Roma

Today, Sat 26 June, we again achieved the impossible with the amount we managed to cram into our suitcase and smaller bags as we got ready to depart Venice. After lugging everything over a few bridges and down the laneways to a boat, we got to the station to find out that we'd be up for a 1.5 hour wait for an 11.30am train to Rome as earlier ones were fully booked. The day was already very warm, so the wait gave us the chance to stop for a drink and call my Mum and Sandra's parents (it's great to hear familiar voices at the other end of the line and hear how loved ones are going back home). We filed down to the platform shown on the departure screen about 10 mins beforehand, but - just like France - forgot that the Italian train system is a little dubious at times and they changed platforms with a couple of minutes to departure. Despite a mad dash with 60kgs of luggage between us, we missed it and had another two hour wait until the next service. The French and Italian trains are nowhere near as good as their Swiss and Austrian counterparts, but our train was still comfortable for the journey south over almost four hours through Bologne and Florence to Rome. As we went through Florence, Sandra and I thought back to the awesome week we spent in the region with my Mum, Johanna as a two-year-old and our friends Sofie and Daan eight years earlier. Then, our Dutch friends looked after Johanna as Sandra, Mum and I drove to do Rome in a day (a bit of a rush around the landmarks but still a lot of fun). This time around, we have three days in town to take in the sites and it's great to be back.
Arriving at our apartment by taxi we knew we would be close to St Peter's Bascillia, but were pleasantly surprised to find it about a block (or 5 mins walk) away. Just before a summer thunder storm rolled in we spent some time wandering around the square which was being set up with seating for Sunday morning mass (we think with the Pope). We'd been here before, but this time it seemed even more amazing as rain fell on the hot stone pavement (my awe may also have something to do with me watching the movie Angels & Demons on my iPod while on the train ... sad I know, but I think I've convinced the kids to come on an 'angel hunt' with me tomorrow [anyone who's read the Dan Brown book will know what I'm on about]). We're hoping the Pope is giving Mass tomorrow and we'll go along in the morning.

Our apartment around the corner is right above a pizza shop area much like Lygon St in Melbourne where Sandra & I lived during our uni days, so we dropped in for a pasta before calling it a night. The meal was pretty crappy, but Sandra was lucky to get a special surprise with her meal - a chunk of metal in her lasagne from a kitchen scowler (some people just get all of the luck). I looked for nails and bit of glass in my spaghetti carbonara, but was sadly disappointed to just find undercooked bits of ham. Well, at least we know where NOT to eat for the next few days. (Footnote: the metal chunk is OK as it was not digested).