ITALY: Tuscany and Rome

Well we are nearing the end of our trip and have possibly saved the best for last. Bella Italia. Arrived into Pisa airport and managed to get to our wee isolated tuscan farmhouse apartment with a mix of Jo's high school Italian and my arm-waving and pointing.

We stayed a few miles outside of a medieval Tuscan town called San Gimignano in a beautiful little converted farmhouse. Is this starting to sound like a Frances Mayes novel? I cant help it, it was sensational and we'd go back in a second. Our 3 days there were a delight. The first night there we had a nice meal then walked into one of the main piazzas to find a 40-piece orchestra playing to the public. What a setting.

The second day we went to Florence which was a 45min train ride away, and we saw the Duomo, the Uffizzi and the Statue of David amongst other sights. David may have a small piece, but his hands are enormous and he's a handsome chap. Florence is beautiful, although it gave us an early insight into Italian city life, rammed with tourists, people out for themselves, sleazy blokes perving on every passing bit of skirt. But enough about me...

So then it was onto Rome on the Eurostar. We had been pre-warned about the pickpockets in and around the stations and busy tourist areas so we were well prepared. Jo had her bag clutched tightly and i was mincing around Bruce Willis stylee, glaring at anyone in a 10 metre radius and happily we didnt encounter any problems.

So Rome was brilliant, the whole atmosphere of the place is so alive and the sheer size and abundance of ancient architecture is fantastic. We braved the hour long queue at the Colloseum, went to the Vatican Museum including the awesome Sistine Chapel. That bloke Michelangelo was a talented fellow. We also took in the Roman Forum, which was the town centre in Roman times, the Borghese Gallery and the Trevi Fountain. We attempted to get into St. Peter's Basilica but the dude at the gates blocked our entry on the grounds that Jo's dress was too short. It was about 3millimetres above the knee. The pope was actually in Oz at the time servicing 500,000 Bruces and apologising for the paedophilia which has dogged the catholic church over the years.

Each night we went out and had dinner in a different spot but found the same atmosphere and vibe and had a thoroughly great time. We would love to go back to Rome, so we better get saving.

Time to get packing for home. The trip has been great, but its over now :(

Ciao

Al and Jo
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