When in Rome

When in Rome eat lots of pizza and gelato, be flabbergasted by enormous monuments after turning around tiny street corners, drink juice boxes of wine whenever and wherever you please (straw not included), and try and save some time for relaxing at cafes and popular public hangouts (we didn't do such a good job of this), because that's what the Romans do on a daily basis.

On our first night in Rome we saw the Spanish steps, made a wish at Trevi Fountain, and had the worlds best gelato (we sampled other gelaterias to make sure it wasn't a marketing scam-they weren't lying). We also went to one of the many plazas in Rome that was recommended as a local favorite. We were not that impressed with the plaza, but we found an amazing bakery with pizza, beer, and cookies. In true Roman fashion, we ate dinner around 9pm (because we got lost) and it was well worth the wait.

The next morning we got up early and set out to find some Caravaggio paintings. While neither or us are museum or art gallery enthusiasts, we were blown away by the two paintings we saw in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo. After that we went to see St. Peter's Square and Basilica. Pictures cannot do the beauty of the church justice, but here are a few. 

After that we went to Piazzale Guiseppe Garibaldi for a picnic lunch. After a breather we went to the Pantheon. It is a massive temple turned church with a brick domed roof. Again, pictures, even our attempt at a panorama, can't do this spectacle justice.

That evening we went to the other side of Rome to see the Colosseum and find a famous pizzeria we were gunning for. We made it to the Colosseum a little before sunset, but it was already closed. We took a couple pictures from the outside, capturing the moon and Colosseum in tandem, and then began our search for Pizzeria Remo. It was DELICIOUS. We can't stop talking about how good the pizza was.

This morning we went back to the Colosseum and went inside. It is was massive and brilliant, but rather ugly actually. The interior of the Colosseum didn't age very well. But, to think about how it was built with manpower and pully systems is mind-blowing. It is disgusting to think that going to see gladiators fight is comparable to going to a family movie now days. In some festivals as many as 10,000 gladiators and 10,000 animals would fight. We're not sure of the time frame, but still! It was a huge deal and it was housed in a HUGE arena.

Huck had fun, too. 

Right now we're on a train headed North to Florence. The train was canceled, but then it wasn't, so we're back on track but not quite sure how or why. We both loved Rome with its countless fountains, beautiful churches, and carbohydrates. We will definitely be back some day. For now, we're looking forward to more pizza for dinner. 

Cheers,

Katie and Will