Traveled up to Roma on the train on Wednesday, just a couple of hours north of Napoli.

You can't help by gape at the sheer history that is flung in your face as you enter the city. Everywhere you look there are ancient roads, aqueducts and buildings, testament to the time when this was indeed the capital of the World and the most powerful city on earth.

There was history taking place over the bridge at the Vatican, evidenced by the number of TV trucks parked just off St Peter's square.The crowd to get into St Peter's was so long I headed instead to the Vatican Museums where some of the treasures contained within. They certainly have a lot of material goods stuffed away for a rainy day.

The Sistine Chapel was packed as usual. Some very nice paintings, a bit over the top really but when you have it, flaunt it. Give the cardinals something to look at when they are communing with the Holy Ghost next month.

Four days in Washington covering the Mid-Terms for BBC News. I flew out on Sunday, leaving a very wet London and arriving in a gorgeous autumn tinted Washington DC. It really is a beautiful city in the spring and in the fall, with the delicate scent of the cherry trees at one end of the Summer contrasted with the brilliant golden hues of the turning trees decorating the streets at the other. Had a very quick trip through immigration and caught the airport bus into town.

I was working mainly for Newsnight who were based at an OB in the Cannon Building, where many of the Representatives have their offices. We were based on a Balcony outside of the Rotunda, with a stunning view of the US Capital dominating the skyline behind us. It was a fantastic location in a stunning building. Because we were in a secure area we needed to get Capital Passes from the Senate office on the North side of the Capital. As our location was on the South side our guide took us the quickest way to get from one side of the House to the other, down the underground tunnels which lie like a warren beneath the home of the US Government. It was amazing to see how much was down there, even a little electric train which we caught to ride from the Senate Offices to the Capital itself. Halfway along the tunnel in the basement of the capital we passed a window with a stunning view right down the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial 1.9 miles away. I guess its the kind of view the President gets when he gets sworn in.

The OB's all worked OK although there were some communication issues. All OK on air which was the main thing, and London seemed happy. We finished with Piers Morgan and Simon Schama on our balcony. A popular tweet was that Emily should have given Piers a little push and no one would have protested. Except perhaps for the Capital Police who would have had to clean up the mess. He would probably have just bounced up again anyhow.

Brasília is a very strange city, a cross between the South Bank Centre, Milton Keynes and the University of East Anglia. It certainly has plenty of green spaces but not many facilities for the pedestrian. Things like pavements are in short supply. Spent most of today wandering around the monuments. Walked down into the centre of Brazilian Government, past the congress and the Presidents office. Visited the modern museum, but I think there was an exhibition from Primary schools around the country, judging by the bric-a-brac exhibited. There are some wonderful buildings in the city, the Cathedral is spectacular, but there are some hideous ones as well. The row of Ministries reminds you of a Southwark Council Estate.

Spent the last two days pottering about Buenos Aires and recovering from the Antarctica trip. It`s a bit of a contrast of temperatures, 32 degrees here at the moment, and I have had to shed several layers. It is nice to be back in dry land, at least the bed has stopped appearing to move now. Spent some time in the nature reserve by the River and then walked the parks around Palmero. Fly back to Brazil this afternoon so better start practising my Portuguese again. My vocabulary is now up to four words!

Spent today exploring the Ciudad de la Santissima Trinidad y Puerto de Nuestra Senora la Virgen Maria de los Buenos Aires, Thank goodness they shortened the name. The change of language is a bit of a pain. I keep saying obligado when I mean gracias. It`s been a beautiful sunny day today, despite this website saying it is raining. The hotel is fantastic, it`s an old Tango house. It`s so posh the toilet flushes with hot water.