Another busy day in Rome. Carol, Larry, Doug, Susan, Margaret, Leanne, Ken and Sarah set out for the day. For some of us it was our first time on the buses in Rome. 9:20 AM is still a busy time for comuters!!Our first stop for the day was the market at Campo Fiore. What a lovely selection of fresh produce. Next we strolled through the Jewish Ghetto through the Teatro di Marcello and on to the Monument Vittorio Emanuelle II. The views of Rome from the top of the monument were breathtaking!! Thank you Susan for finding out there was an elevator to the top.

Next we found our way on to Ancient Rome -the Forum, Palantine Hill and Colosseum. Very impressive. Carol and Larry headed off to see the Trevi Fountain and a bite to eat.

The rest continued on for the rest of the stops for the afternoon. All that walking required some sustenance so a table literally on the edgeof the street was found and a late lunch was had. The service was fast and very congenial. Very different from what we received last night!

After refreshment, we went to see Michelangelo's Moses and then Susan, Doug, Leanne and Margaret went off to see the Wheel of Truth from Roman Holiday fame. Sarah and Ken went back to the Piazza Venizia for another view of the Monument. All made the return route to the apartment.

Ken and Mary wer on cooking duty. Another lovely pasta meal with dessert from the local bakery. How do they make use of Nutella so much here? We had a pie which seemed to be made with it. :)

I wonder what tomorrow wil bring?

(Posted by Sarah)

Touring the Vatican

Everyone (except Ken and Sarah who were still in transit), visited the Vatican today.

Susan, Doug, Leanne and Margaret did the intensive, all inclusive visit. Carol, Larry and Mary did the Cole's notes version.

St Peter's Basilica is absolutely lovely (and free), the views from the Cupola would have been fantastic, but unfortunately rain squalls were blowing through on and off all day and hit as the adventurous folks reached the top.

We have decided that the Vatican Museum was the originator of Ikea's floor plan, we walked about 3 km to travel the 1km from one end of the museum to the Sistine Chapel. Monday many of the sites are closed in Rome so the Vatican seemed very busy.

We've arrived

We have successfully arrived in Rome and are settling into the Gregorio Flower.

Several adventures enroute - Susan, Doug and Margaret arrived in time to catch the train to town with every "soccer"?? fan in Rome. After 45 minutes spent accosting strangers for cell phones they were able to meet up with the owner of our apartment and gain access.

Carol, Larry, Mary and Sue got a lovely bus tour of the Rome airport tarmack and then we were dropped off at Terminal A, obviously the local terminal as there were no frills. "Most" of our bags eventually arrived. Mary is in hope that her bag will arrive eventually.

Leanne arrived one hour later but was actually able to collect her bag before the rest of us had gotten ours.

Since we were five we got a shuttle to town. We arrived while the others were out enjoying gelato so we got to park on the sidewalk for a while as well.

More updates later....

Sarah and Ken arrived on Monday night. The flight from Vancouver to London was lovely and the British Airways 747 with on demand movies was a good way to spend a long journey. The legroom was nonexistent and the view of the self contained pods in first class was making us envious. We had a 4 hour layover at BAs Terminal 5. Not much comfy seating but tons of shops and a clean modern look. The 2 hour flight to Rome was scary - very bumpy with 200 km/hr tailwinds. It was a white knuckle ride. Definitely happy to land. The bags came quickly, the train was waiting and the taxi ride short. At 10:30PM most had gone to bed already but Leanne, Margaret and Mary were up to let us in and show us around. Finally everyone is here!

Checking out the blog to see if it works.

Test

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Mary
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

1 week to Italy

The training is done, the planning is finished and it's time to take this show on the road.

Wait for updates of Bonsor Breakfast clubs latest Italian adventure.