After about 26 hours of travel via Dohar, we finally reached beautiful (and HOT) Italy. 35 degrees a bit of a shock after chilly Crafers winter. Kids were fantastic little travellers- thoroughly enjoying the plane activity packs, treats with every meal and of course the non stop movies and TV!

In our sleep deprived state, and trying to juggle our ridiculous numbers of bags, we managed to leave the laptop on the first plane!! How can that be possible!?? Got it back thankfully without too much trouble and have been triple checking the bag count ever since.

Landed in Rome at about 1pm and happy to have all pieces of luggage accounted for and smooth sailing through immigration. Had the customary taxi rip off on the way to our accomodation in Rome but this was countered by the wonderful kindness of the Italians. We got dropped on the footpath in the hot sun with all our bags only to find noone at the apartment to let us in and no signage to indicate it was for rent at all. I asked in my best Italian at the little family owned bakery across the road and was inundated by help. 2 staff and a customer all poured over my booking receipt, debating whether or not I'd been scammed and joined to try and help sort out the problem. The customer let us use his mobile phone to leave a message and the owners looked up details on the internet. The house owner eventually got back to the customer's mobile (who by now had gone home) so he then not only came back to where we were waiting but collected the keys for us and ensured they worked before going on his way. Incredible! The kindness of strangers and the amazing hospitality of the Italians!

Our apartment was great.... even if 4 stories up with no lift. "Super Adam" certainly got his work-out lugging up the four 25 kg bags! 3 bedrooms, kitchenette, balcony and wallking distance to the Colosseum! The kids had a ball setting up their copious amounts of toys. I lost the fight about how many they were allowed to bring!!

Once settled, we headed out for what we'd all been craving.... GELATI! Mmmmmm!!! Zoe and I explored the beautiful Santa Maria Maggiore church. Zoe so enthusiastic about all the frescos and mosaics! She's getting so grown up!! Not totally though... still very excited about the pigeons too! There were several army trucks and soldiers with guns outside which was a little disconcerting. Zoe thought they must have been in costume for book week! (Oh the innocence... I wish!). We met the boys for dinner of pizza and celebratory vino at a little nearby restaurant. Completely exhausted by now. All in bed and sleeping like the dead by 8pm!!