Corrie - Rome and Nice

Rome

Wandering the streets of Rome was like being in the middle of A Ben Hur movie. Everything is ancient there. As you all know, I love all things old, and particularly old buildings, but Rome redefines old for me. Old to me has always been 120 years old! Rome has buildings erected in 123 BC! Yes, over 2000 years ago. And these buildings were in amazing condition. Everywhere we went there were stunning examples of Roman architecture, beautiful sculptures and fountains. Even the old watering fountains (for people to drink from) dotted the side streets...and people still drank from them...and they were a thousand years old! I am serious...the city has intact infrastructure from ions past, that provided running water everywhere...and still does!

We took the tour of the Coliseum, and if you are ever there, be sure to pay the extra 10 Euros for the tour. They skip you past the line up and you get a very comprehensive guided tour full of interesting facts. The price also includes a tour of the nearby ruins (incredible and amazing). Of course travelling with Joel is like travelling with a tour guide. He seems to know everything about everything, and after the guide gave us the rote tour of the Coliseum, Joel concluded with an in-depth discussion of Roman history, Greek philosophy, and the effects of Alexander the Great on the Roman Empire and all kinds of other historic tidbits that helped me appreciate all I was seeing.

After 2 days in Rome we took the night train again (this time in a first class private sleeping car – less fun really that the Couchette that sleeps six, but a nicer sleep), and arrived in Nice, France. What a gorgeous city! The colour of the water here is a dark sapphire blue, turning to a see-through light blue...much like the Caribbean water only more blue and less turquoise. It was warm and very salty.

The architecture here is different again, the Mediterranean influence is everywhere. The entire city is built on the side of mountains overlooking the sea, and sprawling along miles of beach (rocky not sandy). The downside was it cost 15-25 Euros to rent a chair on the beach to have the privilege of drinking a 10 dollar bottle of beer (sigh!). I have resigned myself to the fact that 8 days in Europe will cost as much an my entire 6 weeks in Central America.

However, the trip to the south of France was worth it...just for the figs! Fresh figs. Not green, tasteless fresh figs like my boyfriend introduced me to in Quebec...dark, black- red figs which I swear must be the food of gods! This fruit, ripened on the tree, is by far the godliest thing I have ever tasted. Its texture is divine, and the pleasure of eating one after another was pretty close to that of great, slow, decadent sex (Nicholas plug your ears!).

I might also add here that the $20 salad I ordered on the beach yesterday was in fact, the best salad I have ever eaten...full of fresh tuna fish, tomatoes palm heart, avocado, corn and lettuce...with the most delightful vinaigrette I have ever had....tried to get the recipe out of the waiter...but to no avail.

My roommate from Victoria (and Quebec), Emmanuell e, met us in Nice (she has been staying in Paris with family), and will accompany us to Barcelona...very handy to have around on this leg of the journey since she is fluent in French, English and Spanish