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The dreaded teary goodbye again this morning, never gets easier, always feel like I can do it without crying and then I get that huge lump in my throat and bammm! I'm a mess!
Good news though this morning, UAE has moved to the UKs amber list so it's easier for us to travel between! I sat in silence in the taxi think the driver sensed I was upset. The sun was fire red and I was getting closer to the wildfires that were only 20 km away, Athens airport for the third time, absolute s*** show checking in bags no one had done their Italy passenger locator form so they all had to try and do it stood next to the line before they could get their tickets to board which then made them think they could but in when it wasn't their turn now. They should be telling them you didn't follow rules so now you have to go to the back of the line and wait to check in.
Then waiting for the gate, I had a heart stopping moment they didn't put the flight as boarding they instantly put it as final call, it was gate 31 and then when I got there there was a huge queue which I barged myself through because there was another flight boarding there only to see it said Venice and the flight attendant told me Rome had finished boarding. WHAT THE f***. Panicking now I got to the tele and low and behold it had changed to gate 28 which now I was stood right next to and they hadn't even started boarding regular passengers only priority. Athens airport and Ryanair… idiots.
They were also pulling people to one side and not letting them board, common theme with them.. they were Pakistani nationals, black Africans, Indians. Maybe it was the covid situation? But they were also asking about their residency visas and not being overly polite with them (but expected with Greek it seems they're not all polite but rather rude and arrogant). Anyways they didn't get on the plane… and the plane was so empty probably because half of them weren't able to board..
I was asked to sit next to the emergency exit because there was no one on the row. Hmmm great now I'm in charge of pulling the lever if we fall out of the sky. When there's a big red button or lever and it says do not touch (in case of emergency only) is it just me that wants to pull or press this? The urge was real!
Had a lush time in Greece! Just like old time holidays :) now for Italy.
So no check of my pcr test only my vaccine certificate, so I didn't need to spend out on one to get in? Also didn't get stamped out of Greece or into Italy… and I thought we were landing in one airport that had a speedy train into the centre of Rome but we were in fact at a different one. I had to get a bus instead. The rude women told me station 7 for the bus, I tried to get on two but they weren't mine until I saw the name of the bus pulling off from station 1… Stupid cow, told me the wrong station and now I missed the bus for another 30 minutes, not in the best mood I told the women on the station that her colleague is telling people the wrong station number so best you talk to her.
Thankfully it wasn't too long and I could sit down inside out of the heat (even though it's much cooler here to Athens!) The bus was only about 30 minutes into the city.
Lots of homeless around the place, I mean full of! And lots of black Africans, maybe they were refugees?
So anyways I'm in Rome, I decided to head to the Trevi fountain and the pantheon for my tour around that. The Trevi fountain was grid locked with people everywhere, police blowing their whistles at people sitting on the ledge. I carried on my self guided tour to the Pantheon, unbelievable building. There is a hole in the middle of the roof but according to them never rains inside because of the shape and of the building and the roof the air and wind circulation inside. How bizarre!? But cool! The decor was unbelievable same like other monuments and buildings how they had the creativity, knowledge, patience and tools to do all of this was incredible.
I finished the afternoon in the Piazza Navona with a glass of wine and some cheese. This place was also lovely to see, Rome is a completely different feel to Athens! Much more wealthier!
Then an early night back, feeling empty and a little lonely. Always the same when it's time to say see you in a while to the family. Tomorrow's a new day!
New restrictions come into play tomorrow apparently, you need an EU digital covid card to get into restaurants and museums etc. So the ticket company told me I should cancel if I don't have the papers so no guide tomorrow at peters basilica for me. I couldn't cancel tour of Vatican so I'll try later tomorrow and risk it.
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