Glad to hear about your day and that departing London went smoothly! Hoping internet will get unspotty because I'm enjoying the daily reports!

Would you tell us about your apts in London and in Rome. We are always looking for good apartments.

Can you tell me how you found the flat you stayed in? thanks much ... I'm enjoying your posts

Thanks for your trip reports. All my intercontinental flights on BA have been calm so perhaps there was a tour group on your flight to Rome? Plus the FA's mostly stayed in the galley.

<i>Quickly through Heathrow Security. For all of the horror stories, we navigated check in, customs, and security in under 30 minutes.</i>

The much publicised problems at LHR are on ARRIVALS, not DEPARTURE. And you surely didn't pass through CUSTOMS on departure either (why would you, they only care what you are bringing INTO the country), just check-in and security.

All my intercontinental flights on BA have been calm so perhaps there was a tour group on your flight to Rome? >>

that was my thought too, Emily. a group of italian school children or students can be a little "undisciplined"!

<<The much publicised problems at LHR are on ARRIVALS, not DEPARTURE.>>

well, there can be queues to get through both passport and security to leave Gordon, but I know what you mean - our DD gets back from a long trip arriving into LHR next friday. [did she realise that she'd be getting home at the same time as all the athletes were going to be arriving when she planned it? hope not!. ] anyway, DH has volunteered to pick her up, so that's all right.

Or it could have been a dreaded stag or hen do - I have been on several flights and thats exactly what hey do - stand in the aisles and drink and be rowdy.

<i>well, there can be queues to get through both passport and security to leave Gordon</i>

But there are normally NO "passport" checks to leave the UK (apart from that done at airline check-in of course).

I say normally because maybe 2 times in the >200 departures I've made out of LHR, there has been someone making a cursory check at a post set up just after security before you enter the duty free shopping area (usually in response to some short-lived government ministerial panic about the UK being one of the few places in the world that doesn't systematically check who's leaving the country).

But there are normally NO "passport" checks to leave the UK (apart from that done at airline check-in of course). >>

really gordon? i must have been hallucinating then! I'm sure that I've shown my passport to someone just before I go through the security area - after I've checked in and no-where near the check-in desks. Mind you, it's nothing like as bad as the last time we came through CDG - we counted no less than 9 passport checks before they let us on the plane!

Nope - you are only required to show your boarding pass immediately prior to security: they aren't interested in your passport, though some people who don't understand the procedure will show it to them anyway.

Gordon -do you really know what you're talking about?

we had numerous people demand to see both our passports and boarding cards at CDG - and we speak pretty passable french so we knew what they were asking for.

similarly, i know when someone wants to see my passport or boarding card at a british airport.

Here is the continuation of this trip thread for those interested in Italy.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...avona-area.cfm

For the record, I was asked to show my passport at LHR to the BA agent, a security agent before the scanning area, and then we went through baggage scanners and metal detectors.

Yes,

http://www.ristorante-albraciere.it/il-ristorante/

Is the restaurant right below our apartment.

Very good and extremely reasonably priced.

The apartment in London was found on VRBO.

It's link is http://www.vrbo.com/261220

We chose it because of the positive reviews, professional owner, and I think it was the cheapest I could find with good reviews.

The owner provides a flat guide that is almost 50 pages long and is extremely detailed and helpful.

It is located in the Penge/Beckenham/Kent area. A 17 minute train ride from Victoria Station. We found the area to be quite safe and a nice neighborhood.

It is a 5 minute walk to the train station, ten to groceries and restaurants. Very good Indian and other delivery available.

We easily navigated the rail system and used several other local rail stations depending on where we were in the city.

All in all, I would recommend it to anyone looking to stay a bit outside of the city for a reduced rate.

Two bedrooms, dining room, kitchen, and a living room with a tv and DVD player.

I'll answer any questions anyone has on it.