Today is our afternoon tour of the Vatican so heading out from the hotel we caught the bus down town and got off the bus at the Piazza Venezia opposite the Victor Emmanuelle II monument, the roundabout here is crazy and full of mad Italian drivers in buses taxis. Leaving the busy site we wandered the back streets heading for the famous Piazza Navona where many artists practice their stock and trade. This piazza has 2 amazing fountains and several beautiful churches. Surrounded by cafes we had our morning coffees stop before heading off towards the Vatican. Again strolling the winding back streets of Rome we found our way eventually to the Tiber where we lunch was bought from a small cafes and eaten on the steps by the river. Finishing lunch we walked across the ... read more

We have arrived in Rome. Our hotel is a short walk from Rome Termini and Piazza della Repubblica. We booked into our room, dropped our bags off and headed towards the Trevi Fountain. The crowds were nowhere near as big as last time we visited. We threw the coin into the fountain, took photos and then headed off to the Spanish Step. Looks like the Trevi Fountain crowd had moved there. The place was packed. Next visit was too Piazza Venezia where there are a few places to see in close proximity. Vittorio Emmanuel II Monument, a most amazing building, next to Vittorio Emmanuel II Monument is Basilica di Santa Maria in Aracoeli... wow this is spectacular, the interior is exquisite, highly recommend visiting this beautiful Basilica and Piazza del Campidoglio. Dinner was at the restaurant ... read more

Catching a cab from the hotel out to the airport, it was off to Maranello, the home of Ferrari, but first we had to find our way out of Florence. With Zac at the wheel of our rental car, and turning on the trusty Tomtom and digging out the map as a backup we headed out through the crazy traffic of Florence and after several “oops we were supposed to go down there” it was off into the country side. Taking a back road to Maranello was a nice change from the hustle and bustle from the city and we were soon threading our way through country roads northwards towards our destination. An hour and a half or so later we entered the heart of Ferrari looking for the museum and the array of firms renting ... read more

Today was a good day, walked through the leather markets where I bought a handbag, Zac rubbed the nose of Il Porcellino, a bronze statue of a boar near the markets, supposed to guarantee your return to Firenze as well as bring good luck. We visited the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Basilica of Santa Croce and walked over Ponte Vecchio. I bought Mum 'The Pietà' to take home. There was a gelato festival so we sampled a few different flavours... it would be rude not too...... We finished our day with a meal at IL Portale Pizzera restaurant which is next to our hotel. A nice place albeit a bit overpriced.... read more

Today started with a water taxi ride to Murano, a Venetian island where glass blowing is the primary industry. We watched a couple of blokes making some chandelier parts, the way they were able to handle the molten glass was amazing, they are artists, that's for sure. The water taxi ride was a hoot, they are roughly 30 feet long with a big engine, and seriously haul ass, there was lots of shouting and pointing when navigating the canals, but there is a lot of shouting and pointing in everyday Italian life, so it seems. A lot of the water taxis are very beautiful, lots of teak and mahogany, with stainless steel fittings, very nice to watch going past. We wandered around Murano until about 2, had lunch in the local town square, then got a ... read more