Today we got picked up at 8am and went to a tour company's office for a half day bus tour to the villas in tivoli (about 40 minutes out of Rome). Wanted to do a full day tour but there weren't enough people so we had to do the half one.
Our first stop was Hadrian's villa. This was built in the 2nd century AD by emperor Hadrian and is now mostly ruins because barbarians took a lot of the, materials over the years. Was interesting imagining what life must have been like here though in the days when the emperor used it as a summer villa. There were different areas representing different places the emperor visited and was inspired by such as Greece and Egypt.
Next we went to Villa D'Este, right in the centre of the town of tivoli. This is famous for its beautiful fountains, of which there are 600 I'm the gardens. Unfortunately, due to 'technical difficulties' there was no water in them (not really sure how that works because they work on gravity flowing the water into successive fountains and pools, but oh well! Because it's winter the gardens weren't in bloom obviously but it was still pretty. We felt we didn't have enough time here though, the tour wasn't long enough and the guide had to translate to English and Spanish so there was a lot of just standing around.
I swear deep down I'm German. Everything for me has to be clear, planned and go right on schedule. Definitely not the case here!! Breakfast is at "7.30" yet the lady who organizes it never arrives until about 7.45. Everyone's very chilled and whatever happens happens. Everyone on the footpath walks so slow we practically walk backwards too! So I love this country but the whole chilled out nothing on time thing really doesn't suit me haha.
When we got back from the tour we walked to a neighborhood called Trastevere which our guide yesterday recommended we go to. There were cute little lane ways and shops. She recommended a particular restaurant which we went to called Da Aygusto, a family run tiny restaurant filled with locals. We enjoyed cheap and delicious pasta, tiramisu and strawberry cake - our cheapest sit down meal yet! Paying was a bit confusing as the people in there didn't speak too much English but we got there! Looking forward to Switzerland where I can once again read, speak and half understand German and what's going on haha!!
Nearby to the restaurant we had our first stack of the holiday. Mum stepped on a grate which was slippery and fell over. We were doing so well having not fallen over for four weeks! Luckily she's ok.
It rained a bit today but was mostly fine with sun showers. We walked back along the Tiber River to Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island) and then headed back.
Going to look at the shops near our hotel later, just having a rest in the hotel at the moment.
Ciao,
Love Claire
Xoxoxox
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