Austria to Italy....

Now that we had crossed the Alps we could head south and hopefully find some sunshine....

There were still a couple more mountains to cross....we wound our way across the foot hills and across a very large glacial valley and then back up across the Dolomites...some seriously scary hairpin turns inside tunnels with amazing views....and then some just ordinary hairpin turns....and lots of them...we took a picture of the satnav to show just how many!!

As we came to the border, or what used to house a border crossing we passed back into the autumnal colours and downwards into Italy and potentially some warmer weather!

We made our way to Padova where there was a guaranteed campsite punched into Charlene who led us into the old town of Padova (Padua) and down some lovely little cobbled stone streets, nice looking cafes, groovy little neighbourhood-!! Only to arrive at our "destination" to find no campsite in view....mmm another satnavtasitc moment....so a little investigation and a new address...and on our way....out of the nice looking neighbourhood and over the river to the otherside of town!

The campsite was...mmm Italian! The whole polyester tracksuit thing was very evident!!

On the plus side there was a swimming pool...yay...! but you had to pay! €7.50 each....woh...we managed to negotiate down to half price because it was so late in the day!!...There is a chance that the water in the swimming pool was thermal....it was warm and tasted very minerally...Chris was determined that it was thermal and not just filthy!!

There was a large hot tub/jacuzzi which in theory sounds great, especially as it was quite chilly....in reality it was full of wrinkly (read old) german's and italian's in dodgy swimmers!!

Then the rain started....and it rained all night...good solid heavy rain....Dotty doesn't leak!!

Another day....another drive away from the most expensive night yet....almost as much as the pension room....

South.....south....where the sun is shining!

How far south can we go....mmm Tuscany sounds good!

Quick night stop in a Tuscan Olive grove!! Surprise campsite with a good restaurant...More pizza....and really good pasta!

Next day....Rome.....definately sunshine there....down the Autostrada and into Rome....well just outside Rome....

Happy Camping...!! Really...it's called Happy Camping!

We actually arrived quite early in the day but discovered there was quite a journey into town, a shuttle bus from the campsite and then a train into the city. So we decided to take it easy and catch up on laundry...there seems to be a mountain of laundry...it's the bain of my life!

There is also the slight problem of the fact that Dotty has blown her Turbo....so we have to locate a turbo: no longer in manufacture, a mechanic who speaks English, then fit it all into our time in Rome....a few phone calls later and a 20 minute drive into unknown suburbs we have ticked all the boxes and pending the part arriving from London we can have the turbo fitted and be back on the road by Friday!

We get back to the campsite...lunch etc and then take the afternoon shuttle bus to the train station...it is a 15 minute drive, or maybe it should be described as a race track. Poor Chris had to sit in the front!

Thankfully the train arrived quickly...it seemed that we had landed in ghetto of some kind and we were quite glad to get out of there...quick study of the timetable to make sure we can get a train that coincides with the shuttle bus so as not to wait in the dark...: (

The train took us into the outskirts of the centre of town and we elected to walk straight down the guts to take in the sites.

Rome is full of old world charm, somehow blended with modern day hustle and bustle. As we ambled down the street my paranoia of being in a strange city slipped away and we passed gorgeous shops, winding cobbled stone streets and little squares hidden away off the main road. Down one side street and we find the Pantheon, a dome built by Hadrian to honour the classical gods. It's perfect semi-spherical dome is according to the Lonely Planet "considered the Roman's most important architechtual achievements"

It really is awe inspiring! Breathtaking! It is now used as a Christian Church....

As we have been doing lots of sight-seeing and not much kid friendly stuff we decided to do a recommended treat for the kids...it's called the Time Elevator...it promised to be a trip through the history of Rome and all in 3D!

Somehow I got upsold to the 5D preview film as well! The history of the world since the big bang.....and 5D it is...3D glasses, water, wind, hydraulic moving seats...not so great if you get motion sick....the kids loved it though!

Next, the history of Rome....well a scanty history of Rome...with more spine shaking hydraulics!

We left there with the kids begging to see more...and Chris and I thinking about beer!

Of course no trip to Rome is complete without the Colosseum! It is quite late now and to late to go inside! So we wandered past as the sun set and the moon rose...quite picturesque...of course the promise to return tomorrow and go inside!

Dinner was pizza slices Roman style...very tasty! and then rushed to the train station to be sure to make the last shuttle bus..

Early the next day and back to Rome with a list of must see's....

At the Vatican we wandered into the main square to see the Basilica...who is that sitting up there...the man himself...The Pope that is! Quite impressive even for the atheist in me....

His prescence however made it difficult to get into the Basilica...he was in the way!

We quickly discovered that the lines to the Sistine Chapel are HUGE unless you are on the pre booked tour. There are touts lining the streets from the train station offering tours and no lines into the museums but we were cautious as we had heard that it's a rip off....probably worth it though if you don't want to wait in the line....so we decide to skip it in favour of gellati....!

More walking.... through the streets and a quick ice cream/coffee stop. Just wandering around Rome is amazing, at each turn there is another familiar sight or amazing building. The kids were quite bored though and the walking was doing them in. We wandered down some little side streets and found a place to eat that was not full of tourists, it was however more Pizza!

We eventually found our way back to the Pantheon for another look...

Found a groovy old barbers shop to have Flynn's haircut...! Chris then worked out that he was missing his iPhone.....we emptied out all of our bags and pockets but no sign of it anywhere...oops...probably fell or was taken from his pocket while he was distracted taking pictures in the Pantheon.

Next : The Trevy Fountain...amazing....so many people...but totally worth it! We all threw in a coin in the hope of returning one day to Rome!

Then we stumbled upon the Changing of the guards ceremony which proved to be highly entertaining...the kids were glued to it...all the fancy marching and military stomping!!

Eventually we made our way to the Colosseum and being later in the day the cues were less....we wandered into the afternoon light and again we were all mesmerised...it must have been an amazing place...you can almost here the chariots rumble and the lions roar...

2 tired kids at the end of the day...and lots of misbehavior so we decided to get an earlier train and eat back at the campsite...

We made the train but missed the shuttle bus and so we found a little trattoria near the train station....it was safer than waiting...no not really...it turned out to be a nice meal and they served us quickly so we didn't miss the last shuttle!

Due to the homicidal tendencies of the children of late we decided that Jane and I would fly ahead while the boys stayed in Rome to take Dotty to the Doctor....So early the next morning Jane and I got up and rushed to the airport and Chris and Flynn delivered Dotty to the Doctor....

Ahh the sweet sight of Easy Jet!