Today was our first proper day sight-seeing. We began with breakfast (included with our Spagna Hotel room). This consisted of a selection of croissants, pannaforte, panne tone and washed down with cappucino.
   
   
So began our Roma adventure. We walked for a full working day (20000 steps!). Our stops included: The Spanish Steps and Square
  
    

 The Trevi Fountain (very clean!)

   
 several amazing Basilica (churches) with elaborately painted ceilings and detailed architecture

   
   
The Pantheon

   
    
   
and the Colosseum. 

   
  As we walked around we marvelled at the ancient ruins and humongous buildings with columns and bronze statues. 

  
We visited these amazing places alongside half the population of Europe! Central termini was an experience where we went to buy our tickets for the fast train to Florence tomorrow. 

There are people trying to sell us selfie sticks everywhere but our own personal selfie stick(Scott) will be joining us tomorrow in Fiorenze!

On the way back to Spagna we stopped at a little deli and bought some salami, truffle spread and pecorino to enjoy with some prosecco. 

  
Mauro, our host has been very helpful, as well as being amused by Michele’s lack of ability to use the keys to open the doors in the hotel! 

An evening stroll gave us one last look at the beautiful decorations and lights still left over from Christmas…we may or may not have bought a bottle of Limoncello to complete the experience. 

   
   
A lovely adventure so far but looking forward to tomorrow when we finally see Scott. Buona notte! 

We were very lucky to get a window seat on the second leg of our journey, so we could finally view the landscape we were flying over. Thankfully the clouds disappeared and we were treated to a spectacular vista of the Middle East. As we flew over the brown desert mountains, they gradually became more rugged and snow covered. Just beautiful!

   
   
   
    
  Arrived into Rome and found our driver with the ‘Renneberg’ sign. Thanks Margaret Richmond for the advice about getting a hotel with transfers, recommended to anyone wanting to cut out any hassle and confusion at the airport!

Beautiful sunny day to greet us in Rome and a cheery and cheeky host welcomed us into our accommodation at Spagna Deluxe. Mauro was an air Stewart for 20 years with Al Italia and has made many a trip to Australia so his hospitality is of a high quality and he was able to give us good advice about what to do whilst we are here. 

   
 After a short walk through the beautiful but crowded streets of Rome we stopped for an early dinner at a restaurant called Gusto (recommended by Mauro) where we had a caprese salad 

    
(just a giant ball of buffalo mozzarella surrounded by sliced tomato and no-way-near-enough basil leaves) and a Margherita pizza 
(Nothing to write home about).

   
 Michele is now on a mission to find the best pizza in Italy! (Just an excuse to eat lots of pizza? Yes of course! Hell, let’s throw in a best red wine competition as well! ;D)

It is now 6:40pm and has been dark outside for at least an hour, we are both deriously tired and lagged and trying very hard to at least stay up until 8 before going to sleep. The Presecco that we picked up from the supermarket on the way home is definitely helping. 

   
   
That said, we both can’t wait to sleep horizontally for the first time in 30 hours. The small luxuries that you miss when you are denied of them. Until tomorrow, good night and arrivederci!

Our 15 hour flight to Abu Dhabi was pretty smooth and despite having no window seats and being stuffed into “cattle class” we could not complain about the food or facilities (although up the spiral stairs in first class would have been nice too!).  

  
Now for a couple of hour’s layover before boarding to our final destination (thank goodness the coffee isn’t too bad here). Pizza, pasta, gelato and red wine here we come! 

  
We made a friend at the airport 🙂

After spending two weeks doing everything together it was hard to say goodbye to Amadeusz. We had a lovely time with him and enjoyed seeing parts of our country through fresh eyes. But alas, Europe is calling and we must part ways. One last champas at the airport before boarding. Next stop, Rome. Arrivederci Sydney!! Saluti!