Cathay Pacific, Business Class, proved an excellent choice. If we were to compare Emirates v Cathay Pacific, I would say, the in-flight bathroom did not provide quite the level of facilities of Emirates. eg no face washers were provided. The lounges pre-flight were both good. Cathay shared Qantas lounge out of Sydney, whilst Emirates have their own. The conversion of seat to bed I found easier on CP but overall, our choice was really based on me not wanting to stop in Arab country. We were happy with the choice.

We selected mid-section seats which meant we were together on the leg Sydney-Hong Kong. It was nine hour flight arriving 9.30pm with three+ hour wait for connecting flight to Rome.

Whilst in transmit the Cathay Pacific lounge offered excellent facilities, not the least of which were showers. This was very welcome and we both felt more refreshed when 00:40 boarding arrived.

On this leg we booked window seats, so we were one behind the other. Not as easy to communicate however our plan was always to sleep this leg as best we could.

They offered a light meal shortly after take-off, however we both declined and by the press of a button, transformed our seat for full layout bed, complete with doona and pillow.

I slept full four hours, then further two, and further two. In between, watched movies, listened to music, or entertained myself with my i-pad games. A great breakfast was served two hours before landing in Rome.

We arrived in Rome at 7:00am and we very relieved and grateful the booked driver was waiting to drive us directly to our hotel. He took charge of my "double luggage", leaving me free to assist Phillip. The driver maneouvred us through the terminal, across busy airport road and through carpark building to his Mercedes multi-seater, although there were only the two of us. He spoke very little English and spent most of the drive on his mobile. Made me wonder what the rules in Italy are regarding driving and using mobile phones? Phil and I conversed to each other.

The drive from the airport is about 50mins with horrendous traffic even out as far as the airport however it is also enjoyable. Industry, residential sections give way to thick traffic as you approach Rome city and then the "history" of old Roman walls, the cobble streets from early Roman times, past the Spanish steps, the Colosseum, the beautiful architecture on buildings and statues, oh I remember it well and fondly.

It was great being back in Roma.....the history and evidence of their ancient past still very visible. No tearing down their relics to build better roads or create more green spaces! The parking is very unique (which would be evident from a photo however....that's a story for little later. For the moment there are no photos of Rome, despite me taking some. I will try to furnish proof when we return to Rome, a brief stop-over after the cruise, before heading to Florence).

The "clever" parking involves those little "smart-cars" (there are a few in Goulburn) which are everywhere in Rome and Italy generally and only need the smallest of spaces. Whilst two larger cars may be parked horizontally, together, if there is a little space between, then the cheeky 'smart-car' is parked between vertically, nose facing the road! It is amazing. Bumpers are almost touching so I am a little horrified at how they get out when they need too! Perhaps a few bumps are the price you pay in Rome!

Our hotel is in the heart of the city, 100 metres from Rome Termini railway station. The room was small but adequate, fitted with double glaze windows and block-outs curtains, perfect for the weary travellers.

We were only staying one night so showered on arrival and hit the street around 9am. We were hungry so I ordered my first cornetto (pastry filled with delicious custard) and a 'luke-warm' cuppacino (certain to be the norm for the next 10 weeks, "extra hot please" means not a thing in Italy), and Phil ordered his macchiato with omlette.

We walked around the streets a bit to gain as much sunlight as possible before deciding to take a Hop-on, hop-off bus trip around Rome (only we hopped on, and hopped off at the same location some 50 mins later). We have always found this an ideal way to get a feel for where things are and with the head-phones provided, the commentary is always interesting.

It was 2.30pm when we arrived back at the hotel, two very tired travellers so decided to go to bed.....I set the clock for 7pm, intending to go to dinner however when it went off we were both more tired than hungry so agreed to skip dinner. Next alarm went off 7am (17 hours).

Breakfast was great and then we decided we would consolidate the luggage and take only clothes for the cruise, one large, one small suitcase between us, and leave one large, one small at the hotel for our return.

Those of you who followed my blog four years ago, may remember the "catastrophe" we and my dear brother-in-law, Michael experienced at Termini railway station, when it was the wrong station!! There would be no repeat of that, (a drama of another kind awaited us in Venice)...I made sure our train to Venice was leaving from Termini, only 100 metres from our hotel. We arrived in plenty of time, in fact, the platform hadn't been allocated when we arrived and wouldn't be for some ten minutes.

We were off to Venice.