Roma to Firenze

Best intentions to get up early to head to the coloseum went a little awry!    

The lines by 9 am were horrendously long, nearly flicked it.  The line with the organised folks with prepaid tickets would have had about 400 people easy – the no ticket, lets wing it, we really should have sorted this earlier peeps – about 50 !  Score !!!


His bucket list item ✅✅ + story about tickets, loves a good story ✅✅✅



Another round of Bruschetta & Peroni before heading down to the railway station.  Now that was an adventure!  Taxi driver and hotel concierge warned us to watch out for “help” as had Abby and Mitch before we left. Can’t believe that nice fella who shuffled us to the ticket machine could of been a gypsy …  Dick was having none of it – death stare and he soon was “helping” a young German tourist!   Tickets successfully purchased ( who knew we could read Italian !). Right platform found, right train – quick run to WC – 
Travel tip 1#

In Rome always make sure you have a 1€ in your pocket or exceptional bladder control !

After a moment of anxiety (not at all assisting with the pelvic floor control) and maybe with the help of all the Angels & Gods, one euro found in the deepest crease of my pocket 😊

Great train ride through sunflower fields with butter coloured houses and terracotta roofs, perched on hills with church towers with bells, olive groves, vineyards – picture book perfect 

Then Florence …..

Picked up by a taxi driver who not only dropped us off but rang and waited for our host to arrive so we wouldn’t be stranded.  And then behind those big wooden doors with lion knockers (it has to be a sign – I’m a leo😉), we wound our way up passages and hallways to our Air BnB apartment – nervous …


Jagged it big time! Our windows open up to look straight up the river Arno toward the Ponte Vecchio in the distance.  Will resist writing the superlatives but it is a struggle !

What a stunningly beautiful  city (ok just one or two).  Did I mention the there is also a just waning moon …


Those doors 😍😍😍


That view!

Dinner in the street cafe, risotto for her, lasagne for him – delicio.  To bed with the windows still open, sounds of Italian voices still out and about (and a electric fan!) – bliss 

Buona Notre Firenze 😘😘😘

Rome in a day … well nearly !

Woke up in Rome !  Headed up to Piazza del Popolo quite near us – every street offers a stunning vista in the gorgeous morning Roman sunshine  – just dreamy.



Headed to the Spanish Steps – Roman holiday number one bucket list item


Closed !  Looks as if Rome and I will get to have another date …



What no more coins ??

Do you think they would notice if I nicked one?

Bucket list item number two ✅. A little Trevi Magic to start a Saturday morning.

Wound our way through Roman excavations, glorious piazzas up to coloseum and Roman forum – awesome, I mean proper awesome!


Thousands of people and very warm – Plan B – beverage (s) in piazza.  Magical.   Is it bad to be drinking in the sunshine before heading to the Vatican City ????

Hmmm – need to mull that over, lunch – and maybe another drink …


On to the Vatican City ….


Damn buskers 😉


St Peters Basillica was awe inspiring – the sound of the voices of the choir  in that building … I have to use that word again … Awesome

Lingered in the afternoon light in St. Peter’s square – caught a open top bus for a Cook’s tour of the rest of Rome and walked back along the River Tiber with its Sycamore trees, bridges and Angels, saints and demons.


Back in time for some hydration and bed.  Yah Rome xox. Me thinks no trouble sleeping tonight.

Ciao from Roma!🌝

27 hours ago we left Sydney with a beautiful full moon to send us on our way and arrived with it rising over Rome as the sun set for the day. Our brief visit to Dubai whetted our appetites to go back – how amazing does it look!  Also got a sneak peak at Santorini, Mykonos and Paros – OMG!

Never had a full 24 hours plus of sunlight before!  Feeling tired (how fabulous is flying with  Emirates✈️) but so damn excited to be heading to explore glorious Roma tomorrow. Spanish steps, Trevi fountain, colosseum, Piazza del Popolo – can not believe I’m here!! (That is a lot of exclamation marks I know – totes warranted 😝)

Our Hotel is just beautiful – and the bar tender makes a mean G & T

Brace yourself Roma – Dick & Chez need to do you in a day 😉🌞🏛🇮🇹

On the runway in Sydney


Dubai below us en route from Sydney ✈️🌴☀️

That sea …   Flying directly over the  Greek islands was like sneaking a look at the last chapter of a new book!  See you in two weeks 😍

The Lovely River Palace – our home for the next two nights