Sisterhood of the Traveling Powells: Rome, Italy
We woke up in our B&B in Genova, Italy on Wednesday, Jordan's 23rd birthday. Our train to Rome left at 6:10 AM and we arrived at Rome Termini station a little after 10 AM. Our hostel was located a short 7 minute walk away. We dropped our luggage off at Hotel Alessandro Palace and Bar and announced it was Jordan's birthday. The gentlemen at the reception desk told us to visit the rooftop bar that evening for free champagne. We made a mental note before slathering on the sunscreen and setting out to explore with a paper map. We hadn't eaten a proper breakfast so we were on the verge of hanger. We turned our steps toward the Via Nazionale which was dotted with restaurants. We made a poor choice. Eliseo's was imitation Italian at best. The cheese on my pizza was waxy and the bolognese Jordan ordered tasted as though they were serving cans of Chef Boyardee. Disappointed and only somewhat full, we continued into the city center of Rome. We found the Trevi Fountain first and tossed our coins into the already wealthy water. The tradition of the coin toss ensures that you will return to Rome. This was pretty special to me as I had stood in that spot 4 years ago (read about it here!) and now my first coin toss was fulfilled!
Our next stops were the Pantheon and Spanish Steps before pausing for mandatory birthday gelato. I chose mint chocolate chip and Jordan picked lemon. We meandered a mile back to our hostel so that we could shower before dinner. After our less than stellar lunch, we were determined to research reviews before deciding on a restaurant. Thankfully, Mama Angela Trattoria did not disappoint. We both selected cacio e pepe for our first course and decided to split stuffed chicken and potatoes for our second. It was truly some of the most delicious pasta I have ever eaten. The flavors were divine and the freshness was second to none.
Once we were sufficiently stuffed we ventured to the hostel rooftop bar for the promised free bubbly. Our bartender was so friendly and attentive! He asked us what kind of drinks we generally liked and custom-made each one. Something sweet for Jordan and sour for me! Afterward, he offered us a free shot that resembled the Italian flag. We joined a group of travellers playing cards in the corner and the bartender soon came over with 2 bottles of complimentary bubbles for the group to share before handing out free tequila shots. We took the appearance of the tequila bottle as our cue to make an exit. We had tickets to the Colosseum in the morning!
Our night in the 6-bed dorm was relatively restful and we slept in until 9 AM. We made breakfast a priority this time. Jordan ordered a Nutella crepe and I chose bacon and eggs. We were pleasantly surprised by the basket of free bread (literally nothing in Europe is free...not even water usually!) and gladly made it disappear. Bread with olive oil for breakfast is inspired, trust me.
We stood in line for the Colosseum for just 40 minutes before getting to explore the crowded ruins and the Roman Forum line was even shorter. Prebooking tickets was definitely the way to go and getting there earlier in the day helped too! We wandered through both sites, in awe of the history that we stood upon. We were ready for lunch after all the walking and direct sunlight, so we found another well-rated restaurant where I ate cacio e pepe for the 2nd time without shame. Jordan ordered traditional bolognese that was light years better than Eliseo's. We also shared an order of fresh bruschetta. We spent the remaining hours of the afternoon wandering in and out of stores searching for souvenirs. One of my favorites was the packet of pasta spices. Now I just need to learn how to home-make pasta! The stuff from the box just isn't cutting it for me anymore.
Rome Stats
39,806 steps walked
$0 US dollars spent! (all cash previously taken out!)
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