Rome 2026

Tourists –Zio, Ali, Caz, Fred & KB went ‘direct’ via Amsterdam, the Barrie bros travelled via Prague which included a pit stop there.

This year’s tour was made by using Expedia for a package instead of the normal Skyscanner for flights and Trivago for hotels, something that won’t be repeated! With the introduction of the Entry/Exit System by the EU, we had thought that the transfer time in Amsterdam might be tight, this indeed proved to be the case, as, although we made it onto the flight to Rome, our bags didn’t! The delay from Edinburgh plus the lack of personnel at the landing gate, “I shit you not”, to quote the pilot meant we missed the pleasure of getting our mugshots and fingerprints taken.

On arrival at Rome, we received emails telling us our bags hadn’t made the flight and had to stand in a queue with several others to report the missing bags. At that point, Zio’s bag had disappeared, KB, Caz and Fred were told there bags were on the next flight and Ali’s in the flight after that. The two options we had were stay and the airport and wait on the next flight arriving or going to the hotel and getting the bags delivered the next day. We went for the fists option and spend a couple of hours drinking the small café out of beer! Eventually four of the bags arrived, Zio’s having magically reappeared. A decision was then made that Zio, Caz and Fred would go to the hotel to get checked in while KB would wait with Ali and wait for his bag.

Eventually all the bags arrived, the group watched the France-Ireland in a bar full of Scots which was not to our liking and then spent a nice evening speaking to a variety of non-Scots including Japanese and Mexicans in the Monti area of Rome which was much more to our taste!  Oh, and we visited the 24 hour bar for a double espresso and G&T after the bars shut in Monti!

Friday saw the Roma V heading for Frascati, even after we had to buy new tickets as Zio’s phone wouldn’t open the email with the pre-booked tickets on it! We had a nice stroll through the town which was having a carnival and a nice porchetta sandwich.

On returning to Rome, arrangements were made for the two groups to combine, unfortunately the porchetta didn’t agree with Zio who had to retire to the toilet in his room! The other six had an enjoyable and cheap evening in San Lorenzo, chatting and drinking with the locals and foreign students in that area.

Saturday was wet! We went to the game via Bonci’s Pizzarium which was excellent, again, and then to the outdoor Fischio’s bar where the music most definitely was not! The less said about the game the better! Post-match we had salumi and formaggio platters for tea. Due to the adverse weather conditions, Saturday night was spent in the Monti area again and like Thursday, a late visit to the 24 hour bar!

Sunday was the traditional Rome walk which Zio had prepared, the weather meant we curtailed it  bit but still managed to walk 10 miles! KB got to see his Caravaggio’s in the  Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi, however the Basilica di Sant’Agostino which had others was shut! The walk ended in the Piazza Barberini with a caffelatte and cannoli!

Early start on Monday meant we had an early night on Sunday where the hotel had supplied us with a doggy-bag for breakfast!

However, the tour couldn’t end without another disaster when the person at the Lufthansa check-in desk somehow managed to print Ali’s boarding cards twice and gave one set to KB, who then couldn’t get through security! It took  bit of time to resolve that one!  And we still haven’t done the mugshot and fingerprints for the EES!