ROMA <3

i loved Rome since i first came with contiki in 2012. i love the winding cobblestone streets with mopeds haphazardly parked on them, the pastel red/yellow/orange colour scheme, how you will just turn a corner and find a beautiful grand piece of architecture that in Vancouver would be the nicest building in the city but in Rome it’s like meh. i love the classic tourist attractions - Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Forum, Spanish Steps. not overrated. i fell in love with Piazza Navona at sunset. the street musicians and ambiance are everything in Rome <3 and dont even get me started on the food. i am literally eating gelato before noon, pizza or pasta for lunch, and vice versa for dinner. somehow in Italy i drink prosecco too - who knew? just using the excuse “when in Rome” for every part of my diet here.

also, psa - i realized that the 2 inanimate objects i miss most from home are my fifi (fiat) and (panago) pizza. guess i’ve always been Italian at heart?? <3 i have done the major touristy stuff already so am literally just strolling the streets and eating/drinking here. my step count is topping the charts. i am hitting up all my girl @parisinfourmonths Rome recos. obsessed with the speakeasy Club Derriere and the bartender who looks like Ozzy from Survivor (side note - contemplating writing a speakeasy guide to Europe, is there a market for this plz lemme know). you enter through a wardrobe - v narnia. also love Miguel in the restaurant entry to Club Derriere, called Osteria delle Coppelle. great carbonara.

 tried to go to another speakeasy Jerry Thomas but they charge a 5 euro annual “membership fee” and cocktails were 15 each. k no see ya. loved the pasta at Da Francesco and having a drink at Bar del Fico to Drake & other rap music. like i neeeed this music. obsessed with the cute lil hood Trasevere!!! had never been there before. it’s just the cutest hidden alleys with terraces, colour scheme on point.

 also Villa Borghese is a magical park where i suntanned and read (single state of mind- andi dorfman). there is an adorbs pond with boats that you row in like a scene out of the notebook.

 current p a s s i o n soundtrack:- nice for what - drake (obsessed)- love - kendrick- psycho - post malone- look alive - blocboy ft drake- guatemala - swae lee- say something - jt- gods plan - drake- basically every drake song ok- loyalty - kendrick riri- nevermind - dennis lloyd funny things about Rome:- there are signs directing you to the nearest McDonalds, everywhere, like more than any other sign- cars think they are people and are always driving on sidewalks- men are EXTREMELY forward. like within my first 10 mins of strolling 2 had asked to take my picture. one was walking alongside me for like 5 mins and could not take a hint. they have z e r o shame- one of the locals was telling me there are only 2 underground metros because Rome is actually built on layers of cities under the surface that can’t be be touched. guess that’s what happens when you’ve been around 2,000+ years?- when it gets warm out, the locals all pile onto outdoor squares and drink. i went to one of these in Monti, near the Colosseum Rome felt a wee bit lonely sometimes cause i didn’t really meet any quality peeps to hang out with (euro is harder than se asia cause everyone’s out sightseeing), and everyone in Rome is just in the loveiest love. was mostly solo frolicking. however this trip is not ABOUT being lonely so that being said, the city was an AMAZING companion - most days i was just getting butterflies from how cute the streets are. the streets of Rome were my date lol.

 i stayed at Hostel Alessandro Downtown near Termini station which was great for me, but would recommend staying near the center if possible. you can do this route by foot in a day: colosseum, the forum, city hall, piazza navona, trevi fountain, spanish steps. tip: enter the colosseum through the forum or Palatine Hill entrance to skip the line.

 visit villa borghese and trasevere if you have time!! and the Aventine Keyhole where you can view the Vatican through a little keyhole.

 i also checked out a little fairytail street called Quartiere Coppede which was super cute, non touristy but a bit out of the way.

 starting to feel ready to come home. i think your subconscious prepares you for the end of a trip. i miss having a home base and like i miss cuddling with Barney. however - i know that post ppp i will be crawling into a deep dark hole of depression SO just soaking it up while i can. one more stop left…