Stage 20 Roma - Capodimonte

Dr Bill please come running can't you see I'm in pain

My pulse is getting weaker please come back again

Temperature is rising......

On the second day of rest in Roma Ross started to feel unwell so decided to go back to the camp. Paul accompanied Ross for the journey back.

Myself Peter and Garry continued with the sight seeing.

When we arrived back at the camp Ross had deteriorated significantly and was shivering. Discussions and assessments taking place, so we asked Bill (Dr) to give his opinion. Bill said he would be better off going to the hospital as he felt Ross with his high temperature and  chest infection over the last week may have pneumonia.

About 6.30pm Dion, Ross and myself headed off to the local hospital which was 5 klm away.

Sant Andrea, a large regional hospital. Dion is also fluent in Italian as he lived in Italy for four years, so it was easy to have paperwork processed etc.Now at the mercy of the triage system in emergency rooms as I am sure we have all experienced.

The admission nurse took his temperature, 39.7 deg, phew!  Ross managed to lie on a full row of seats and sleep. About midnight he was called into the admission area and Dion went with him as I waited in the waiting room.X Rays are taken and blood sample which confirm as Bill suspected was pneumonia. 

They wanted to keep Ross in but he was adamant this was not going to happen. They accepted this and agreed to release him with a prescription of drugs and injections.

10 days of antibiotics and twice daily injections, cost Euro 150, Bill thought this was very cheap. In the US the antibiotics would cost more on their own.

We finally left the hospital at 5.00 am as it was getting light. Garry had booked Ross into a cabin and Ross slept until approx 11.00 am. Also Dion needed to rest as well.

I arrived back had breakfast with the team before they left for the next stage of the ride. I decided to stay and travel with Ross and Dion. After a light breakfast we left the camp when Ross woke to travel to Capodimonte.

At Camp Capodimonte which is on the shores of Lago di Bracciano, Dr Bill gives instruction to all of us on the correct procedure of administering injections as we would have to take over and apply to Ross's buttocks. Garry volunteered to take over in the days that followed.

The lake owes it origins to intense volcanic activity many thousands of years ago. This is a crater lake.
The lake is a popular tourist destination, and also serves as Rome's drinking water. Motor boats are forbidden except for some professional fishermen.
A central sewerage system has been built for all the bordering towns in order to avoid any spoiling of the water quality.

So it must be very clean. Viterbo is an ancient city and one of the finest medieval towns of central Italy.Apart from Agriculture, marble, pottery and wood provide employment for local residents.

The lake is approx 300 mtrs above sea level
A busy day on the road let's hope Ross can sleep as there is no riding over the next few days at least.

Views from around the lake.

Roma Rest Day 2

Flaminio Station

Second day of rest and we head to Roma again, after a great day yesterday we are ready to explore new sights and experiences. 

The first stop is Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), standing at 26 mtrs x 20 mtrs wide it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city. The many images you see of this famous fountain whilst growing up may surprise you that is not in some large piazza expanse but tucked in the back streets in a small area.

Nevertheless it is a wonderful fountain and the hive of activities with shops and lane ways.

The Trevi

A reasonable walk from here are the Spanish Steps, area. Scainata della Trinita dell Monte (Italian)

 .

It is long and wide and always popular with the tourists to sit observe and photo opportunities.They date from 1725

Spanish Steps

The roads lead to Piazza del Popolo which is a short walk from the steps, with Villa Borghese elevated high above the piazza with sweeping views of Roma.

This is a fantastic part of Roma, so much to see and do. A cover band is playing in the park, hot day, lots of family activities, ahh lets have a Gelati

Ross at the waters of life

Villa Borghese

Plenty of walking seeing all the sites so much to see.

Public parks and nature reserves cover large areas of Roma. Particularly around Villas with beautiful gardens created by the Italian aristocracy.

Garry Taking it all in

James in the Piazza del Popolo

Vatican from Villa Borghese

An interesting site in Roma is the monument of Victor Emmanuel II. He was the first king of a unified Italy and was completed in 1935. It houses the museum of Italian reunification.
 It's construction destroyed a large part of medieval buildings

Many  buildings were built during the Fascist regime that ruled Italy between 1922-1943. The style is linked to ancient Roman architecture.

Victor Emmanuel II buildings

Next on the places of interest is the Pantheon, but first an ale in an Irish Pub.

A nice quiet interlude before we head out to the noise of a busy city.

The Pantheon is free and quite remarkable.
The Pantheon is a former Roman temple, now a church, in Rome, Italy, on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus. It was opened in AD 126

Inside the Pantheon

Situated in another busy beautiful Piazza

Too much to say and do in Roma, a wonderful city to enjoy, eat, explore and stay

View from the top of the Spanish Steps

Stage 19 Roma Rest Day

Don't know what the country's comin' to
But in Rome do as the Romans do
Will you on an evenin' in Roma?........

As Dean Martin Sang....do as the Romans do 

Up early to explore Roma, short courtesy bus from the campsite to Prima Porta the local railway station which links into the underground network in Roma. Pick up two day bus and train pass for E 12.50.

Change onto the underground network at Flaminio and head for the main  national and metropolitan station in Roma, Termini.

Catch the Hop On Hop Off bus to tour the city. First hop off point is the Colosseum. What an impressive sight this is, you can only dream of how grand this city was 2000 years ago, incredible structures, mind blowing images of the work that was required to build these palaces, temples, roads, pillars, statues etc. The amount of marble is incredible.

It is one of the few European cities to escape WWII reasonably unscathed. It was the centre of the Roman Empire for over 400 years. Rome remains essentially Renaissance and Baroque in character.  

Strong Military Presence in Roma, Trump is also in town 

Forum Romanum

Above the famous Constantine Arch

The Roman Forum is located between Palatine hill and the 

Capitoline hill and was the central area around which the ancient city developed. It was also the royal residency of the Regia. The Forum flows into the Colosseum which was completed in 80 AD under Titus, was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. It could hold 50,000 spectators and is famous for it's gladatorial contests and public events.

Castel Sant Angelo, this is the Mausoleum of Hadrian, but later used as a fortress and castle. it is located just south of the Vatican. It is on the right bank of the Tiber River, and contains the ashes of Hadrian some of his family and many notable Roman Emperors.

Castel Sant Angelo

A short walk from the Castel Sant'Angelo is St Peters. Entry to St Peter's is free 

however the entry fee to the Museum and the Sistine Chapel is E 16. Visitors are many, approx 20,000 a day. There are many ways of escaping the queue's if you pay extra or book in advance, but all have to pass through security checks similar to airport screening and detection.

Inside the Museum

It is one of the largest museum's in the world and it's exhibits are incredible

Inside the grounds of the Vatican are also enjoyable

Two of the Saints, Garry & Paul

The main altar under the dome 

Underground Crypt John Paul I who died after 33 Days

Ross and the Swiss Guards

Tiber River

 A bit of lunch by the Vatican

Stage 18 Tagliacozzo - Roma

We're on a road to nowhere, Come on inside,Taking that ride to nowhere, We'll take that ride, I'm feeling okay this morning, And you know, We're on the road to paradise.......

Everyone is in good spirits, we will arrive in Roma this afternoon and two days off.

We head out of Tagliacozzo with a climb for the next 10 klms. We are approaching Roma from the south, but do not ride through Roma, so we pass on the east side and are camping to the north by the River Tiber.

May be able to see plane in centre of picture picking up water.

Great weather all the way. 131 klm today with 1500 mtrs of climbing

We stop for lunch by a lake near
Poggio Molano. With an elevated position we are treated to a plane completing practice circuits for the fire season. Landing on the lake drawing up water and releasing over the lake.

Fly pass after water release

Wonderful landscapes of rolling hills and heavily wooded areas.

Luke, Mark, Martin, Celine

An unusual aspect on our approach to the campsite
on the outskirts of Roma during the day, are the ladies of the night. It was on a section of road, approx 12 klm in length, rural not dissimilar to the Frankston-Dandenong Road, fairly evenly spaced about 800 mtrs apart on both sides of the road, sitting on chairs, dressed to entice, some on their phones others gyrating...I have not seen that approach before.

Three of the team are leaving us in Roma, Celine, from Netherlands, Pip and John from New Zealand. Great to have them on board, but sad to see them leave. However we are taking on six more riders. Bob & Scott from the USA, Aidan from  NZ Maggie & Steve from Australia and Val joining Gary from the USA who started in Palermo.

Early on whilst camping Celine was cautious about camping near the Five Amici's as we let it be known that we were the snoring section....I'm not camping here says Celine... as if no human snores!!!! 

Campsite by the Tiber River which flows through Roma

Stage 17 Cassino - Tagliacozzo

Wild horses couldn't drag me away...........

 We roll out of the hotel in Cassino with the Abbey as a a beautiful back drop high up on the hill in the background. Warm and sunny all the way today, as yesterday was sunny/cloudy and our coolest day so far.

A gentle climb up through the valley, mountains lush green and beautiful woodlands. Peter decides with a few others to ride to the Abbey, I am sure he won't regret the effort.

Monte Cassino Abbey

The climb up through the valley is constant but spectacular. The province is Frosinone in central Italy and the economy is mainly based on agriculture.

The soils in this region favour red wine, and Cabernet Sauvignon is a favourite of this region.

Coffee stop in Atina

Atina is a beautiful town elevated above a valley with surrounding hills. Also in this region is Sora famous for it stone walls, is situated on the Liri River

Monti Simbruini is famous for the Fiat 500 car. Still popular in Italy today. The highest peak in this region is Monte Cotendo at 2015 mtr. Like a lot of Italy the area is subject to earthquakes.

T

View overlooking the surrounding mountains in Atina

As Mick Jagger sang Wild Horses couldn't drag me away, what a great surprise to see horses wondering on the side of the road. 

These were the size of a horse but the look was very much like a donkey.

After a steady climb for most of the day we finally arrived at the the peak looking down on Tagliacozzo, wow what a view with the mountains as a back drop. A steep descent of 600 mtr into the town which has an elevation of 650 mtr.

Piazza dell Obelisco

A grande Gelati in town and a visit to Piazza dell Obelisco.

Lovely campsite, Garry and Paul produce the Lemoncello and some of the crew join us for a drink or two. Tom (Miami) stream the music through his portable speaker replaying all the hits from yesteryear. What a great night.

Tagliacozzo is located in the western part of Marsica , in the area of the Palentini Plans , not far from the borders separating Abruzzo from Lazio , in a position lying along the slopes of Mount Civita. 

Pescara  is of particular interest to the five Amici's as Ross's mum and dad are from here. Ross contemplated travelling to this region as family members still live their. so close Ross to your roots.

Camp Site at Tagliacozzo