Today was our last day in Rome. After packing our bags we dropped them off at "stow your bags" and organised a transfer from there later on in the afternoon. We set off for the Spanish a Steps. The last time I was in Rome (20 years ago) the steps were closed off for restoration. I was hoping to see them properly this time.....but guess what? They were closed for renovations! I couldn't believe it. The we headed off to the museum of the Capuchin monks. We had hear...

Today was our last full day in Italy and we went on a tour to Naples and Pompeii which meant an early start. It was fabulous! Organised tours though mean stops at pre arranged eateries and expensive tourist traps but all was good. It included lunch which was a bonus - I'm still full at 9pm. The waiters took a shine to Lisette - probably as she was the only child on the tour, and she received a bonus pizza in the shape of a heart, Both our guides spoke 4 languages...

If I thought yesterday was bad today was worse. We had booked a 2 hour tour of the Vatican museum and the Sistine Chapel. I thought they'd all be at St Peters but I was wrong. The line for those wanting to buy tickets wrapped all the way round, almost to St Peters. Luckily we got to skip all that but it still took us nearly an hour to get in. Then it was so crowded we hardly got to see much as the crowd surged forward on their way to the Sistine Chapel. It was cr...

Today we started at Castel Saint Angelo - and it was free! That was a bonus. Afterwards we walked through the Piazza Navona (where the Fountain of the Four Rivers is) on our way to the Pantheon. They had just finished a service inside the Pantheon so the smell of incense hung heavily in the air. On through the cobblestoned streets to the Trevi Fountain. On our way we came across the Lindt shop where they sold various flavours of chocolate gelato. Yum! Coins were ...

Today we went roaming through the Roman ruins. We started off at the Colosseum and then went to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. It was very busy, I expect because it was a Saturday but it also could have been because of the extra people in town for the special event I mentioned yesterday. When we got on the hop - on hop off bus in the afternoon it seemed that everyone was now at St Peters. Apparently the pope will be holding a special service on Wednesday, so ...