Day 1

Though worn from our journey, we were excited to explore the magical city of Rome so off we went. We walked across the Tiber and around to the Vatican. St Peters square was enormous, and people had already formed an enormous queue for both the Vatican Museums and St Peters Basilica - I was relived we had bought skip the line tickets ahead of time. We were a little early for our entry time, so we found a small restaurant over the road and had our first Italian meal. Pizza for me and pasta for Megan - bellissimo!

The museums were amazing. They were packed and the crowds were jostling, but it was really cool to see the amount of artwork and gold leaf on display. They could cure world hunger with that money... :/

The highlight for me was the Sistine Chapel. This was always going to be 'my moment' and it was. I teared up at the dream coming true as we stood in the hushed chapel, staring at that phenomenal roof. Blown away. I had remembered reading a tip on a blog and instead of exiting with others to the left, persuaded Megan to exist with the tour groups on the right - no one would know we were not on a tour! This way, we went directly around and into the Basilica, no lining up for us! Score!!! The basilica was hard to describe, photos did not do justice to its size or beauty. The Pieta was beautiful. On the way home, we stopped for our first true gelato - it did not disappoint! So good!

We headed back to the hotel for a relax before once again heading out and exploring Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. An early dinner of antipasto and the traditional Italian Aperol Spritz was perfect before we crashed out early, exhausted.

I was alarmed and flew awake when housekeeping came in at about 6pm to turn down our beds not realising we were already in them! She ran out apologising then called the room again making me get up to answer the phone for another apology. Megan snored through the lot!