Where do I start??? We caught the 8am Metro (free using our Rome Pass) at Repubblica station, less than five minutes from our hotel, and made our way to take our Vatican museum tour. Again the opulence is breathtaking. So much marble, so many massive paintings in even massiver gilt frames, so much gold, so much obvious wealth.
Our guide, Christina, was great (a relief after reading many reports on travel blogs about 'iffy' guides). She was passionate about the Vatican and keen to impart her vast knowledge to us.

I found the Sistine Chapel was disappointing, apart from the bit about what happens when a new pope is being elected - the stove for the black or white smoke, where the chimney is etc, etc.

St Peters Basilica more than made up for it. Again opulence personified. There was an unscheduled event happening with the pope there this morning and our visit was postponed for a while. It meant that we got to go through a secret passageway and not via the usual corridors to reach St Peters and were made to feel very special. We found that there were 1000+ grade 8 students celebrating a festival of the pilgrims. They were all singing when we arrived and it was eerily beautiful. Again it was spine tingling to actually be in the square in front of the church, having seen it on TV many times over the years.

It rained a bit today but it didn't bother us and most of my photos show blue skies.

It was after two by the time we left Vatican City and wandered over to the River Tevere (Tiber). We checked out it's famous bridges lined with more marble statues then visited the Castel Del Sant Angelo, a multi storied Roman fort. On to Piazza Navona, with its three marble fountains and central oblisk, where we had lunch in one of the many cafes that line the edge of this large square. Indulged in an affogato - mmmmm. A bit yummy.

Rome Museum was next - disappointing really.

As we made our way to the Pantheon we could hear this beautiful voice singing - a street singer in the square. I find it hard to comprehend the age of all the buildings we're seeing and the Pantheon was no exception. Another spectical. We sat in a cafe and listened to the singer for a while before we headed back to our hotel. It was well after six by this time.

Our meandering took us past the Trevi Fountain. Another of those 'Wow' moments. The marble figures on that fountain are 'something else'. A fitting end to an exhausting but satisfying day.