Roma

I was gutted to learn that it is actually much cheaper to fly between european capitols than it is to train it...so thats what we did. After a speedy 160 kph ride to the airport from Paris we boarded a plane to Rome. Now, Paris is crazy, romantic, and beautiful. Rome is crazy, romantic, and chaotic!

We stayed in the old part of the city, very close to the spanish steps and Trevi fountain. Although it was crawling with tourists, we were able to find some lovely eats down the side streets....and the wine....yummy!

Day one we had a wander, admired the fountain, the steps and the city in general, we got lost a few times, but who doesn't? Day two we went to the colluseum and the forum-we had pretty good guides to point out the important ruins, but as it was roasting hot (35/95) we mostly stood in the shade and he pointed stuff out from underneath the trees! Day three I defied logical sense and ventured to bring Mike to the vatican. Again, it was incrediably hot and the first 2 hours in the musuem I thought I might melt...keep in mind I am not overly heat sensitive but jesus christ!
The collection is spectacular, as well it should be given how much they've plundered over the years and our giude was quite good. To be fair though, I was quite dismayed when on the musuem tour he skipped right over a room full of Chagall's in favor of some others....I however, paused =)

Mike, was mostly well behaved, although he did say things like, 'is it really a good idae to bring children here?' in the direction of a family with lots of little boys...but I don't think they were english speakers, whew! In the basicalla he did a few naughty things-but didn't get caught so we I can safely say we didn't get thrown out...which as some of you know was a risk I took that day! We also met up with some friends of mine in Rome, D and C whom I had met in france in 2003! We had dinner, drinks, and lots of laughs as Mike questioned them insessently about Papal interference in Italian politics!

The day we were due to leave, there wa s train strike. So, instead of being able to jump on the metro, we ahd a to take a cab. Then, instead of taking the cheap train for ten euro, we had to take the euro star. Of course, we didn't work that out until we'd missed a number of cheap trains to naples. Luckily we finally made it to Napoli, where we boarded a ferry for sorrento for the weekend!