I just finished exhausting all possible modes of public transportation to get from Rome to Budapest this morning. Metra ---> Train ---> Plane ---> Bus ---> Metro ---> My Flat ---> My Couch. I am tired. Rome was a good time. It was my second time there and it was cool to see some of my favorite sites again, especially to refresh my memory since my last trip was such a whirlwind.
Let's see. Some things to note about Rome:
1. It cost 14 euro just to get into the city from the airport. That's a train ticket to the metra, where you again spend another euro for a pass. It's either that or you spend 40 euro on a taxi. I nixed the taxi idea, but a lot of people take one. Seriously, there was like a two block long line of people waiting for a cab!
2. There are tons of beggars. They are really annoying. Especially the ones that stand by the ticket machines where you buy metra passes. They tell you what to do (even though you could just read the directions on the machine...) and then they make you give them change. What reeeallllly gets me are the beggars who have cell phones.
3. It's impossible to find hostels. The one I stayed at? Unmarked. Huge door. Apartment complex. You're supposed to buzz up when you want to get in so they can open the door....but how do you know to do that if you've never been there before? hahaha
4. The alleys are beautiful. So is Trevi Fountain. And the Vatican.
5. There are ruins EVERYWHERE. The city has apparently rebuilt itself over itself, or there's buildings built on ruins upon buildings upon ruins. So whenever there is renovation or construction and ruins are found, everything comes to a halt. Legally, they can't keep doing construction if more ruins are discovered. So basically the whole city has massive parts still under construction all the time. But the ruins are so cool. Plus I don't live in Rome, so I don't mind the perpetual detours :-P
6. Dark chocolate gelatto is great. So is honey flavored gelatto. Also, kinder chocolate. Pesto gnocchi. Gnocchi with tomato sauce. Penne with salmon. The cheese. The olives. The wine. If Italy knows anything, it's food.
I got there on Thursday (again, think of any kind of public transportation, I used it) where I had to kill some time before my friend, Molly, got out of class. She's studying in Rome, and I went to visit her. The guy who runs the hostel I stayed at sent me on a pretty cool walk. The hostel was just down the street from the Vatican, so I wandered around there for a bit. Then I meandered down to a district called Trastavere, which was basically made up of really cool alleys and tiny roads. It had some cool bars and restaurants. I met up with Molly after that and we did some more walking. She took me to the Pantheon and St. Ignacius Church, over to Trevi Fountain, the Forum, and the Colloseum. It was cool to see those places at night all lit up. We had dinner at cool little restaurant. Both of us ordered gnocchi, one with tomato sauce and the other with pesto. I. Love. Pesto. The first time I ever tried pesto was when I was in Italy a few summers ago. It was heavenly. When I got back to the US, I couldn't find any that tasted like that, so I had been looking forward to coming Rome....if only because I could get good pesto!
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| Spanish Steps |
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| Trevi Fountain |
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| Colloseum |
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My Friday was spent walking. We walked through the Vatican Museum, and I was so happy to see the Sistine Chapel again. I love the wall of the Last Judgement. That and the Hall of Maps are my favorite parts of the Vatican. The Hall of Maps has the most amazing ceiling..... Anyway, after the Vatican, we went to find a famous gelatto place that apparently delivers to the Pope. We thought we knew where we were going, but we missed a turn and ended up walking for an hour just to find the place. It was worth the trouble, though. Caramel, dark chocolate, and chocolate chip gelatto.... oh man. After, Molly and I walked up to a park where we caught am amazing view of the city. Then we were so tired we laid down in the grass for a while and listened to music and mini-napped. Much needed. My legs hurt so much! However, even in the park...while we were trying to keep our eyes shut and chill...there was someone trying to sell us something. Those people are everywhere, goodness. My dad probably would have thrown a fit! Maybe. hahaha anyway... For dinner I got more pesto pasta and Molly got this penne and salmon with a weird sauce. We shared food and I really liked hers. It made her sick though, so she couldn't come out for drinks. I went with some people from the hostel- two girls from Wales, and some flight attendants and a pilot from the US.
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| Vatican; St. Peter's Basilica |
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| Hall of Maps...and the coolest ceiling ever |
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Saturday, Molly was better. We spent the day....walking! We took a train to Marino where there was a little festival going on. It was a cute town built into some hills. We ate some cheese, olives, and tried some red wine. The cheese was so good. I can still taste it and I want more. When we got back to Rome, we helped an American couple who asked us for directions get to the Vatican.....as that's where we were headed. There is no line for St. Peter's Basilica in the late afternoon/early evening, and I wanted to see it again before I went back to Budapest since I couldn't remember being in it a few summers ago. It's HUGE! And there are dead popes all around. But really, the sheer size and beauty of that basilica is astounding and awesome. I felt so small when I was standing inside it. Later, we found the cheapest dinner...pizza and some other thing. 3 euros for 2 people to eat. My kind of deal. We also went to this bar that is famous for its iced tea. It was so delicious. And of course, more gelatto. Honey flavored...and ginger and cinnamon flavored... yum! I'm so glad I'm going back to Budapest so I can get away from all this sugar and the carbs...
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| Tiber River |
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| Molly and I at Pantheon |
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| Bella Roma |
It was a pretty jam packed weekend. I'm very happy and fortunate that I was able to go there though. Now it's back to nine days in Budapest before heading to Madrid. Two weeks after Madrid, then, is Athens, followed by Krakow, followed by Prague. Seriously, am I in real life right now?
xoxo, Amy
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