Rome, it's undeniable, holds world wonders. No other city can boast the ancient remnants of times past just like Rome can, and for that, everyone should go stand before the Parthenon, climb Palantine Hill, and tour the Colisseum at least once in their life. However, Rome didn't amaze me as much as Prague did. To be fair, it is hard for Rome to measure up to Prague, because I had such innocent expectations for beautiful Prague that were fulfilled, and came to Rome with stardust still in my eyes. The two cities are complete opposite types of vacations, and if you're in to checking sites off the bucket list, damn good Italian food, and trying to remember your 4th grade history teacher's lectures, Rome is for you.
After an eventful plane ride of sitting by a young, very drunk, model-looking couple, I was sad to see the rain pouring down on the capital of Italy, but luckily the restaurant across the street from Becky and I's hostel served MEAN pasta.
First Italian meal: various antipasti's, followed my meat and herb-filled ravioli in a mushroom, ham, and pea cream sauce. Yes, it was as good as it sounded/looked.
We got back to the cozy hostel and mapped out the next day's activities (because Rome requires a LOT more forethought and planning and reserving than Prague does), then re-braved the storm for Italian pastries on the corner (aren't we adventurous?). We thought we were going on an innocent dessert run.
Nope.
Turns out the 45-year old waiter was looking for prey that night, and we only realized that after sitting through 20 embarassing minutes of him wanting to tickle our stomachs, caressing our arms, asking us our age...when we finally couldn't take it anymore and asked for the check, dear Prince Charming comes back with a folded piece of paper and a pen, lays it on the table in front of me, and says, "This no bill. For you." I open it, and the sweetest, most poorly written note falls out: "Can I took (talk) to you private (in private)? Thank you, Carlos (or whatever his name was)." When I asked the second waiter for the check (he was older, so I was hoping for at least a more vintage romantic note this time), our Prince Charming whispered something in his ear and they walked away laughing.
We ran out. I mean, ran. (Stopped at the cash register on the way to pay the woman, though).
We decided a breathe of fresh night air would help, so we walked around and picked out cute, cozy Italian restaurants for the next few days and window-shopped, adoring the Italian fashion! Back to the hostel for a good night's sleep.
Saturday, because it was a grizzly day, we walked to the Vatican and proceeded to dispense 45 euros each to the pizazz of a guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican museums, and the Sistine Chapel. Great purchase, because our St. Peter's Basilica guide was not only a retired supermodel but extremely knowledgeable of the secrets behind the statues of St. Peter's Basilica. Our tour guide for the Vatican museums, though not as amazing, still was extremly helpful and made the tour a revelation of facts versus a guessing game walk through silent paintings and sculptures, which it would have been had we gone alone. Therefore, I HIGHLY recommend getting guides in Rome, period. Also, don't let the random independent guides who try to snag you before the entrance woo you with their promises of "cutting the 3 hour line" or "charging less than the legit people".
Waiting in line! So bright :)
St. Peter's Basilica!
<--This is by the way the most expensive marble in the entire world, currently extinct. This is 1/3 of the world's supply, on this circle. Worth twice the price of gold...all because Charlemagne got crowned Emperor here?
<--Here is one of Michelangelo's masterpieces, La Pieta, scultped from one single block of marble. It was restored 30 years ago after a madman calling himself Jesus Christ took a hammer to it...Thanks dude, now my lens has to focus through an impenetrable wall of glass.
Top Left: the Badalquin of Bernini: it always faces east towards the rising sun, and was built on the tomb of Saint Peter; it is famous because the bronze it is made of comes partly from the Pantheon.
One of only 2 women "featured" in St. Peter's Basilica (you go girl) -->
The Vatican!!
Starting the tour...
These two looked like they were screaming at each other=Alex vs Raph <3
The animal sculptures room!
2/3 of the world's most expensive marble...here it is folks. And to think Emperor Nero just took his baths in here, casually.
The fertility goddess (above right)...Do you get it?
<--a tapestry. Yes, no paint.
The map gallery.
Raphael's "School of Athens"!
With a head about to explode with painting techniques, names of masters of the arts, and awe at Raphael's masterpiece, we met up with our third friend and headed to a cozy auberge for a great Italian dinner. Sniffling because of the rain (Italy, you promised sunshine), it was another early night!
A bakery we stopped at...(above)
Appetizers and nut/roquefort/pear ravioli...
Menos mal that we went to bed, because we managed to fill Sunday up again with a visit to the impressive Colisseum, Palatine Hill (note: if you are a European citizen, entrance is half off, so DON'T forget your passport at home...you'll hate yourself...and end up impulse buying a disgusting piece of pizza just to make yourself feel better), etc. Again, the ruins that have been standing through the centuries are nothing short of amazing, but you do have to cover your ears to the buzzy chatter of the hundreds of tourists surrounding you to get in the right reverent mood.
P.S. no photos because I left my camera uncharged :( However, my friend will EVENTUALLY give me the ones he let me take on his I-pod! Until then, enjoy these 3 and use your imagination :)
A friend of ours studying abroad in Rome brought us to a cute, family-run place for dinner in Trastevere, a BEAUTIFUL area on the edge of the Tiber whose narrow streets host hundreds of adorable places to eat/drink/both. We then went to the DJ Music Bar, which our friend swore was usually poppin', but I guess Sunday nights are quieter. Still a good time, and walking over the lit bridge to go home and waving goodnight to the ebony river below was so worth it!
On Monday, with finally a beaming sunshine at the rendez-vous, we wrapped our ancient-civilization-hurricane-of-a-vacation with a visit to the Pantheon (the most impressive, and oldest, best preserved monument on Earth--but really, it actually is the oldest, best preserved monument of Roman civilization), the mythical Trebby Fountain, Plaza di Spagna with its (pretty anti-climatic) Spanish Stairs (it's stairs, guys), and a run down the most expensive street in Rome, sporting brands such as Gucci, Prada, and Dior. We actually went into all 3 stores. Not sure they believed us.
The Spanish Steps.
Plaza di Spagna.
The Pantheon!
We stumbled upon a pizza place in the early afternoon that was crowded with locals, so we decided to give it a try. It was the best pizza I've ever put in my mouth. Ever. Look at this?!
We followed up with a stop at the reputed "Best Gelatto in Rome", also to die for, though I recall getting as good if not better gelatto in Florence (thanks Mom and Dad!).
And because Italy is the only country with a bike rental system that uses REAL bikes...
We walked back to our friend's place where we had kept our suitcases for the day, only to find the door locked and no one answering the bell. After 20 minutes, someone let us into the entrance, but same scenario with the wooden door. No answer. Roxane enters into a panic, because of COURSE we don't have the guy's number and of COURSE he was supposed to be home 20 minutes ago...at least we had time planned for these scenarios (positive point, Roxy). I decide to run down to the first apartment, the office for the whole building, but it's also empty and locked. I see two nice looking girls walk up to the elevator (HUMANS!) and decide to nicely, in broken spanish/english/fake italian, ask them if they know how we could get into our friend's apartment. Turns out they were his ROOMATES!! We finally got our luggage and trekked to the bus stop, then to the airport, perfectly in time to catch our flight back to Barcelona, where my broken boots might still be sitting by a trash can, in the cold, on the corner of the street with the bus station on it.
[Side note: first time on Ryanair...never again. That bright yellow interior will be the death of me.]
Tired, but with so many great memories, and feeling MUCH smarter about my knowledge of art and ancient civilizations, I crawled into my Valencian bed later that night. What an amazing opportunity, and what a kick-ass Spring Break! Two checks off the bucket list: Prague and Rome. Where to next?
Besos,
Roxy
