34th in the queue for colosseum. Well worth getting there @ 8:20 for an 8:30 opening. Missed the flood of people on tourist buses. Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Very warm. Canolli at local pasteria for afternoon tea and dinner at local pizzeria.....only to have Pope Benedict XVI pass by on his way to Santa Maria Maggiore for the annual event, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Back on Open Tour; Jewish quarter and ruins of fish market. Vatican Museums including Sistine Chapel. Crowded but no queues, worth getting there after 1pm. St Peter's Basilica. Crypt of the Capuchin monks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_della_Concezione_dei_Cappuccini Bought a blue jacket and some scopa cards. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scopa Dinner and gelato back at apartment.

Open tour; Hop On Hop Off bus. http://www.romeopentour.com/ Full circuit with stops at Castel Sant Angelo, Spanish Steps (pizza and panini for lunch), Piazza Novona, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. Dinner back in apartment then a twig blight walk down to Colosseo and Foro Romano.

Eireann bus to Dublin airport. Aer Lingus flight to Rome. Great apartment on Piazza Vittorio.