We are back had a great time thanks to the crews from Lufthansa Both ways jfk-fra-vce-fco-jfk,, very nice!!! No issues!! the trip was to VCE at the Hilton Molino Stucky (very nice) VERY EXPENSIVE. We did get a special rate, but did not eat there. Internet is outragous $35 an hour we went to the internet cafe down the street. then train to florence (stayed at the new hilton garden inn very nice free internet in the room and bus across the street, 8 min the the train staion and a few min walk to the sights from there, and train to rome. In Rome We satyed at Caesers rooms 2 blocks from the Vatican great place. Check it out BBplanet.it very happy we did the Apt thing. As for the Vatican,, we got in late sat night so sunday we walked over to see what the options were. We did not book a tour prior to going. We did look into a few but with only a few days notice the best we got was $145 a person, this would have included entrance and snack and tour. My wife and I are not the guided tour types. we like to have the flexability to do things on our own,also we had two of our kids with us 14,15. We are not interested in all the details of the sights just the basics. I did not want to be tied to a group for 4-5 hours. that being said, we knew that the best plan was to get up early and get in line and just suck it up. we got up monday and planed to be in line at 7:45- 8:00. but we were having a money issue becuse our cards did not work at the ATM. more about that later. The four of us went to get in line and I asked the guy at the door to the museum what time they opened and he said 10:00. I wanted to know if they took credit cards or cash only. He said both. We decided that since we had time I would stay on line which was down the street around the corner and my wife would go to the bank to handle the money issue. It was sunny and hot but the time passed as there were plenty of folks to talk to. The line started to move and we were in the door at 10:50. so approx 2 hours in line. Buy the way I asked the folks a family of 6 at the front of the line what time they got there and they said they were there at 6:45!!! so they waited 4 hours and we only waited 2 and change. not bad. Inside the credit card would not work because they could not get a connection out on the Vatican phone line. good thing the wife went and got cash!! It was 13 euro to get in (each)and 6 euro for the audio guide. the guide was GREAT you can pick and choose what and how much you want to listen to!!highly reccomend it. we spent 7 hours at the Vatican and had a great time, there is so much to see. We did the trip to the top of the dome (4 eurs) and lots of stairs. BUT be advised!!!!!!!!! The second set of stairs to the very top can be a bit scarry if you are clostrafobic. There are 300 or so steps and the stairway gets VERY tight and you cant turn around and go back down because there are people behind ya. there are only 2 or 3 places to stop but they don't offer much relief. the only way out is to get to the top and get to some air. lots of people we were walking up with were on the verge of a panic attack.. the view is worth it if you can handle the very narrow stairway with very few windows to look out. going down was not as bad. also we went under to the tombs that was quick and worth it. if ya'll have comments questions let me know I will try to ans them. some pointers on next page (Sorry for the spelling errors)