Rome Day 3

With Nathan off to work, I returned to the double-decker bus stop and to the Roman National Museum. I planned to climb the museum stairs and do the self-guided audio tour, then conquer the steeper and more famous Holy Stairs next door. The Holy Stairs lead up to St. Maria church. If you imagine that stair scene from Rocky and the astronomical level of flexibility and fitness required to scale it, then you're on the money.

As I climbed the first set of stairs, I wished I hadn’t underestimated the heat of a European autumn and packed a primarily Aussie winter wardrobe. Oh well, that’s what you get for letting insta-idiots give you Euro travel advice.

So, I donned the appropriately trendy and flowy top instead of a “tacky track and jeans,” which the Insta-idiots advised me would offend locals. I bet they're still giggling!

The lady in the pizza shop in the heart of Rome was wearing a beat-up, faded black T-shirt and shorts. People seem to be similar all over the Western world, and if you’re walking a lot while touring, then be comfortable; everything will be okay.

Anyway, I finished with the museum and headed on next door. I scaled those steps quicker than I thought I would, but the truth is that the old ticker was pounding for a good thirty seconds or so at the top. I’m happy to report that Team Australia performed pretty well overall!

Looking down from the top of St. Marias offered an amazing view, but as I looked from a bird's perspective, the human ants were bustling and beeping in rushing cars, buses, and trucks. Oh, the madness!

Then, with a shake of my head disapproving of all those down there, I turned around and entered the quiet, dim lighting of yet another wealthy and incredible church.

Well, that was fun, I thought as I bound down the steps with a much calmer heart. I headed for the crossing that would take me across town to the shopping and cafe district.

I’m unsure how all the other people were getting across these multiple lanes on this giant bend, but it wasn’t on this crossing. With my heart in my mouth, I stepped onto the first white line while remembering that here - people give way to vehicles. I tried to project the confidence of a local and strode across, hoping.

My thoughts shit, shit, shit, shit, phew. Not one beep so it must be normal!

With that over, I continued down the hill and walked through several narrow corridors until I finally found a cute restaurant where I stopped for lunch. I had the Roman-style ravioli with an entire bottle of sparkling water to quench my dehydration from this summery hot autumn weather. Delectable!

Of all the exquisite Italian shops I was in, this girl from Brissy walked away an hour and a half later with two gifts to peeve off my royalist good Catholic mother: a bobblehead Queen Elizabeth and a bobblehead Pope. She’ll laugh hard, tutt-tutt, and tell me I’m blasphemous— I can’t wait!