Train to................Laurentina!

-The first bit in an American woman's voice, the second an Italian Senorita-

I'm not sure that in the glory days of the Roman Empire they would ever have imagined the first impression of Rome given to visitors coming from the airport. Although, by the time we got onto the metro system it had become a little endearing.

The trouble with doing marathons in foreign cities is that you have to get to the Expo to pick up your number and freebies, and that is usually in a part of town that you have no idea how to get to, or how to use public transport. Luckily the guy at the hotel reception -after surprising me and my Dad by his knowledge of West Brom-wich- couldn't have been more helpful and gave us directions both by bus -21 stops- and metro -slightly longer walk- to the Palazzo dei Congressi.
We opted for the metro as it seemed simpler. This the decorated train that turned up and the title refers to the constant loop we had on the tannoy all the way to the point where at random intervals throughout the weekend one of us would suddenly say "Laurentina".

...and then it was off for the first view of the Colosseo.