ROAMING IN ROME

As the tour comes to an end in Rome I rally the troops for one last push on our final day in Rome.

The day starts as it always should with Jimbo getting up to research walking tour itineraries and everyone else staying in bed. By the time we are united by the Spanish steps everyone seems up for a big walk.....5mins later Shaun wants breakfast so we stop.......10mins after food Steve is hanging and is dreaming of Lurgan so we stop for a coffee........I try to engage the troops with stories of Rome but we keep stopping again because now G Budd is Catholic everytime we pass a church he has to stop pray - theres a lot of stopping as there are 900 churches in Rome!

Anyway we see as much of Rome as possible including the excellent Pantheon. Its home for a change and its time for our final night on the town.

As England are playing we decide to head to a bar by the river to watch the game and have dinner. I order for everyone in Italian trying to show off but the waitress comes out with 4 salads instead of the chip based meals we ordered. Maybe it was my poor English or the waitress thinks the tour is having an adverse affect on our bodies.

England match is rubbish and even g Budd in his shirt and flag can't even raise the troops. The city is jumping as its a Friday night. So instead of going to a bar and spending the evening with the hoards of Americans who've taken over Rome we go to a square with the locals where they buy cheap booze from the shop and sit round having fun.

G Budd meets a girl from Brazil who is good fun. She cant speak a word of English and he can't speak Portuguese but they get on brilliantly - maybe its the shared catholic faith which brings them together.

A great night ends as usual with a couple of plates full on pizza and home to bed.

Its home time now - and time to reflect on a fantastic tour which has seen jimbotours hitting new heights and exploring new boundaries.

Here's to JT No.5

EAST