JimboBlog

First of all I'm not a journalist, or a writer or some club insider. I'm just a fan. A fan with a season ticket and a wardrobe full of Torres shirts.

So, is Torres an angel or a demon? A bit of both actually. Unlike a lot of my fellow fans I'm not angry that he's gone. I'm dissapointed, but I understand why Torres felt he had to go. I understand because I've been through the same journey he has but from a different angle.

First of all for those of you wondering how I can possibly still be on Holiday, I'm not. I've been back for ages but I didn't have time for an entry whilst I was in Barcelona and I've only just gotten around to it.

I've spent quite a bit of time on Italian trains in the last week (with journeys into Tuscanny, to Sienna and to Pisa where I'm flying out from) and the British Rail system could take some pointers from the Italians. Because it only cost a couple of euros extra to go first class I decided to go for it. You get a slightly comfier seat, slightly more leg room but because it only costs slightly more plenty of people had paid the extra. It made me wonder how many empty first class carriages get pulled around England becasue the price difference between first and standard class is so high.

I just got back from my tour (see blog entry Florence for details) and it was awesome! If anyone wants to get me a birthday present a Segway will be fine - they are only 5 grand. For anyway who is still wondering what a Segway is look here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segway.

Florence is a wonderful, beautiful city and it is astounding how different it is to Rome. Both in the nature of the city itself, but also just the feeling and atmosphere around the town.

Well, Barcelona were deserving winners. I was surprised at Man United - they didn't put up much of a fight at all.

I started the day late (figuring it was going to be a late night) and headed to the Pantheon. I'd already discovered the bars near the colloseum were all going to closed and somebody told me they saw one place near the Pantheon advertising the game on a big screen, so I thought I'd try and find that. As it turned out there were plenty of places in this part of town showing the game and I had plenty to choose from.

The small, elderly Italian women are still winning the biggest balls/crossing the road game. I've decided that they must all be Mafioso's mothers, which allows me to justify the way they walk straight into 4 lanes of traffic without looking while I stand timidly on the pavement.

The first set of pictures from Rome are now up! Click on the pictures link to the left or the one top right.

If you're reading this on Facebook click on the read more link below to go to the site and then click the pictures link.

Bounjourno all. Just a brief update this time - I'm taking shelter from the midday sun, but I have things to do this afternoon.

Yesterday was another ancient Rome day. I started at the Colloseum and then explorered Palantine hill. The Colloseum is incredible - it's still amazingly architecturally sound in the lower levels and it really does look like the blueprint of every modern stadium. There's some good exhibitions about the history of the place and the various things that have been found in and around the stadium.

Ciao from Roma. I don't have internet at my guesthouse here, so apologies if posts aren't too regular. I also can't upload any photos - the internet cafes don't seem to like memory sticks. Hopefully in Florence I'll have wi-fi at the hotel and can use my Laptop.

Tuesday was made up mostly of traveling and can be summarised as follows:-

9am - Swindon Station, Overcast, Slight Drizzle.
5pm - Rome Ciampino Airport, Blue skies, 29 degrees.