Well today is it - we leave Rome for Prague. Our flight leaves at 3.30pm and takes about 1.5 hours so should be in Prague by 5.00pm (we are on the same timezone throughout Europe). Dave our travel agent booked us into the smartwings lounge and suggested we get to the airport early and enjoy the comforts of the lounge rather than leave the travel plans till too late. Never a truer word spoken!!!!!! We had arranged to be picked up at our hotel at 11.00am for a h...

Our last full day in Rome. Our aim today is to try and see the things we want to but haven't yet seen and get some souvenirs. We have nothing planned just do as we please. Well..... we walked the streets of Rome scouring every laneway, sidestreet and market between Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon and several bits either side. We found things for everyone well at least we think we did - what did we get - well you will have to wait. We have had a wonderful time...

Had a leisurely breakfast after a long day yesterday. Trenna was suffering from a sinus infection so it was a slow paced morning. Went to get a snack and bought pizza by the slice, cost by weight. They call it pizza to go.... The Vatican tour was a little disappointing - so much hype and expectation but not much to see in the end. My expectation of the Sistene Chapel was a huge painting of God giving the spark of life to man but the painting itself is quite sma...

Recovering from a heavy day yesterday, we had a leisurely breakfast then strolled to the Pantheon. As usual Ross's sense of direction was first class, and we nearly made it there by direct route ... Hah hah The Pantheon is a quite remarkable piece of architecture. The roof is a complete dome with an occulus (a round hole in the ceiling). There are drain holes in the marble floor, approx 80 feet below. See photo. Beautiful artworks and painted murals, carved an...

So we have left Naples and are heading towards Pompeii when our guide tells us that on our left is Mount Vesuvius and we are now entering the red zone. The importance of the red zone is that it is the first area to be evacuated in case of an eruption - a very comforting thought. Mount Vesuvius is still active and erupts every approx 70 years with the last eruption being in 1944. It is now 2011 - you do the maths and work out when it is due to go off again. Anywa...