
Have crossed paths with some of the politicians, diplomat types in flash cars with police escorts outside restaurants and buildings-seem to be very security conscious- reckon terrorists would need to disguise themselves as tourists as it seems everyone ignores you if you look like one- comforting in some ways!
Off to another dinner at the beehive tonight our last in Roma- lunch at our good place at the Rotunda was sliced steak on a bed of rocket-just the ticket before a vegetarian feast tonight. Have walked our feet off in Rome! Daylight saving finishes tomorrow so we have a sleep in tonight!Ciao.