Homeward bound

15/10/2008
Massimo gave us a farewell gift of a bottle of local olive oil and a diary in which his restaurant features which was very kind of him. Not sure how we are going to get these home as it will put the backpacks over the limit for carry on luggage. We will worry about it when we get to the airport. We left early this morning as we thought we would stop off at Todi on the way through.
Madam GPS was very good and lead us directly to the carpark without any antics of going the wrong way or down one way streets, so things are looking up!
We caught the funicular up the mountain to the enclosed Etruscan walled town. We found our way to the Piazza del Popolo and the tourist office. It was recommended we check out a roman cistern considered to be an architectural feat which served as the water supply for Todi and still stands as the support structure for the square.
There are a few churches and a cathedral to visit here. We made it to the cathedral at the end of the square which has a magnificent rose window and were surprised to be accosted by begging gypsies in the doorway. On our way back we stopped at the Tempio di San Fortunato, whch has an unusual criss cross of steps to the entrance and has frescoes by Masolino da Panicale and more gypsies begging here also.
We arrived fairly early at Rome airport which was just as well as we could not find the car rental to return the car to. Rome airport is bedlam to drive around and very stressful! Madam GPS kept telling us we had reached our destination then turn around when possible....in a one way system... We could not see any sign for car rentals anywhere and ended up in with the limosines, taxis and then the buses. We drove around and around quite a few times looking desperately for a sign. I was beginning to think those gypsies must have put a curse on us.
Eventually we pulled over and Bob put into the GPS the name of the car hire firm and we got some different directions, which didn't seem correct as it directed us into a multi-storey carpark but we followed her advice - as we didn't have any other choice and backing out didn't seem a good option with impatient italian drivers behind us - so continued on and found the car hire on the 4th level of the carpark. What a relief!! The guy that directed us into a parking space had know idea how relieved we were to pick up our backpacks and walk away!!
We had a couple of hours before we could check in and we were so glad to sit down and collect or nerves and work out what we were going to do with a diary and a bottle of olive oil. Decided what the heck and put them in the backpacks and got them checked in as luggage - at least we don't have to worry about our bags until we get back to Brisbane.