Euro Rail Trip 2015: Robbed in Rome

I was going to call this post 'Fleeced in Rome' but that would have worked better in Florence as in 'Fleeced in Florence' but never mind.

I had just left the hotel this morning when a car pulled up and the driver asked me what area he was in as he was lost.

I pointed out on the map where we were and he thanked me, said his name was Andre, explaining that he was Italian, he worked in Paris at the Galeries Lafayette and was going on to Milan. He then reached into his car and pulled out a bag and said he wanted to give me one of his firm's jackets.

He explained that they were samples he was giving away. I was overcome with his generosity and thanked him. At that point he said he was low on gas and was on his to a station to fill up and could I spare him some cash. At that point the penny dropped and I realised it was a con. I then offered him 10 Euros and that was all I had. He took the money and drove off.

I have never been so pleasantly conned in all my life. He got 10 Euros (About £7) and I got a great story and a cheap fake jacket Made by Andrea!. Photographs of the jacket are below along with an Oxfam listing for the same jacket. Bidding for this jacket (the story comes free) begins at £7.

The photo below is an excavated site from Ancient Rome which has turned out to be a shopping mall consisting of four floors. That's doing better than Elgin's shopping centre which only has two!

This looks like the Coliseum but is actually an ancient Roman theatre which centuries later someone added some apartments on top.

This beautiful bridge connects to an island in the middle of Rome's river, the Tiber.

This one of the saddest sights I have seen in Rome - a disappointed bridge. Most of the bridge has gone with just this little arch left unconnected with either river bank. I don't know if it fell down or was blown up but they replaced it with that metal monstrosity next to it.

This is the Circus Maximus where they used to have chariot races. Anyone remember Ben Hur? All that's left is an impression on the ground and some buildings at one end.

This is where the spectators would have entered the stands. They would have been separated by their social class. A bit like Chelsea today then.

I snapped this at the site from a poster explaining the history. Think about Formula One at Silverstone today and you've got a good idea what it would have been like. Winners were celebrated and had their own fans, again just like Formula One!