When in Rome!

This weekend, I ventured out of Paris and off to Rome for the weekend! It was my first trip here so naturally I was worried about getting completely lost and it going horrible wrong. However, with some planning, my friend Alyssa and I were able to successfully make it to Rome and back without any kinks or mishaps! The adventure began on Friday at 5:30 AM. We woke up and ran to the metro to make it there by 5:55. After a 20 minute Metro ride, we got to the RyanAir bus that took us out of Paris and into the South of France to get to the Beauvais Airport. The bus trip took around an hour and a half, which was nice since we needed the extra sleep. After making it to the airport, we waited for about an hour (had some cafe) and ventured onto our first RyanAir flight to Rome. We were unsure if the plane was going to make it at points (it is probably the cheapest airline in the world) but after at 11:20 we landed on time in Rome! Then we waited jumped on another 45 minute bus to the metro stop to meet up with my friend Gina! She meet us around 1:00 and we took the Rome Tram back to her apartment. Let's just say it was a lot of traveling and transferring for one morning but also so worth it!

Rome is in one word....Amazing. The food was incredible, the people were warm and friendly, the weather was gorgeous, and the historical landmarks were super interesting. First-FOOD. Gina took us to one of her favorite Italian restaurants for lunch. She speaks Italian so having her as our seasoned tour guide made it all the better! We went to an amazing outdoor restaurant not far from her apartment. I got bruschetta, salmon, salad, and of course....wine. (picture above)

After lunch, we meet up with my friend Andrea (visiting Italy on her spring break from Iowa) Colleen and her friend Kara (both studying abroad in Milan) and went to the Spanish Steps. Although it was drizzling, they were still very cool. Gina also introduced me to my new obsession...GELATO. It was so delicious. I got a 3 flavor cone with tiramusu, banana, and chocolate chip with whipped cream on top of it all. It was one of the best things that I have ever eaten in my life.

That night we walked around and took in all of the sights of Rome. Alot of aspects of the city reminded me of Paris, wxcept for the part that I couldn't understand what anyone was saying. After a break at Gina's apartment to change we went to her favorite restaurant. It's called Carreta di Tradaverre and it was very unique. On the inside, the ceilings were very high with clothes hanging from clothespin lines. The atmosphere was casual and authentic with not badly priced food and LOTS of it. I got fetticini al funghi (mushrooms) and it was very very very good. After dinner (which ended at midnight) we went to a bar called DJ Bar. It was pretty small, but the basement was spacious and was decorated very cool with leopard print walls, framed mirrors, fashion shows playing on big screens, and velvet booths. Swanky. Gina ordered us a "spaceship" was was the largest and most complicated drink that I've ever seen made. It consisted of a giant bucket filled with an assortment of vodka and blue juice with 4 cups resting on the top with 3 shot glasses within each. It definitely was unique and looked like a spaceship and took two of us to carry it down the stairs!

The next day, Andrea, Colleen, Kara, and Gina all had to go to the airport for early flights so Alyssa and I took off on our own Roman adventure. We went to our hostel to drop off our bags (we each only took a VERY small bag. I somehow fit everything into the 5 euro thrift store backpack) and went out do see the rest of the sights. We started with the Coliseum which wasn't complicated to get to but entailed waiting in a 2 hour line just to get in. The line (plus the 12 euro ticket) was worth the experience though. It was such an amazing sight to see with an unbelievable history.

 

 

After the many hours it took us to conquer the Coliseum, we headed off on foot to the Trevi Fountain. We hadn't quit figured out the Rome Tram system and how we would get to the Trevi but we knew it wasn't more than a mile away. So we took off in the right direction and luckily stumbled upon the signs pointing us to the fountain. We were already starving so we stopped at a little restaurant down an alley leading to the Trevi. The waiter, Lodovico, decided that Alyssa and I were his two new best friends so we got free Heinekens, free appetizers, free desserts, and free coffee. A meal that should have been 40 euro a person, turned into a 10 euro a person meal after Lodovico decided he loved us! Also, I of course got lasagna! When in Rome!

 

After our ENORMOUS lunch, we ventured off to the Trevi Fountain. It was very crowded, but with some maneuvering skills (which we've learned since living in Paris) we made our way to the front within minutes so we could toss our coins in and make a wish! It was something that I have always wanted to do and am so happy that we were able to do it.

 

After we made our wishes at the Trevi Fountain, we took off on our long adventure to the Vatican. The Vatican is on the other side of the river and everyone just kept on telling us to go there and we'd see it. However, this was our first time in Rome and neither of us had any clue as to how to get to the river. So instead, we resorted to our (now) Parisian ways and went looking for some public transportation. After checking out 5 different tram stops within a mile, we chased down a bus that was going back to the main terminal station (Stazione Termini) to catch another bus that said St. Pietro (St. Peters) which we assumed meant the Vatican. And, luckily, we were right! It took us over an hour or so to make it there so we weren't able to go inside the chapel but just being at the Vatican was a once in a lifetime experience. Also, a fun fact, is that there is a dress code at the Vatican. We met a girl who had gotten kicked out earlier that day because she was wearing shorts. Maybe that's where all of the Catholic schools get their strict uniform regulations. 

 

After the Vatican, I decided that one more gelato was a must and got my last gelato of the trip! I was sad to say goodbye to something so delicious! Alyssa and I jumped back on the tram and off to our hostel. It was my first hostel experience and to my surprise, it was actually a great one. We stayed at Yellow Hostel which was right by Stazione Termini so we didn't have a far walk to get anywhere. There were Americans working at the front desk which was comforting because that meant I didn't have to stumble through the Italian language barrier once again. We stayed in a dorm of 4 (Alyssa and I, a girl from Argentina, and a boy from Montreal) which actually had very comfortable bunk beds and a short walk to the communal bathroom. The hostel was clean and (seemingly) safe and had an attached bar with an excellent happy hour deal (and free drink with check in :)) that Alyssa and I took advantage of. While at happy hour, we ran into a girl from Alyssa's high school that was staying at the hostel too. So we quickly made a group (including some US military boys from Nebraska who were in Italy because they're based a few hours away from Rome) and hit the town. We went to a bar called the "Drunken Ship" and then caught a night tram back near the hostel! 

In the morning, we got up and checked out at 10:00 AM and walked for a few miles down a main street to get some exercise before our long journey of sitting on buses, planes, and trains ahead of us. It was another beautiful day and it was great to be out in the Italian sun! We then hopped on our bus to the airport and made it successfully and safely back to Paris by 7:00 PM. It was an amazing first trip and I definitely enjoyed my time in Rome! Alyssa and I are now busy planning our next trip as well as our 2 week long spring break. Another Euro trip? I think yes!