Last day in Rome

Lyn didn't find any flat sandals - apparently 19 shoe shops did not have what she had in her head. I pointed out that a sandal from above is a naked foot with a strap or two - and asked why it was so difficult. She treated me as if I had confused the Flavian and Antonine dynasties.

We visited the Campo de Fiori - which would be a piazza except it is the only square in Rome without a church!!! Instead there are markets. We ate a delicious fruito misto there. 

On the way we realised that we had passed a dog park every day, complete with doggy fountain.

Then we continued our shopping via our last look at the "wedding cake", aka ‘il Vittoriano and the tomb of the unknown soldier’, in Venezia Square.

We drifted sideways until, still sandal-less  we bought our last café and pistachio gelato near the Pantheon. We counted a possible world record 9 gypsies selling the toy of the moment. This is a pig-shaped ball of goo which, when thrown onto a flat wooden surface, spreads paper-thin and goes "wheeeee". There were two or three North Africans with the other tourist objet d'art, a round wooden plate that goes "click clack" and transforms into a more useless but intricate wooden object. Approaching any major site in Rome involves running the gauntlet of "wheeeee, wheeeee, click-clack, wheeeee". The Carabinieri or Polizia should arrest them for bad taste. Italian policeman, at least, always look splendid.

Drifted back to Largo de Torre Argentina and caught our last number 8 tram back across the Tiber.

Went back to our apartment for late lunch and a sleep.

Our late afternoon ramble took us to the local churches we hadn't yet seen including the beautiful little church of St Cecilia.

Then it was time to say goodbye to Rome properly. We caught the 115 bus up the local high hill called Gianicolo where Garibaldi's monument stands.

We saw a puppet show. 

And took in the views.

The walk down made it clear how much of Trastevere we had not yet explored - let alone Rome. We had a final look at St Maria in Trastevere.

And had dinner at our trattoria.

We fly out tomorrow and by late afternoon will be in London.