We landed in Rome "Fiumicino" airport on a balmy morning in late May (2008) after some 39 hours travelling from Sydney via Taipei and Bangkok. Phil and I decided to spend a couple of days in Rome to enjoy the ancient city before continuing on to Croatia.

Our plans were to make our way from Italy, across the Adriatic (by ferry) to Croatia (and Biograd) where the boat was wintering.

The first order of business was to find somewhere to stay, at the airport there were several accommodation "brokers' who would check on vacancies for you and arrange a room.

We tried to source a hotel through the services at the airport but without success. The only vacancies they could find were not cheap (ie. 170€ to 250€ a night). This wasn't too bad, though what we really wanted was to be in the heart of Rome, close to the sites and sounds of Roma and also to be located near the main train station (Roma Termini). This would make the start of the next leg of our journey (to Ancona & Italy's east coast) that much simpler.

Phil called his wife Anne and after a few minutes on the phone she found and booked a hotel for us right where we wanted to be. She did all this from Sydney (bless her) ah the power of the internet.

The Hotel quoted us 150€ a night, and since it was in a good location in the centre of Rome, we decided to spend the night there to recuperate from the flight and check out the sites.

The Hotel quoted us 150€ a night, and since it was in a good location in the centre of Rome, we decided to spend the night there to recuperate from the flight and check out the sites.

I could hardly wait to unpack, to be able to experience the ancient monuments first hand. Structures that I had only ever read about in books and seen in the movies, I was out of the hotel in less than an hour - sleep, who needs it.

Rome is a lovely city, though I admit by Australian standards it is well.. how can I say it, it's a little dirty. The ruins are spectacular, the buzz of the place is something to experience and the food can be delicious. I strongly recommend "Er Buchetto" On Via Del Viminale, if you ever get the chance, try it, the most delicious pork I have ever tasted and the tomato salad, Mmmm.

Er Buchetto has been in operation for over 120 years, passed down from father to son. It has just four tables and it looks more like a barber shop than a restaurant. Don't be deceived though. The food is to die for. And it is served to you on sheets of grease proof paper instead of plates. Believe me it is fantastic. Of the eight meals I had in Rome 3 of them were at Er Buchetto.

On the whole the people are very friendly though you do have to be careful of pick pockets. I did not have the misfortune myself though I spoke to many people travelling who had.

We decided to spend another night at the hotel and upon making the arrangements found out that the room price jumped from 150€ per night to 190€. I was not impressed. I admit I had quite a heated discussion with the hotel manager, who argued categorically that this was the price we were quoted. To this day I think they took advantage of us and I warned them I would publish my discontent on the internet (here it is!). The hotel was the "Hotel Diana" on the Via Principe Amedeo in Rome, and I do NOT recommend staying there.

I did the tourist thing and went to the Vatican, was amazed by St. Peters, (I will put some pictures of St. Peters on a separate page). I even got to see the Pope (the Papa as they call him locally). Mum was very pleased for me when I told her, not too sure how to take that… hmm.