I got a text from Alex in Shetland yesterday:

Earlier today we saw the Viking galley moored in Lerwick. Ethan was a bit concerned about the potential danger of marauding Vikings so we explained that there weren’t any Vikings any more and told him a little Viking history. A little bit later he told us that a Viking had been in the chalet. We asked how he knew. He replied that there is no DVD player… So it must have been taken by a Viking! Hee! Hee!

Wonderful 5-year-old boy logic!

Arrived at Acuto this afternoon. Spent the morning and early afternoon with external affairs gang in the sticky heat of a tourist-crowded Rome. The hotel was close to the Spanish Steps and we spent a bit of time at the Trevi Fountain before going for lunch. It was fun being with friends, but I can do without the tourist kick. I just am not a good tourist.

We were all picked up by a couple of taxis for the 60km or so to Acuto. A thunder storm broke to the east as we drove south out of Rome - clouds had been building through the late afternoon - but the further south we got, the more the weather cleared.