It’s in Rome where we used for the first time our backpacks.
Italian story now ! ( January 28th, 2015 )
For Mauritius, Mada and Rodrigues, we were still dragging around our suitcases.
For the Ivory Coast, we managed to get down to one suitcase for two.
But this wasn’t even our final form! We left for a one year trip, with only backpacks this time.
The plane leaves tomorrow, we feel like nothing will ever be ready in time, of course! We managed to find the padded jackets of our dreams just a few days before departing.
Rapid calculation:
FCO -> Rome airport transportation = 5€ to come + 5€ to go, per person + public transportation in the whole city.
Renting a car = 11€/day + 18€ for gas.
We pick the car! Driving around in the national pride, what better way to dive into the animated italian way of life?
The couchsurfing option has proven quite difficult in Rome. We never got positive feedback. We had to drop the idea.
The following morning, we found the car lost amongst fruit and vegetable stands, having parked in the middle of the sunday’s local market’s spot.
We had to move a few crates, drive on the sidewalk, and ask a ginormous and very tough looking man with luscious shoulder hair (!) to move his truck back for a good 200m, in order to be able to leave.
In these moments, you have to forget you are in the wrong and show determination, if you want to wipe the " honney sweet with a pinch of exasperation" look off their faces.
Afterwards, of course, we go back to our kind and grateful selves. I mean, one does not joke too much with a man sporting such hairy shoulders.
Oh well! Everyone ends up smiling...and it starts to rain. Onwards to the Vatican!
This marble. Yes, actual, genuine, marble. Look at this amazingly light drapery! LOOK AT IT! I would love a marble dress too if it could look just as good.
But in backpacks, this will be so heavy !
"Here’s an idea: let’s paint a huge load of details, maps, and fine golden letters, shall we?" The italian Renaissance art in all its glory!
We then move on to the Vatican’s museum. And spend a good hour transfixed at the wall of the Sixtin. Sadly, no pictures allowed, but here, a good 3D view !
Also! We got to compared St Peter’s and the Yammoussoukro basilicas.
Yamoussoukro’s may be taller, but doesn’t even come close when it comes to artistic interest !
While checking our plane ticket, we realize the plane leaves earlier than we first thought! Departure is a 9 am, not 9 pm ! And we still haven’t eaten "proper" italian food!
Alright, time to get serious. We even check Tripadvisor, looking for a cheap yet amazing restaurant. So Mission : Possible?
In the end we choose the 200°C. A sandwich shop, using breads baked exclusively at 200°C.
The bread itself, is "just" a good ciabatta, but the filling is all about very fresh and excellent ingredients.
After the meal, we enjoy a final stroll into the romanian night.
We can spot the Colyseum from outside.
This casual stop in a city so rich with History was the perfect initiatory interlude on our way to India.
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