Ciao, Roma!
On our last morning in Florence, we trekked to the pharmacy for more medicine, then onto the train station because we were headed to Rome! Naturally, we had to stop at McDonalds...because it's what we do. Did you know that in Italy, you can buy beer at McDonalds?! We didn't buy any, but it's a good thing to know.
We had prebooked our seats, so we headed to our carriage. There was a stranger in my seat. I said, "Excuse me, I think that's my seat." She looks at me, smiles, and says, "Oh, okay!"...does not move. No, Ma'am. Not up in here! So, again, I say, "Yeahh...that's my seat, and I pre-booked it, sooo...." *insert "move your backside" look*. Then, this girl has the audacity to roll her eyes, and say, "Okay, fine. I move." Darn right, you do! She spent the whole time talking to her friends across the aisle - where, I might add, there were two empty seats? Why she didn't just go sit there, I will never know. She sat in the seat right beside me, and I quickly passed out. Kind of hope I drooled on her - she wasn't right beside me when I woke up.
ANYWAY! We depart the train in Rome and queued to get a cab to meet the homeowner at our hotel. Problem? No taxis were waiting or arriving. The Americans behind us kept getting real grumpy and asking people who were ordering Ubers for themselves, to order Uber for them too. They could not grasp the fact that you could only order one Uber at a time. The man was complaining about the taxi strike (there wasn't one) and how they needed to get somewhere! Well, the train station doubled as a metro station - they were too fancy for that. Prash and I hopped on the metro and were at our hotel in a few minutes - suckaaaaas!
We stayed at Ale & Niki's Home and it was wonderful! It was incredibly affordable, the decor was super charming, and there were lots of snacks, which the Mancub was all over. All the time. The other plus was that it was about 15 steps from a metro stop, so we could easily get to all of the sights of the city!
As always, our first order of business was food. We found an osteria around the corner that had really great reviews, Da Vito e Dina. This place ruined lasagna for me - not because it was bad, but because it was the most heavenly thing ever and no other lasagna will compare. Also, we had a 1/2 litre of wine there too, so we (I) took model pictures.
After lunch, we headed to the Trevi Fountain! You guys, this is selfie stick hell. It was cool and pretty and huge, but way too many people. However, we took the obligatory photo, because you can't not.
Next, we headed toward the Pantheon! On the way there, we saw a stand for take away cocktails. Uh, yes, please! I go to the cart bartender and ask for a Mojito, and Prash a Long Island Iced Tea. The cart bartender says, "Okay! Go inside the restaurant and pay and then bring your receipt out here." Okay, so we go inside and tell the man at the register what we want. I take out my money to pay, but he hands me the receipt and tells me to go out to the cart bartender and pay him. Okay? So, we go back out to the bartender. He starts to say, "If you go inside..." but sees my receipt, so instead says, "Oh, okay! Cool!". I was about to tell him we hadn't paid, but Prash told me to put it away. I wanted to experiment. He handed us our cocktails, we tipped him, and we walked away and didn't look back. That, my friends, is how we got free take away cocktails in Rome!
If I share no other bits of advice on Rome, know this. Rome is most beautiful in the dark. Seriously. We saw all of the sights at night (accidentally) before we saw them in the day, and it was absolutely incredible. Can you go inside at night? It depends on what time you get there and when the sun sets. For example, we were able to go into the Pantheon at night with no line. But sometimes, you can't. (Looking at you, Roman Forum!). Don't get me wrong, they're cool in the daytime too. But nighttime for the win!
Now, I had one goal for that night. That goal, was to visit the Ice Club. If the title is confusing, it's a bar made entirely of ice, including tables, chairs, and glasses. It's set at -5 degrees Celsius, and is 15 € entry. That includes your parka and your first cocktail, so it's not too terrible of a price.
On the way to the Ice Club, we stumbled upon the Piazza Venezia. See what I mean about things looking way cooler at night?
We found the Ice Club, and it was really cool! (See what I did there?). We managed to land an ice snug, and it was awesome. The music was Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake...so it was basically just amazing. We stayed for 2 drinks, but then left because I couldn't feel my toes anymore.
That is the Mancub's favorite picture because he looks more stoked than I've, maybe, ever seen him. Also, that glass in my hand is made completely of ice.
After leaving, and freezing, we went to find dinner. We went to this place in an alley that looked promising. It definitely wasn't bad! We got the bill and it was about 30€. Prash put down a 50€ note, expecting the man to bring back the change. I watched the man count it, and then stick it in his pocket. I laughed and told Prash he wasn't coming back, I thought he still might at that point. But, he didn't. So, homeboy gave himself a 20€ tip! The Mancub was not happy about that for the rest of the night - those were his gelato euros.
We left the restaurant and walked down another alley and stumbled onto the Colosseum! It was magnificent and, unlike any other time we would see it, completely empty! That was the end of our first half day in Rome. If we fit all of that into one day, just wait for what's in store on full days!
We had prebooked our seats, so we headed to our carriage. There was a stranger in my seat. I said, "Excuse me, I think that's my seat." She looks at me, smiles, and says, "Oh, okay!"...does not move. No, Ma'am. Not up in here! So, again, I say, "Yeahh...that's my seat, and I pre-booked it, sooo...." *insert "move your backside" look*. Then, this girl has the audacity to roll her eyes, and say, "Okay, fine. I move." Darn right, you do! She spent the whole time talking to her friends across the aisle - where, I might add, there were two empty seats? Why she didn't just go sit there, I will never know. She sat in the seat right beside me, and I quickly passed out. Kind of hope I drooled on her - she wasn't right beside me when I woke up.
ANYWAY! We depart the train in Rome and queued to get a cab to meet the homeowner at our hotel. Problem? No taxis were waiting or arriving. The Americans behind us kept getting real grumpy and asking people who were ordering Ubers for themselves, to order Uber for them too. They could not grasp the fact that you could only order one Uber at a time. The man was complaining about the taxi strike (there wasn't one) and how they needed to get somewhere! Well, the train station doubled as a metro station - they were too fancy for that. Prash and I hopped on the metro and were at our hotel in a few minutes - suckaaaaas!
We stayed at Ale & Niki's Home and it was wonderful! It was incredibly affordable, the decor was super charming, and there were lots of snacks, which the Mancub was all over. All the time. The other plus was that it was about 15 steps from a metro stop, so we could easily get to all of the sights of the city!
After lunch, we headed to the Trevi Fountain! You guys, this is selfie stick hell. It was cool and pretty and huge, but way too many people. However, we took the obligatory photo, because you can't not.
 |
| I had no chill. Yet again. |
If I share no other bits of advice on Rome, know this. Rome is most beautiful in the dark. Seriously. We saw all of the sights at night (accidentally) before we saw them in the day, and it was absolutely incredible. Can you go inside at night? It depends on what time you get there and when the sun sets. For example, we were able to go into the Pantheon at night with no line. But sometimes, you can't. (Looking at you, Roman Forum!). Don't get me wrong, they're cool in the daytime too. But nighttime for the win!
Now, I had one goal for that night. That goal, was to visit the Ice Club. If the title is confusing, it's a bar made entirely of ice, including tables, chairs, and glasses. It's set at -5 degrees Celsius, and is 15 € entry. That includes your parka and your first cocktail, so it's not too terrible of a price.
On the way to the Ice Club, we stumbled upon the Piazza Venezia. See what I mean about things looking way cooler at night?
We found the Ice Club, and it was really cool! (See what I did there?). We managed to land an ice snug, and it was awesome. The music was Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake...so it was basically just amazing. We stayed for 2 drinks, but then left because I couldn't feel my toes anymore.
That is the Mancub's favorite picture because he looks more stoked than I've, maybe, ever seen him. Also, that glass in my hand is made completely of ice.
After leaving, and freezing, we went to find dinner. We went to this place in an alley that looked promising. It definitely wasn't bad! We got the bill and it was about 30€. Prash put down a 50€ note, expecting the man to bring back the change. I watched the man count it, and then stick it in his pocket. I laughed and told Prash he wasn't coming back, I thought he still might at that point. But, he didn't. So, homeboy gave himself a 20€ tip! The Mancub was not happy about that for the rest of the night - those were his gelato euros.
We left the restaurant and walked down another alley and stumbled onto the Colosseum! It was magnificent and, unlike any other time we would see it, completely empty! That was the end of our first half day in Rome. If we fit all of that into one day, just wait for what's in store on full days!
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