Our final day in Rome was highlighted by more blue sky and many more miles as we tried to suck up every last drop of beauty and magic before leaving this magnificent city. We began by venturing back to Capitol Hill and spending more time at the Victor Emmanuel monument. We had planned to take the lift to the top for a spectacular view if the city, but due to mechanical problems it was closed. We were still able to enjoy pretty spectacular views from the level we ...

Thanks to the great Italian rail service, Pompeii was only a two hour trip away from our digs in Rome - a bit over an hour by fast train to Naples, then 45 minutes on the slower, local Circumvesuviana line to Pompeii Scavi (the Pompeii ruins). We set off to walk many miles again today, but this time at a more leisurely pace. The weather remained perfect and, although the tourists were there, the sheer size of this vast archeological site shrank them so that at ti...

Some people say why bother going somewhere if you have already been. This is my fourth trip to Rome and I hope not the last. Each time I enjoy rediscovering the familiar, but each time I learn something new and see something new that I hadn't even realised that I had missed before. Going back, taking your time, digging a bit deeper is like peeling the layers off an onion and discovering each time another layer beneath. We were blessed yet again with perfect weat...

Christmas in Italy is all about family. No businesses open at all, restaurants included, and everyone gets together to celebrate in the home. The beauty of having this apartment means we also get to celebrate like the rest of Italy with our own little family here. Reg particularly enjoyed the preparations as he got to hang out in his favourite parts of town - the Lorenzo food markets and the supermarkets. We joined the throngs of locals animatedly purchasing me...

Today we took a bus trip through the beautiful rolling hills of the Chianti countryside on our way to Siena and San Gimignano. I don't know know how we do it, but yet again we happened upon the most glorious weather and deepest blue sky day imaginable for our trip into the heart of Tuscany. We chose a local tour company for this outing and on board the bus were greeted by our lovely Italian guide, Tytsianna. Well, she was the double of Dolly Parton in every way ...