When in Rome...

Italians seem to be just as friendly as Belgians. I sat next to two Italian guys who were in Brussels for business. They found out my birthday was next week, and bought wine bottles for our row to celebrate! Strangers and their kids even sang Happy Birthday to me. :)

 

Day 1 

We got so lucky with the weather! Clear skies all day. So we did more outdoorsy touristy things such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps. Although these famous structures are beautiful by themselves, the gorgeous blue backdrop adds a nice touch.

Day 2

We took a trip to Tivoli, and visited Villa d'Este. Villa d'Este is the perfect representation of Italian architecture. It truly is a palace with its green gardens, running fountains, and magnificent views! My favorite part of the trip was the pizza we had at a local cafe in Tivoli. It was the best pizza I've ever had! Still dreaming about it. Yum. 

Day 3

It was a rainy day so we did indoor stuff: Musei Capitolini and Christmas midnight mass at the Vatican. My sister had to ask a nun back in the States to help her write a letter so we could get tickets to attend Midnight Mass. Getting tickets is one thing, getting in is another. If you ever seen a line for the iPhone, it's about 10 times that size. There were about 2500 people in front of us, and they let in about only 100 people behind us. We barely made the cut! Although we're not the most religious family out there, it was still a wonderful experience! 

Day 4

Christmas day most establishments are closed excluding restaurants. So we went to the Christmas markets, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain.




We had clear skies and sun for 3 out of 4 days. Pretty good ratios if you ask me. Overall, Rome was a success. Next stop: Barcelona!





xoxo,

Amy