Roman ruins galore!

We spent ages looking through the archeological digs around various parts of Rome , but especially around the colliseum. It is amazing that some of these ruins pre date Christianity . And to see how each new age just built on top of the previous , so the ruins have a wide variety of periods melded together.

Roma again!!

So we arrived back in Rome with just enough time to visit the Trevi fountain and throw some coins for luck before going for our farewell dinner at the exclusive grand Marriott hotel on their rooftop terrace. A beautiful way to end the day watching the sun set across Rome and they even put on fireworks- just for us!!! Lol!

The Tuscan adventure begins!

After a lovely dinner and meeting our fellow adventurers from the USA , Canada ,oz, nz and South Africa, we had a short sightseeing tour and a group photo at the colosseum , then headed off to Monticantini in the midst of Tuscany.

Vatican city

Today our first stop was the Vatican City - as an independent city within Rome the opulence was astounding and sad ,with Italy being in financial strife. There was a feeling amongst the guides and it seems the general public of disenchantment with the Vatican crying poor. When you see the wealth and the money making with no taxes ,I can understand, especially asthe clergy get paid sometimes triple the average citizens wages and private cars etc. .
But anyway the Sistine chapel was amazing! Again no pics inside only in the other parts and outside!. The Brussels tapestries woven with gold were amazing taking 10 years to complete each.

But there is the obligatory 1 foot in both countries photo!
but anyway.

Exciting but sad times on the train to Rome

We had a sleeper train to Rome to meet our Tuscany tour. It was an experience! Apart from the train being 2 hours late because of a breakdown, our plans of early check in for the tour went south. The trip was very loud and bumpy and jeff was worried about being rolled off the top bunk so tied himself in with his track suit pants. Hilarious!!!
We caught a taxi after a crazy walk around the packed and huge Rome train station and then a fun taxi ride but we arrived safely at our hotel and met the guide. After a shower we felt human again. That evening we had a welcome dinner and then a night tour of Rome. It was very pretty at night!!