On Monday we arrived in Rome, braving the chaotic traffic to find our apartment right near the Trevi Fountain. It was a tiring afternoon, with Tom and Dad driving in circles to find a drop off point for the car and Mum and I walking in circles with countless amounts of bad advice trying to find a supermarket. Thankfully we both had success in the end and had a lovely night walking around the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.

On Tuesday we went to the Vatican early for our booked guided tour. After a stressful race to make it on time after going to the wrong place in the Vatican, we enjoyed a long but very interesting tour that took us through the museum, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. The Basilica was very impressive: highlight included Pope John Paul II's tomb and the entrance to the underground crypt that is said to house St Peter's remains. The Sistine Chapel is without doubt Michaelangelo's masterpiece, even more so as he was not a painter before this work was commissioned. It was truly magnificent but unfortunately slightly ruined by the huge numbers of people so you could barely move and it was smaller than I expected. It was also great to imagine the important events that have happened in here across history as Cardinals have gathered here to elect each new Pope.

In the afternoon we visited the Castel Sant'Angelo, a castle that was to become a defense and means of escape for the Pope. There is a wall and inside a hidden (well not anymore) corridor that connects the castle to the Pope's residence in the Vatican and indeed in the 1500s it saved the life of the Pope, enabling his secret escape during the sacking of Rome. Unfortunately the passage is only open for a couple of months in summer so we just missed it!

After a spot more shopping on Wednesday morning we visited Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. There is evidence of people living at Palatine Hill as early as 1000 B.C. and it is considered to be where Rome began. The story of Romulus and Remus is believed to have happened here - as the beginning of Rome. Palatine Hill, due to it's proximity to the Forum (the heart of Roman political, social and cultural life), was considered the best address in Rome. It was rich Roman families that lived here before it was taken over as an imperial residence by successive Emperors Augustus, Tiberius and Domitian. There is very well preserved evidence of many of these residences here and it clearly remains a hive of activity for archeologists.

The Colosseum was very interesting and we had a great guide who is an archeologist. We got a much better idea of what it used to be like there, aesthetically, socially and action-wise. It was not known as the Colosseum until the Middle Ages and was actually called the Flavian Amphitheatre. The reason it has so deteriorated is because in the Middle Ages it's original purpose was forgotten and it was simply used as a quarry to build other structures including St Peter's Basilica! It really was the exciting place to be, where people of all classes could attend and Gladiators fought for their lives while spectators watched on, their version of a Sunday afternoon at the footy! We ended the day with a lovely lovely dinner at a quiet restaurant that came highly recommended to us. The food was of such a high quality and the freshly cooked bread they made on the premises was amazing!

On Thursday morning we walked to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. The Pantheon began as a Roman Temple and its amazing preservation is likely due to its appropriation by the Church and transformation into a Christian church which it remains today. Highlights were the artist Raphael's tomb and the domed ceiling. Piazza Navona is a busy square but contains three beautiful fountains made mostly by the master himself, Bernini. The rest of the day was not as interesting, being spent on packing and all the jobs we had so far neglected!

It was very sad to say goodbye on Friday, I don't think we were as prepared for this goodbye as the first one. But only six weeks to go and we still have more fun and even bigger challenges to come.