Arrivederci Roma - time to head for home.

Seven weeks ago we landed in Copenhagen.  Shortly afterwards, we set off on our trusty cycles on a 1400 kilometre journey south through Berlin to Prague.  Day one of the ride Michael punctured a tyre; day two, oops, he did it again.  Thereafter we had no mechanical problems until Michael side-swiped a rubbish bin in Berlin and broke a pannier attachment.  Limited cycling in Italy was met with a less providential face - Michael's much vaunted Brook's leather saddle was finally "broken in" only for some prat from Prato to steal it.  Rosemary's pannier clip was rendered useless in the same incident.  There was a message here - time to put the bikes away - few Italian cities seemed bike friendly - although some brave Italian cyclists would disagree.

The respect the drivers of these parked cars have for pedestrian crossings rather makes my point!

As we prepared to conclude our Danish/German/Czech/Italian holiday, we recalled the tremendous support we had received along the way from a variety of concerned citizens of various nationalities - these include tourist information officers who were our first point of call in looking for last minute accommodation; it includes our B & B hosts who went to extra lengths to accommodate us and our bikes; it includes our Airbnb hosts (used four times); we especially remember the efforts of Cameron and Marcie in Berlin, Elizabeth from Travel Tuscany, Rosa and Sandro Carducci (our hosts in Rome) and the incomparable Jack (Giacomo), the Warmshowers host with the most.

Returning home means boxing the bikes.

It was fortunate that Bob the Builder dropped by again.

Just think, we'll be home in about 30 hours!

Toodle loo and away we go, we hope you liked the show.

                                                                THE END

October 16th - 20th: Rome and the Colosseum Area

The Colosseum area is located in what the Romans call Rione dei Monti (“district of the hills”), bordered by 3 of the 7 hills on which Rome was founded: the Esquiline, Viminal, and Quirinal. The area is famous for its archeological treasures: the Roman and Imperial Forums, the Trajan market, Domus Aurea, the arch of Constantin and of course, the Colosseum.

A ruin amongst the ruins - approaching the end of a seven week excursion

In common with our experience of the Vatican, we were amazed at the breadth of elements that this ancient area has managed to preserve - it seemed with every turn you were confronted by a stunning reminder of a culture that flourished over 1700 years ago.

October 16th - 20th: Tramping around old Rome

Today we set out to see the city sights

Having marvelled at the queue to St Peter's Basilica the day before we arrived at opening time - 7am and walked straight in - we viewed the biggest church I've ever seen in relative peace and quiet.

The sun comes up on St Peters

Too big to photograph effectively.

A mere side altar at St Peters; one of many.

Always wondered what Garibaldi did?  He warrants a big monument - seems he was a politician and general who fought in many military campaigns that led eventually to the formation of a unified Italy. He died in 1882

The Pantheon - a bit like St Peters - too big to photograph.

Piazza Nuova has multiple fine fountains.........

A baroque church and obelisk ......

And interested spectators.......

The Trevi Fountain - almost a case of can't see the fountain for the spectators!

October 16th - 20th: Rome - a day at the Vatican

Managed the drive to Rome's Ciampino airport without major incident - glad to hand the keys back without a scrape.  Soon annoyed by taxi driver insisting on too much to transport bikes to our next lodgings across town.

When in Rome, visit the Vatican museums, culminating in the Sistine Chapel

I was amazed at the breadth of the collections of antiquities - sculpture, paintings, tapestries, frescoes - the diversity and quality was stunning

The Sistine Chapel (no photos allowed) was almost anti-climactic after 3 hours of fabulous offerings!

Did I mention the crowds??? If mid October is after the peak, then I don't want to be here when it's busier.

Speaking of crowds, this queue to visit St Peter' Basilica wound back and forth for over a 150 metres

October 13th -15th: Assisi and other Umbrian Delghts

Loaded the bikes into the Lancia Muso at Florence airport and set off for Assisi

It's not as bad as it looks!

We were to stay in an attic level of a private house about 10 klm from Assisi in the town of Petrignano, about 2 klm on fom Palazzo!  Had to explain the gratuitous use of this photograph somehow!

Welcome to Umbria.

The masterchef prepared Umbrian specialities, while keeping her head down.

The payoff for a sloping ceiling was this third story balcony with a view of Assisi in the background.

Assisi is all about St Francis and St Clare - the doves, by the way, are real!

The city, built on a hillside, is dominated by the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi. 

Atop the hill, is an impressive castle that predates the town.

Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli is one of many churches in Assisi - what makes it special is that it was built to encompass an existing church - the Porziuncola, the original church from which Francis began his work among the poor.

Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli needed to be big - the seventh largest in the world, in order to host the many pilgrims that flock to see the Porziuncola, gifted to Francis by the Benedictines.

Man does not live by churches alone - this feast of ravioli prepared by Mama Rosamaria was well received.  The wine was a result of an excursion into the Umbian hills around Montefalco, renowned for its production of sagrantino red grapes.

It was harvest time at the house of Dionigi, a marvellous opportunity to witness the raw product.

And be treated to a private tasting by Roberto Dionigi 

Bravo Roberto who carries on a 117 year tradition for the Dionigi family.

Our last night in Umbria and the rains came down on our backyard at Petrignano; tomorrow would see a two and a half hour drive to Rome, where the Lancia would be returned and our feet would be sorely tested - Rome is definitely not the place to ride a bike.