Hong Kong, France, Italy, England: Rome - Saturday, 24th September

Big sleep in for all of us this morning then up and out of here for breakfast in Piazza Navona, and then a catch up with cousins up above the Spanish Steps at Pincio, Villa Borghese. Lots of fun - and for the children, with jumping castles, merri-go-rounds and Segways!! We said goodbye to the Croci clan and took off on our Segways. By the end of our half hour, we were all flying up and down the paths chasing after each other. Seriously good fun!!!

We then headed down the Spanish Steps for a late lunch, before a big afternoon catch up with Ginella (Zamparelli) and extended family! Tobes had every intention of coming, but jetlag got the better of him at the last minute, and we dropped him off at the hotel on our way.

At Ginella's and Pasquale's, we also caught up with: Violante (daughter) and her husband Andrea and their children, Linda and Tobias (who we saw yesterday), Valeria (Zamparelli, sister) who we saw on Wednesday in Formia, and who had come up to Rome especially to meet Tobes!, Romolo (nephew on Pasquale's side) and Erica, both great old friends of mine from Milano 20 years ago, and their daughters Anita and Irene, son-in-law Luca and boys (with daughter, Monica) Giovanni and Lorenzo, Fabio (Zamparelli) and his wife Tiziana, and his brother Paolo (Zamparelli) and his wife, also Tiziana, and their two boys Gabrielle and Giorgio! We also managed a Skype catch up with Valeria's daughter, Marina who is living in Mozambique. Lots of food, LOTS of laughs, and lots of fun!

Then, the girls and I headed home to wake up Tobes, who'd managed a 3 hour snooze and now feels like he is ready to start a new day, at 10:00pm.

Tomorrow - plans at this stage are a trip to the Colosseum, a catch up with cousins, and then hopefully with Valeria, Erica & Romolo, and Violante and Andrea, then dinner with the Croci clan before heading out to Venice on Monday morning.