When in Rome...

Volare, oh oh
Cantare, oh oh oh oh
Let's fly way up to the clouds
Away from the maddening crowds
We can sing in the glow of a star that I know of
Where lovers enjoy peace of mind
Let us leave the confusion and all disillusion behind
Just like birds of a feather, a rainbow together we'll find

Volare, oh oh
E cantare, oh oh oh oh
Nel blu, dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassu
E volavo, volavo felice piu in alto del sole ed ancora piu su
Mentre il mondo pian piano spariva lontano laggiu
Una musica dolce suonava soltanto per me

Not much to write about today as it was jam packed with Rental cars, airplanes and taxi.
Angela, would have to be one of the most spoilt people I know (as cousin Berta would say "she's ruined")  Today is her birthday and I don't know how many other people who can say "On my birthday I had breakfast in Belgium and dinner in Rome"

The day started off with a skype back home while packing our bags ready to depart Belgium.  The Taggs called by our room as we were all to meet downstairs for breakfast by 7:30.

The Tagg's

The Rihia-Tamaki's

We had our usual breakfast we've been having for the past 3 days, then looked at the time to try and decide if we were to have one last look around Ieper before we left.  I went to ask at reception how long it would take us to get to the airport and she recommended we allow ourselves at least 2 hours.  So we decided to check out and get on the road early.  We piled into our van and headed to Brussels airport.

I felt quite sad leaving Ieper, it's a place I think I could easily call home, I'm not sure what it is about the place, but it's one of those places that has a hold of your heart (a bit like Raetihi is to me), which we will definitely do again before we return to NZ permanently.

On our way Angela read the complete blog out loud.  It's the first time I've heard the whole thing read at once.  I've never gone back to edit it, it's just been written as it was in my head.  We had a few, actually a lot of laughs because, when you read them all together, it sounds like all we do is eat and that all the eating causes the lifts to become overloaded.  Anyway all laughs aside, it made that 2 hour trip go quite quickly until we hit bumper to bumper traffic all due to an accident, until we saw the opposite side of the road which was more bumper to bumper than our side if that's possible lol, but 3 lanes wide and about 10kms long traffic was at a stand still.

We eventually got to the airport, returned our vehicle and checked in with 2 hours to spare before we had to board our flight for Rome.  So without breaking tradition, we went to find a place where we could eat.  After our early lunch we had a nosy around the airport got a few last minute souvenirs and jut chilled near the departure.

1:25pm they opened the gates for passengers to board and one of the advantages of traveling with children is you get to board the plane first.  So down the gang way we went and into our seats for the 2hour flight to Rome.

Arrived in Rome, walking to the baggage collection area and suddenly found ourselves outside the airport, how on earth we by passed customs and security is beyond us, but we were stuck with another problem, our luggage was still in the terminal.  hehehe.  We had to go to the Police to get clearance to re-enter and collect our luggage.  Ian and I went back to do this expecting to walk through to arrivals with the girls welcoming us like you see others welcoming other coming through arrivals but no, not one of them were there to greet us hehehe.  Can I still point out that again we some how missed customs.  Mind you we didn't even get an exit stamp from Belgium or an entry stamp into Rome.

We caught a taxi to our  hotel made our way to our rooms and then decided to meet for dinner 30mins after we get to the hotel (because you know, we haven't eaten in quite a while) by this time though it's 6:30.

As soon as you leave the hotel lobby, you look to the left and their right in from of us in the Basilica San Pietra (St Peter's Basilica, which Devika thought was our hotel when she saw it online hehehe) we will be visiting tomorrow during our visit to Vatican City.

Spaghetti Allo Scrogio

We walked around the corner and pretty much went to the first place we came across where we had an array of pastas and pizzas before talking a quick walk around the block and back to our hotel rooms so we could get the kids to bed at a reasonable hour, for tomorrow our tour of Vatican City starts at 8:30pm.

So we've made it to Rome, safe, sound and well fed (so don't worry - lol)

but for now it's Buona Notte from Rome, Italy for tomorrow we take a step even further back in time.