rome

At the end of July, Peter and I were lucky to have had two full weeks in Italy for our honeymoon. Neither of us have been, and I planned a busy itinerary, probably pushing Pete to see more than he would have on his own or with his buddies. Overall, I think we struck a nice balance between site-seeing and relaxing (though Pete might say differently...). I booked all of our accommodations through Airbnb or Tripadvisor recommendations. Pete compiled a list of suggested restaurants before going, and we relied heavily on Rick Steves' Italy for tours and self-guided walks. It was a DIY vacation that went surprisingly smooth.

Day 1: arrived late morning, Borghese Gallery and nap, then the Spanish Steps
Day 2: bike tour of Rome and Trastevere
Day 3: the Roman Forum and Vatican

I'm glad we started in Rome. It was hectic, crowded, and rowdy. There were more tourists in Rome than anywhere else we visited, and the stores and restaurants were the most hawkish--Rome was the only place we were scammed (at a restaurant we should have walked away from). That said, the crowds and opportunism are understood. Rome was incredible: the ancient Roman Forum and Colosseum, Vatican City, the Pantheon, historic churches and monuments around every corner, sweeping vistas at the end of busy roadways. "All roads lead to Rome" has new meaning for me now.



Pete and I stayed in a neighborhood slightly outside of the city center, near the Borghese Gallery. I'm proud to say we didn't take one taxi our entire stay in Italy. We learned to navigate the *practically* free bus systems and trains. We grew to love the espresso machines that all our hotels/apartments included.


We both enjoyed Rome's energy, feeling at home in a big city away from our own. The best part of Rome may have been the public, delicious, naturally cold water brought into the city by ancient aqueducts. Amazing.


Pete found a bike tour for us our second day in Rome. He's taught me to love biking, and we bike every place we visit. We cover so much more ground, and you really get a feel for the lay of the land. Biking past Victor Emmanuel and Castel Sant'Angelo (the pope's fortress).




Walking through the Roman Forum and the Colosseum were highlights for me. I have a much better understanding of history now (the end of Rome --> the rise of Christianity). Our tour of the Vatican and St. Peter's was exceptional--this is why I love traveling. Pete's blog post here.


Mosaic that looks like painting, and painting that creates the illusion of 3D.


Photos and more photos. Pete used his iPhone camera the entire trip. He has a bunch of photos like the one above, not realizing the camera is facing him (usually under too bright sun). Too funny!