Every day has a new challenge!

But today I struggle to identify one as I sit in our apartment in Roma, with a view from our balcony of the Spanish Steps fifty metres away, the sounds of late night diners drifting up, Vespas scooting up the street. I suppose I could quibble about the 95 Euro cab fare from the airport, but heck, here we are in the heart of Rome with history in every cobblestone and the sounds of a city seemingly full of the joy of life.

We finally left Dar es Salaam, hmm, must have been a couple of days ago, landing in Dubai at around 1.15am, about an hour later than expected. If you have not been to Dubai airport, it is vast, shiny and quite modern and efficient. In every respect it is in sharp contrast to Dar. The one thing they have in common is their immigration officials. I suspect they select people with a very low tolerance for human interaction for they all seem to have cultivated the blank and bored look of people determined to avoid any of the normal human engagement.

If Pongwe Beach restored our belief in paradise, then trust in the power of answered prayer was regained when it turned out we had a vacant seat next to us for the journey to Dubai.

We had a pleasant hotel, not flash, but quite comfy and they agreed to a late checkout at 2.00pm. As it turned out, we got up for a late breakfast and took up the offer of a drive into the city which would then deposit us at the airport for the flight to Roma. Dubai is just like the airport: bright, shiny, extravagant, opulent. The line that was running through my head was some line from a song: we’re here because we’re here because we’re here because we’re here… Like a desert oasis it could be a mirage. Mile after mile of apartments for wealthy tourists, 7 star hotels built in the sea, absurdly high skyscrapers, 12 lane motorways. Our driver, whom we hired for about $30 an hour, really wanted to impress us with the hotels, marinas and created islands. And it IS impressive. Impressive what can be done with unlimited money and political will. Everything is done excellently. Poor old Tanzania, with its potted roads, and so many things just half-finished. But in a way, I prefer Tanzania with its happy people. I still struggle to imagine what it is that drives people to go to Dubai. If it wasn’t there it wouldn’t be there if you get my drift…

One thing in common with Dar and Arusha is the disregard for pedestrians. A pedestrian on a crossing is a definite target, right in the crosshairs, if they dare put a step on the road. It’s a bit early to tell, but our Italian taxi driver seemed to have the same level of respect for people on foot. We had a terrifying moment in the cab to Dar airport when our driver was determined to overtake a slower car with an ever diminishing gap (a space for life) before hitting a large lorry. We just made it but neither driver seemed much concerned.

Dubai to Roma seemed a long flight – long enough for Jenny to get through a few episodes of Downton Abbey. I was again landed with a passenger who wanted to share my seat, but I was too tired to bother. I was a bit naughty with the passenger in front, for when she attempted to recline, I held the seat up so it only had about an inch of recline. She never quite worked out what was wrong with her seat! There is little enough room on aircraft without having to contend with the recliners.

Anyway, here we are in Rome, via Della Vite. I was a bit worried about the cab fare with the unusual meter. The fare shot up to about 130 euro but then stayed there for ages. It was only when the fare went down to 122 that I realised that the meter was actually indicating the speed!

Our moment of doubt came when we saw that the last numbered building, on the corner, was 88, and nothing left for 90 – the number we wanted. For some reason, 90 is above 87, so the street numbers go 87, 90, 88. Fair enough. Our apartment has everything we need, but the bed is tiny. Wifi is good. Plenty of restaurants and cafés, so we will go for a wander in the morning and soak up the atmosphere of this wonderful city.

Catcha later.