Day 9- Rome. The Vatican City, Colosseum and the Forum

We leave the hotel for an early start for our 8.30 am entry into the Vatican city with our local guide, Amelia. The Vatican doesn’t open for general public entry until 10.30 am. Our guide ushers us through the Vatican city museum which is simple overwhelming, with its priceless artworks and  incredibly ornate surrounds . We arrive at  the Sistine Chapel, which is still comparatively empty. With the aid of our little headset devices Amelia further inform us of the history of this amazing chapel and its very famous paintings and recent restoration. The guards are relentless in “shushing” the small crowd gathered inside each time the noise begins to climb a little. After about 20 minutes of intense “history” Master Riley decided it was all too much for his little neck and did the sensible thing (remember he is 7 years old , and it seemed sensible enough to me too) of stretching out  on the  floor to gaze up at the beautiful artwork which is Michelangelo’s greatest . Of course that lasted about 38 seconds before the guards shushed him to his feet (wait a minute, I obviously was not allowing him to be in harms way and he really wasn’t smack bang in the middle of the floor….still they thought it unwise…..) We finally refocused our gaze down at people level and took the back passages through into the amazing  St Peter’s Basilica. Mark and I had been here before but it is an awe-inspiring environment regardless of how often you see it. After our history tour and a little free time to wander and photograph we head to the backstreets and get a bite to eat. It is still overwhelming trying to order for us all, but I think I am getting the hang of it, at least I am less PANICKED by the process. Maddie buys herself a really neat sweatshirt with the Universitia de Roma  on the front. After lunch we reboard our bus then drive the streets of Rome to reach  the Colosseum and the ruins of the Forum. We drive past Circus Maximus, along the Tibre, across the oldest bridge on earth, then enjoy a walking tour through the Colosseum.  Needless to say this is what Callum has been waiting for. He listens intently to our guide and loves the chance to carry her little flag designed to keep our tour group together. Imagine, our Callum, a tour guide in Rome J Some more free time and we head out of the gates to get some  “Gladiator” photos  for each of the children. We negotiate a good price of a few Eoros and they each take a turn being photographed  with a rather knock-kneed Gladiator (but hey, it was an absolute highlight for them). Back at our  hotel we prepare for our optional tour and dinner. It is an amazingly  fun night out with Paul and Liz and the whole group with music and crazy waiters- kissing the guests and having lots of fun and laughter.  We  drive to the Trevi fountain  (shoe shop still there, super, amazing,fabulous shoes, great prices and closed!!!) I am very tired and more than a little disappointed, but I will say no more……brave little Mummy…………

Back to the hotel. Nightly rituals follow, camera batteries, repacking, clothes laid out for the kids, downloading photos…….Early start tomorrow