To wrap up our European tour, my family and I spent a tiny bit of time in Rome. Like, less than two full days. I wish we could have stayed waaay longer because Rome was amazing. I loved pretty much everything about it. The aesthetic was gorgeous of course, the people were friendly, and the food was incredibly vegan accessible. Pizza marinara? That’s garlicky pizza that automatically comes with no cheese. Hello, yum. And dairy-free gelato? You’d better believe they got it.
So Rome ruled. I think we were there for like 40 hours (we got in at 3 PM on a Sunday and were gone by 6 AM on Tuesday), so our time was pretty packed.
The first afternoon, after checking into our AirBnB apartment, we headed straight out for some sightseeing. We hit some of the iconic sights including Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps.
Piazza Navona was gorgeous! A lovely little square filled with tons of people, some classic fountains, street artists, performers, and pigeons. 🙂 If I lived in Rome, I would hang out here all the time.
And the Pantheon was overwhelming. It’s huuuge (obviously), and it’s always so humbling to realize how long a structure like that has been around, how many things it’s seen. Amazing.
Around the Trevi Fountain, my camera died. Luckily (?), the fountain was under construction, so it was totally dried up and surrounded by scaffolding. Next time I’m in Rome, I’m sure I’ll get a good photo op. 🙂
AND. Annnd! One of my only “Bucket List” items (since I was fifteen!) has been to climb the Spanish Steps. Because it was getting later in the evening, I was worried we wouldn’t make it before the sun set, but we arrived just in time. (I wish I had pictures!) The steps were filled with people and really nothing too special at all, but I climbed them, WITH my mom at my side. Bucket List item complete.
The next day, we went on a tour of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. We were supposed to be part of a group but ended up snagging ourselves a private guide. It was a GREAT experience, and I learned so much more from our guide than I could have myself. (Definitely check out Dark Rome if you’re visiting the city. Highly recommended.)
I took a bazillion photos of the Colosseum, but I don’t think any of them does it any justice. It’s so massive.
And beautifully sad.
And even with all the tourists, there is this sense of awe, indignation, and sobriety.
Arch of Constantine (this is amazing up close).
Palatine Hill, where mythology says that Romulus killed his twin brother Remus and founded the city of Rome.
Part of the Temple of Venus and Roma.
A totally unposed shot that no one knew I was taking. 🙂 I love this so much. It had been a long morning.
Oh, that’s better.
The Roman architecture is pretty fantastic.
It’s romantic and certainly colorful, but in a warmer way than Barcelona.
The pace of the city is much slower, too. I’d love to go back and really take my time wandering the streets and relaxing over a glass of wine.
Next time! (And, as I say about so many cities, there will be a next time.)
French expression of the day
Mettre de l’eau dans son vin – To tone it down (literally: To put water in one’s wine)
Playful Rooted 
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