Day1: The Flight

Our heads are spinning.  22 hours on a plane.  What a long day and night...and day again.  It wasn't helped by the fact that we didn't get to bed until midnight (so much for 9 PM), only to wake at 3 am to get to the airport on time, which we did.  We even managed to scoff down a few croissants at 5 am in the Qantas Club.  14 hours sardined between Rick (window seat) and some guy with BO in the aisle seat.  Joy.  It didn't help that I had the biggest bloody bag of kids entertainment at my feet, so my legs were up around my ears.  Of course the kids barely used the stuff inside.  Nor did I for that matter, but at least I was prepared.  Lack of sleep is so not fun, but trying to sleep sitting upright is just awful.  Typical, the guy next to us slept for most of the way and Rick and I felt bad disturbing him, so we went to the toilet once the whole trip.  Stupida. We shouldn't have been so polite.  One saving grace, the kids were awesome to say the least.  They were "so" well behaved it was ridiculous.  The food was crap and the entertainment wasn't much either, but they coped and pushed through the sleep deprivation and confinement.  I saw Zachie asleep leaning over his tray table at one point.  Poor darling, but he didn't complain.  We landed in Dubai mid afternoon Dubai time, and headed to McDonalds for a fix of nuggets and chippies.  We were only on the ground for an hour and a half, so it was quick and painless.  The flight to Roma was much better.  The flight attendants were nicer, the food was actually edible and we were all seated in a row together so it was much easier to get in and out.  The entertainment bag was safely tucked in the overhead locker and I much appreciated the leg space.  We all feel asleep for a few hours of the 5 hour flight, so the time passed much more quickly than the previous flight.  We hit Rome in daylight so we could see quite a bit from the air. We flew directly above the Vatican and I realised what I was looking at.  OMG. I was speechless even from that height.  We had a driver waiting at the airport so the exit was very easy.  The drive into the city was fast and furious. I had to double check everyone was wearing seat belts.  It was still light at 8PM but everything was lit up and just breathtaking.  I nearly cried seeing the Colosseum for the first time, and then on to the Roman Forum and some of the monuments.  Wow, is this place real?  Somebody wake me.  What a city.  I cant wait to get busy exploring in the morning.  Our apartment is great.  Brand new and sparkling clean.  Its just perfect.  The kids are happy and I am feeling calm and safe and ready for sleep.  Is this a dream?  I can't be so perfecto, can it?