Despite a dark, silent room with a comfortable bed, I had an awful night’s sleep. Maybe it was eating and drinking late… I don’t know. In any case, I was grumpy this morning and, when my iPad finally died (because I was reading on it most of the night), I decided to go out and get some fresh air. So I didn’t wake the others, I left without even washing my face or cleaning my teeth!
At 8.30, the streets were quiet and peaceful. I easily found my way to the Piazza de Spagna, just 10 minutes from our apartment, then climbed the winding staircase to the top to see the church and enjoy the view over the city.
I then walked back in the opposite direction to visit the Trevi Fountain. I’d heard that it’s always busy and I was pleasantly surprised to be able to walk straight up to it. It’s recently been cleaned and was gleaming in the sunshine. I left the keener tourists to the lower level, throwing coins into the water and using their selfie sticks, and turned back to the apartment for a shower and some breakfast.
When we were all organised, we set off to Stazione Termini to catch an open top bus. John and Kathy negotiated 5 for the price of 4 and we took our seats, looking forward to seeing the sights and getting our bearings in the city centre.
Our first stop was by the River Tiber, where I took photos of the bridges and Castel Sant’Angelo, before heading to Piazza Navone to see the fountains. We then wandered the small cobbled backstreets for a while before stopping to sit in the sunshine and share some pizza and bruschetta for lunch.
Back on the bus, we did the full circuit, listening to the commentary through earphones, amazed at the beautiful and ancient buildings around every corner. As the sun began to set, they were glowing orange.
I loved seeing the roadside stalls, the tiny cars squeezed into impossibly small parking spaces and the rows and rows of motorbikes and scooters parked in the squares.
We got off the bus near the top of the Spanish steps. In contrast to this morning, there were people everywhere, watching the sun slip below the horizon. It’s been a lovely day but I’m now ready for something to eat and an early night. I hope I sleep better tonight.
Ramblings 
do hope you sleep. My sleep, or lack of it, is getting worse. I’m only just 60, so if it’s bad now, what will it be like at 80! James sleeps like a baby grrr!
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I did sleep better for the rest of the trip, thank you. My sleep is poor at the best of times though while John, like James, sleeps like a baby! So frustrating!
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