(Note: this post was written several months ago, but for business reasons it was inappropriate to post it at the time.)
This weekend, I finally got to achieve one of my life-long ambitions: travelling to Rome, to see some of the sights I learnt about at school all those years ago. It’s funny, I hadn’t realised how much I’d wanted to do this until I was actually stood in front of the Colosseum, jumping up and down and shouting to my long-suffering friends, “look! It’s the Colosseum! I’m in Rome! At the Colosseum! Look!”.
If I’d known how happy and excited I’d be to do this, I might have done the trip a long time ago. But there was a certain satisfaction to fitting in a day of tourism on what was otherwise a business trip, which is something I’ve not really been able to do before.
I was travelling with Paul, Lauren, David and Elise. Given the amount of time available, I think we did a pretty good job, thanks in no small part to Gianugo, who provided us with an excellent set of directions, and a lightning tour the following evening by our fantastic hosts. In a few short hours we saw the Colosseum, Foro Romano, Piazza Venezia where Mussolini used to give speeches (wow, I remember that from GCSE History lessons), Capitoline Hill, the Fontana Trevi where you’re supposed to throw coins and make a wish, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and so much more.
I’ve been home in a wet and windswept UK for a few hours now, and I’m still buzzing from the experience. I am definitely going to become a Ryanair weekend tourist from now on.