Rome

Got gelato at one of the oldest ice-creams places in Rome. Great. Walked for about 5 kms past Saint Maria Maggiore Church, parliament, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navonne.

Saw flyer about Choral Caleidoscope (Evansville Indiana USA Diocesan Tour Choir) in Chiesa di Sant Agnese in Agone (St Agenes Church) in Piazza Navonne at 7:30pm. Waited around. At 7:00pm the church closed, and everyone had to get out. So we had to go, including old man we helped out. In going back in, we saved the guy a seat. Church was packed and very nice event. Another great experience. Another famous church.

Ended up walking home from Piazza Navonne past Arena Sacra, Pallazo Venezia, and Colosseum at night. Spectacular.

Up and out at 8:30am to get to Colosseum before the crowds. I really liked the colosseum. The size, the organisation, lifting equipment and animals, and the shade sail! Views also other  ruins and sites like the Forum. Exhibition of armour and gear as well. Enormous size. Tickets were sold! 2,000 years later we are still working out how to build stadiums.

Walked around to Vittoria area. Did not go through other relics park. Huge buildings in a complex, steps up and monuments. View over the historic parts of the city. Vo lost the Italian phrase book here! Looked in the Museum. Then went to the Art Gallery and saw interesting exhibition for free.

Hopped on the bus to somewhere, and went to Castel Sant Angelo. Amazing 'castle' like building with art works, numerous terraces with fantastic outlooks. Ramp inside. Café with view to St Peters Basilica and Vatican only 1km away.

Took boat ride on Tiber. Good in theory but embankments are 40 feet high on the sides so couldn't see a thing. Never get that 30E back. Nice history lesson though. Something to avoid next time.

Then walked up to Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna. Another excellent stop. Bus back to Vittoria Emanuelle.

Took bus to Trevi Fountain and took some photos. (Didn't have the camera yesterday)

Walked to Pantheon looking for toilets. Found at McDonalds. Got coffee as well. First McDonalds of similar we had ben to in the whole trip.

Pantheon look like a damaged relic from the outside. Until we walked in had no idea it was perfect inside and absolutely amazing. Converted from pagan place to Christian place in 5th century. One of only 4 complete roman buildings still standing from 2,000 years ago. Whole in roof, lets in water, but concave then convex floor drains it all away. Marble mosaic floor as well.

Tried to catch bus to our 2:0pm Vatican tour. No idea how to work it out. Finally walked up to Piazza Venezia only for whole area to be blocked off by Riot Police for demonstration to be held soon. Advised that no buses for a few hours. Asked City Police for directions, very helpful. Ended up walking tot he Vatican.

Meeting point was outside Vatican Café. Once we had found it - about 1km from St Peters Square - waited for group and leader. Got ice-cream from the Cafe. Served by an Ethiopian girl who had tried to get to Australia. Leader was late due to protest as well. Chris the guide excellent. Whole tour was brilliant. Included Michelangelo's Dome, Different perspective and context than just walking through. Sistine Chapel was special.

Took Metro to Spanish Steps and looked at the Terrace Church where some Feast Day service was occurring.

VnT very tired, so no early start. Pompeii was on the itinerary, but decided to head for Sorrento instead. Same way. Lonely Planet had described the train trip from Naples to Sorrento in glowing terms. Until just before Sorrento, the first 50 mins was ugly as sin - graffiti everywhere and dirty. Train was graffiti full as well. Couldn't actually see out the window to Mt Vesuvius! Seemed like everyone had given up and no-one cared.

Got to Sorrento. No indicators of where tourist info was - again. Asked at shop, given directions to what ended up being a hotel that was a member of the Tourist Association, but not the tourist centre. Asked another tourist how to walk down to the water. Worse service than normal trying to get a ferry ticket back to Naples. No help from one window to another as it was not their company. At one stage told to go in circle from window to window. Finally bought ticket for trip back to Napoli. Boat trip was great. Refreshing and blew away those bad service cobwebs.

From Napoli Port, walked up to old castle, then to main Piazza. Very nice. Walked to old city area with amazing shopping precinct within an group of old buildings, with a huge atrium over them. Into laneway city. Vibrant and exciting. Downer was the motor scooters trying to run everyone over. The worst so far. Misled again with directions from a 'trusted pharmacist' to get to Metro. Found Metro with more help, back to Napoli CLE, then back to Rome. Trip back shared a cabin with English couple (Paki background) very nice chat.

Afternoon walked to Tram stop at San Maggiore down the road. Has to ask which bit to stand on for our Tram. Went all way across town. Nice trip. Plenty of time so we had a great lunch right next to Tram stop for the Stadio.