A Roma

Word of the day: sorridere (to smile) - taken from some graffiti on the train. We tried to translate the whole phrase but the literal translation didn't work. The other phrase telling Marco to 'vaffanculo' translated perfectly (apologies to any Italian speakers). Teenagers are the same the world over!

Getting up for work at 0630 is painful, more so when you're on holiday but this time it's worth it. This is day 1 of our two day excursion into Rome - the Colosseum. Caught the 8.19 train on a rather misty and dull day. Dulled the views into Rome on a rather long train journey - 1.5 hours! We felt right at home as it felt like our normal commute, but with much better views, as the mist cleared as we got closer to Rome.

Arrived Ostiense and transferred onto the Metro - easy so far. The key to traveling on Italian public transport is to buy your tickets in advance and validate them when you start your journey using the little yellow boxes. Failure to do so will result in a ticket inspector shouting at you (that's what it sounds like) , although pleading 'Mi scusi, Non ho capisco! Sono inglese' and generally looking pathetic has worked for us.

Stepping out of the Metro you walk out into the Colosseum. This is a fantastic piece of architecture and for it to be, mostly, still standing after 1000 years is awe-inspiring. Go there if you get a chance. Similarly, walking around the Palatino and the Fora Romana is impressive. The Fora Romana however looks like a cross between major building works and a massive jigsaw puzzle.

Got back in the evening narrowly missing a head-on collision driving back from Caprinica. BMW overtook on a blind corner and thankfully there was enough room for three plus I was braking hard.

Returned the next day and did a circuit of tourist Rome: Fontana di Trevi, Spanish steps, the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum, and Ponte di Angels. We were warned that many museums and places to visit are closed at short notice or changed around. Funnily enough the Spanish steps were closed - well most of them. Walked down via XX passed the designer shops. Had to photograph wifey outside Jimmy Choo's - much to the amusement of the sales staff inside. Walked beside the river, across the Ponte di Angels (showing the passions of Christ), finally walking around into Vatican city. Wandered around to the entrance to the Vatican Museum and entry to the Sistine Chapel expecting many queues. Luckily for us at this time of year it's fairly quiet and we pretty much walked straight in.

I won't labour the point but the works of art, particular the ceilings, are spectacular. To fully appreciate them you have to see them. I took many photographs but none will really do them justice. I'm not a religious man, but seeing all this spectacular wealth and opulence in a place of God seemed.... wrong.

Tomorrow we leave for Tuscany. I hope the weather stays with us but the forecast isn't good.