Wednesday 14th May

The day started with an email from Webjet to say our flight out of Moscow had been cancelled and we were to fly out a day early with an overnight stay in Oslo. Checked out the site and found there were other options so realised it wasn't suitable, await a reply. Had an email from Freya saying we should hire a car when we get to Perugia. The rest of the day was spent unsuccessfully trying to download Italian maps to our Sat Nav with lots of calls to the NavMan Help Line. d*** had to race off to get an International Drivers Licence. Anna came to dinner and tried to help download the maps on her computer to no avail. Fell into bed at 10pm & tried to sleep before our 3.30 am trip to the airport.

Thursday 15th May

Left Perth at 6am today & had 2 good but full, flights to Rome. It was a wonderful sight as we took off from Perth with the reflection of the full moon over the ocean, then as we went higher the reflection on the clouds. After arriving in Rome we took an airport bus to Terminii, then battled with the ticket machine before catching a metro to Porte Ferbe where we were met by our Airb&b host who took us to her apartment. Dick’s knees were playing up so he wasn’t happy we were on the 2nd floor. Fell into bed exhausted.

Friday 16th May

Went into Terminii & walked to Piazza de Republica as we were to meet Joanna & Giancarlo at midday there. On one face was a large brick entrance to what looked like a ruin. It was to Basilica St Maria of the Angels & Martyrs a huge converted area of Diocletian’s Baths designed by Michelangelo at age 86. The place is huge by our standards although it was without many seats & yet it doesn’t feature in any of the guides.

At 12 we were picked up by our friends & taken up near to the Villa Borghese to a restaurant for an excellent lunch. Then we walked to the villa to enter the gallery at 3pm as Jane had prebooked on the internet. The villa houses the Borghese collection of classical & 15th-18th century paintings & sculptures including several stunning pieces by Bernini & was wonderful to see.

Leaving there we set off across the park for the metro when Dick’s right knee just about gave up reducing us to a snail’s pace. Luckily we got a ride in a golf buggy down to the metro & made our way home.

After a rest we set off again & Joanna & Giancarlo took us around Rome in their car after we had dinner in a large pizza restaurant complete with a serenading singer. We drove around stopping at the Pantheon & by the Tiber to look back at St Peters & the Fort St Angelo & arrived home at past midnight.