Rome is a breathtaking city, bustling with activity, and I felt I had to truly immerse myself in it. Instead of rushing from one sight to another, I wanted to savor my time, enjoying the atmosphere with Aperol spritzes and gelato. My goal was to experience Rome at a leisurely pace, indulge in delicious food, unwind, and genuinely enjoy my vacation while trying to see as much as possible in our limited four-day stay.
Upon arriving, I quickly settled into my hotel, swapped my travel attire for more suitable clothes given the warm weather, and decided to take it easy on the first day. As we finally stepped out, the sun had lowered, which was a blessing given Rome’s unexpected heat.
Without a set agenda, we strolled through the charming streets, noting which gelato shops we’d return to later. Our wandering eventually took us to the stunning Trevi Fountain, one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks. Although it was crowded, making it hard to relax, I didn’t mind the buzz. However, dense crowds in Rome can be a target for pickpockets, so lingering wasn’t ideal.
Continuing our exploration, we found a restaurant a bit away from the fountain. The decision to eat there was spontaneous, sparked by the sight of a delicious pasta dish. We both kicked off with pasta and then moved on to a pizza for Lloyd while I had lamb (though I can’t quite remember the sides).
Since no one had to drive, wine felt like a must to accompany our meal. After dinner, we headed back towards the hotel, passing the Trevi Fountain again, which looked even more magical under the evening lights.
We wrapped up the day with dessert—three scoops of gelato—from a shop near our hotel, a place we frequented over the next few days. After a rooftop nightcap back at the hotel, I called it an early night, eager to explore more of Rome the following day. Plus, with Vatican tickets for the morning, sleeping in wasn’t an option. Looking forward to sharing more of our Roman adventures!