Roaming Rome

The "Girls Trip".  

I can't remember a recent time back in the US when my girlfriends and I decided to pick up and take off for a two or three day trip somewhere alone.  Obviously, there are many reasons for this, the most obvious being that many of my close friends live so far away, the travel is mostly to get TO one another, not so much to see a new destination or have some much needed "girls-only" time away.  Add to this new babies, jobs, and hectic schedules to juggle, and it is clear why making these kinds of little getaways happen can be close to impossible while home in the US.  It seems it would take us weeks to plan just a dinner! (This needs to change!)

Here, we have a few things on our side...a simplified schedule, no little babies in the mix, close proximity to one another, and cheap travel!  In 90 minutes, and only 40€ for the flight (a measly 14€ each way minus the fees...seriously, we are taking the price for lunch!) we were in Italy.  Amazing.

With my rockstar husband happy hold down the fort so I can use this time to explore and recharge,  I headed out on a little mini-vacation with two new friends to Rome, Italy.

Looking down at the city from the top of the Spanish Steps

Rome was filled with several of those "I can't believe I'm here" moments...art and history books materializing at every turn, making it an almost impossible task to fully take in where I was and what I was seeing at any given moment.  Yet, there we were...standing inside the Sistine Chapel, staring up at that stunning ceiling...watching the Pope himself as he spoke to a crowd of thousands outside St. Peter's Basilica...wandering inside the Colosseum, looking down at the intricate paths once used by Gladiators.  Grateful, is the word the comes to mind, every time I think about this trip.  Grateful for the opportunity.

The Pantheon

The Colosseum

 

Fontana di Trevi

Inside The Colosseum

Julie and Chris mid audio-tour inside Colosseum

Inside The Colosseum

View of the Forum/Ruins from inside The Colosseum

My friends had both seen Rome previously, but thankfully they were more than happy to return.  As Chris put it, "I don't think it's possible to get Rome'd out."  Having now seen it myself, I must say, I couldn't agree with her more.

And so it began, as we walked and talked our way across the city -- impressively, not using any form of transportation, besides our own two feet, the entire three days we were there.  The walking was what I would classify as hardcore.  We are talking 8 hours of walking per day, with the first day starting at 3am to make a 6am flight, followed by a full day of walking/sightseeing and ending after dinner at 10pm.  However, it was well worth the small amount of physical pain, and it certainly made the incredible pasta, pizza, and gelato well earned and all that much more enjoyable. 

The plan was to see as much as we could, without too much advanced planning or sense of urgency.  This trip was about enjoying each other's company and just experiencing a change of pace as much as it was about sightseeing.  And so, walking and museums were punctuated with glasses of wine out in front of the Colosseum.  Lunches were long, and if we got lost, we sat by the side of the road, snapped a few pictures, and eventually found our way to the right path.  No big thing. 

View of St. Peter's Basilica looking down the Tiber River

Cause they can.  :)  This one is for my Mom.

The Pope out in front of St. Peter's 

Pope on TV

Vatican City Baby!

Inside the Vatican Museum

St. Peter's Basilica

Inside the Vatican Museum

Trastevere -- quaint little neighborhood, more locals less tourists

Julie and Chris contemplating life a top the Spanish steps :)

Trastevere

Pantheon at night

Our delicious "snack dinner" of local wine, salami, and cheese

Inside the Forum

Inside the Forum

Gelato!

The week wrapped up, and before I knew it, we were sitting on the floor of the dodgy Ciampino Airport, once again taking part in the Ryanair cattle call.  Sigh...

A fantastic three days, filled with great conversation and company.  I was happy to come home to hugs and lovin' from my favorite faces here in Barcelona, but already looking forward to our next adventure together.  Until next time ladies!