May 31: Rome's Trastevere, Piazzas, and 3 Tenors

Good morning, Rome!

 At Hotel Rimini (steps from Roma Termini train station) we're in the rooftop suite 

with a veranda overlooking this beautiful city. 

Protestant (or 'non-Catholic') Cemetery clos(ish) to Trastevere

Trastevere:

Street food from Trapizzino in Trastevere 

Tiber River

Basilica di Sant' Andre della Valle

Campo Fiori Market:

Piazza Navona:

The Pantheon:

My friend Sulema's photo. (She's also here in Rome!) 

Trevi Fountain - with no people on the stairs... because of the soccer match later today! 

St. Paul's Within the Walls Basilica:

Our concert venue this evening. Three Tenors and string quartet and piano.

VIDEO COMING SOON

May 30: Siamo qui a Roma!

Siamo qui a Roma! (We are here in Rome!) Instead of a 6-hour layover in Amsterdam, we were able to get on an earlier flight to Rome. We lucked out with the weather too. Rome is beautiful!  

We checked in, and immediately got out into the city to talk advantage of the amazing weather.  For the ten days before we got here, all we saw were forecasts for rain and thunderstorms. Rain and thunderstorms, all day, every day.  So we were expecting dark, gray skies and soggy streets.  But as you will see below, that was definitely not what we got on this first day!  

Our rooftop suite at Hotel Rimini.  We love staying here. Kitchenette (with a new addition since last time: a little washing machine!), rooftop terrace, and a bright and large open living space!  Noi piace Rimini!

Trevi Fountain

Our favorite passeggiata/wandering route in Rome always seems to take us to the incredible Trevi Fountain.  (p.s.  Jane bought a new iPhone just in time for this trip, mostly so that she could have a better camera!  The wide-angle shots that you will see this trip are thanks to the iPhone 12!)

Jet lag is nothing that a little Aperol spritz and a snack in a nearby Piazza won't fix.

The Pantheon

Hello, old friend.  We'll come back to see you tomorrow.

One of the many basilicas we will encounter and stop to soak in this trip.  

Birds Eye Views of Bella Roma

If you go to to Vittorio Emanuele monument (the huge white building near the Colosseum which is also sometimes called The Wedding Cake or The Typewriter), you can pay 15e to take an elevator to the top for the most amazing panoramic views of the city!

The Theater of Marcellus

Vittorio Emmanuele Monument

The Colosseum

We don't have plans to visit the Colosseum this time, but we did get these incredibe pics of it near sunset as we passed by on our way to the Coloseo Metro Station.

To end our first day of whirlwind travel, and cap off about 36 hours of being awake, we ate dinner at a spot near the Termini station.  Half bottle of prosecco and red wine, shared Caprese, and shared Cacio e Pepe spaghetti and an Arrabiatte penne.  We were totally ready for bed!

We're so glad to be back in Rome!

Buongiorno!

Buongiorno!

We’re off on a 3-week adventure to Italy and Spain. YEAY and finally! We’re traveling to Rome (via 6-hr layover in Amsterdam), then on to Puglia/Apulia (southeast Italy), then to Sardinia, and then northern Spain – with plenty of time at each stop to enjoy and explore.

We’ve been waiting to return to Europe for QUITE a while (post pandemic, post grief from losing our dad 2 years ago). Our last trip/blog was in May of 2019 where we traveled with our Dad and brother Will to England, Wales, and Dublin before splitting off to Sicily, and Rome, Umbria, Dolomites, Verona and Venice. In June of 2018, I traveled with Brenna to Milan, Cinque Terra, Lake Como, Verona, Venice, and Grindelwald. In June of 2017, Jane and I walked 10 days on the Camino de Santiago and spent time in Tuscany, Cinque Terra, Rome and Zurich. We met up with Sara several times on these trips too when she lived in Zurich. 

We are in love with Italy and Spain. We’re so excited and grateful to be going back!!