One Lady in London: Spring Break Part Four: Rome

The final leg for that ten day portion of spring break was Rome. Ahhhh, Rome is wonderful. Upon getting to London, America seemed like a baby by comparison. In Rome, every other place felt like a preemie. To hear of people and see buildings that were around in BC times was absolutely incredible. There’s just so much history in that city it’s almost overwhelming. When Hannah and I got into our hostel and were attempting to plan out our days, we both just stared at the map and at each other cause there is just so much to see in Roma.

We had a really early (like 8.30 am) flight into Rome, so we arrived in Rome around 1030. We found a super cheap (4 euro) bus that took us from the airport an hour into the city center. Luckily, the bus drops you off at Termini station- only about a five minute walk from our hostel, so that worked out perfectly. After settling into our room, we attempted to figure out the best way to go about diving into the city. We decided to do a Hop-On=Hop-Off bus tour with a ticket that lasted for 2 days. After our other Italian transit mishaps both in Venice, and for lack of a better word, clusterfuck that was getting onto the direct bus to Rome, we decided a private bus company would be a worthy investment. Plus it was beautiful the days we were there, so we got to ride around the eternal city on the open top of the bus while at the still time being super touristy with our orange disposable headphones plugged into the bus speakers. While that bus was the most overtly touristy thing I’ve done yet abroad, it was well worth the money as the city is pretty spread out and we learned a ton from the commentary as we drove around.

Aside from all of the sights, there were four things I was on the lookout for while in Rome: gelato, wine, cannoli, and fresh pizza/pasta. I was successful in finding all four and don’t regret a single calorie….when in Rome. (That phrase was said all too often, especially while in the vicinity of a bakery or gelato shop, regardless, not sorry in the least.) Our first dinner there we just stumbled upon some restaurant that looked good and relatively cheap- it was amazing. Fresh pasta and amazing wine - so good. Turns out it was an Italian chain, which definitely wasn’t what we were going for, but it’s safe to say that Italian pasta chains are 100 times better than Olive Garden. The next day we went the pizza route, fresh veggies for Hannah and olives for me. I’m still dreaming of that meal. I don’t know what it is about it, but authentic Italian pizza is just a whole other level than American attempts at the real thing. Trust these words- this is coming from a pizza connoisseur.

Our flight back to London wasn’t until 8 at night, so we had the majority of Tuesday to explore some more. The weather couldn’t have been better Tuesday- we literally just sat outside the pantheon on the steps for hours basking in the sun and soaking up our last day there. As much as I loved Rome, by the end of the day, we were both so ready to go home. The past week and a half was a lot of waiting around in airports, packing and unpacking bags, and tons of walking- we were just burnt out by the end, so ready to come back to London. (We say that, and it’s rained every day we’ve been back. AND I sent my raincoat and rain boots home with my parents since I literally hadn’t used either once since January. So typical) Overall though, Rome was amazing, and the trip was unforgettable. Worth all the waiting around, lines at customs (which didn’t exist getting into Germany or Italy, yet oddly present to leave them?) and definitely the money. I figured out the math and the whole ten day, ten night trip, including transportation, hostels, food, admission charges, the whole shebang ended up being only just over $1,000. Not too shabby considering a round trip ticket from Dulles to London is $800 dollars on its own. If I could do it all over again, would I? In a heartbeat.

The Palatine / Circus Maximus

Casual orange trees

Hard to see, but a rainbow over the Palatine

Circus Maximus: there all the chariot races were held. The picture doesn't really do a good job of showing it, but like everything else in Rome, it was MASSIVE. Something like 300,000 people fit onto the hill to watch the races

The Mouth of Truth. Legend has it that when you stick your hand inside the mouth, if you are a liar your hand will be bitten off. Managed to walk away will all ten phalanges. Go me.