How do you "do" Rome in two days? Answer - with a plan. Saturday we took the train then metro into the city, managed to walk into St. Peter's Square (which is round) , attend mass in St Peter's (in Italian but we still understood all but the homily), climbed the 505 steps to the top of the dome where the passage ways got steeper and narrower but view fantastic, then "picnicked" our lunch half way down, then looked at the Vatican Museum, including the Sistine chapel, where the Popes are chosen.
Sunday we went to the Colosseum where at least 80,000 other were headed as it was the day of the Rome Marathon!! We had a good look at the crowds, noise and atmosphere, as well as the Colloseum, then the Palatine and the Roman Forum . To avoid the metro crowds, decided to walk to the train and managed to see en route the Trevi Fountain (Anita Ekberg took a dip there in "La Dolce Vita" , and "Three Coins in a Fountain") then the Spanish Steps( that lead to a French church and there is a Keats-Shelley house at the foot of the steps.) Small pizza cafe for a late lunch. Walked the shopping street of Tiffany, Armani, Gucci, etc although the street itself not impressive. Back at camp, decided to eat out and John had his first, and last, Grappa. Tasteless clear alcohol!
Overall impression of Rome - wonderful, must come again, as we did none of the other museums, but got a good overall feel for Rome. Italy itself looks tired. Stations, trains, streets etc grubby and worn, although not actually dirty. Maybe something to do with their failing economy , or their Prime Minister!