10th April

Boarded plane at midnight with half of Italy!! Very long flight, rough weather. A laugh will be enjoyed at old gits expense. Had trouble operating the reclining chair so called for help - enough said the button was on the other side!!! Food service good. Landed Rome late alongside Thai Airways. Approaching customs we got swallowed up in the mob. Had to catch another airtrain to go thru customs. Caught shuttle train to Rome station - while on station turned on phone to find sms from Wayne! Pleasant run into the city but my goodness the graffiti along the train line is something else. Our mayor in Brisbane would have an heart attack. Rows and rows and rows of multi story buildings in need of paint - this high density, but in spite of the downtrodden look, aerials of all descriptions were evident on top of the buildings. Found our way out of the station andwalked to the hotel. Anyhow they agreed to keep our luggage while we went to find a internet USB so we could go on-line. Had a look at te Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, in disrepair outside but magnificent inside. Arranged for suitcases to be left at hotel, while we went down south.