A little bit of a sleep in as this was a free day with nothing organized except optional tours. After breakfast we walked down to the local town of Cornelia (about 15 minutes) and went to the Metro station. After riding 3 escalators down we attempted to buy tickets from a vending machine. Some concerned passengers tried to help us as we were holding everybody up. Problem was we didn't have enough change and the machine kept tossing my 10 euro note back at me. They all got their tickets and I tried again - this time realizing that I could push a button and the instructions came up in English. Success. The train arrived and we missed out on a seat. Oh well, only 10 stations to go. Each station more people poured on and by the time we reached the main station in Rome, we were like sardines. A little lady opposite us mimed for us to hold our bags tightly to our body. We got the message.

 We had intended to catch the Red Hop On Hop Off bus, but a guy out the front of the station suggested the Green Line bus was cheaper and buses came every 15 minutes instead of 30 minutes for the Red bus. Evidently there are 5 or 6 open top bus companies in Rome and competition is fierce. We took his advice, and by the time we eventually got on the bus it was 11.30. We decided to go around the whole route first and decide where we want to get off. The weather was the same as yesterday but with a chance of rain.

 Our first hop off was somewhere near the Pantheon. The map didn't help and Edie forbid me to use it again. She took charge and after asking about 10 people, we found it. The streets are little more than alleys and you keep thinking, it can't be this way. It was very impressive, a temple that became a church.  The former Roman Temple is now a catholic church called St Marys and the Martyrs. It is one of the best preserved ancient monuments because it has been in continuous use. After 2000 years the dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. There are several Kings of Rome buried here as well as the painter Raphael.

The little piazza out the front was surrounded by cafes and we decided to lash out and have lunch here. A very friendly guy outside his place talked us into sitting down. I had a salad and Edie some chips, add on a beer for me and a coke for Edie, the service fees and taxes and the tip and that was 50 euro. But it was very enjoyable, in a great place and well worth the expense. 

The Trevi Fountain was not far from here so off we went again, through even smaller streets, asking only a couple of times and VIOLA there it was surrounded by about 500 people. The sun was shining on the fountain and it looked beautiful.  It is the largest Gothic fountain in Rome and one of the most famous fountains in the world. And yes we did throw some money in !

From there we found our way to stop number 9. Seeing we got off at stop 5 we had obviously cut across the route somewhat. So we went around again and this time got off near the Vatican and looked at a market near Castel Sant'Angelo. This was the Mausoleum of Hadrian who was a Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. Later it was used by Popes as a fortress. It is now a museum.

 We decided not to go right back to the central station but to find the metro station near the Vatican. Well each person we got directions from told us something different, and it was much further than I had anticipated. At last we found it and this time had a seat to go the 4 stations back to Cornelia.

 We must have exited from the other end of the station because we recognized nothing when we got to street level. Here we go again I thought. Luckily we spotted the MacDonalds sign and that led us back to the street we needed. Hot and exhausted we arrived back at 6.45. We were very pleased with ourselves for getting to see so much on our own. An early start tomorrow as we head for Pompeii and the Isle of Capri.