Rome
What a magical city Rome is! Rome is so full of life, history and beauty. You'll never have a dull moment while visiting Rome, as there's so much to see and do. We were thankful to be on a Rick Steves' Tour to help us navigate through the busy streets and to not have to worry about waiting in long lines at major historical sites, such as the Vatican City and the Colosseum.
Day 1 of our tour included a meet and greet with our fellow tour members. We were a little late, since our flight was delayed, but our Rick Steves' guide easily accommodated us. Afterwards we went on an orientation walk of the neighborhood. We were strategical placed in the heart of the city, and we got to learn how to use the city's transportation system.
We visited the Trevi Fountain, the Piazza Navona and the majestic Pantheon. During our walking tour we got to enjoy some traditional and tasty gelato. We ended our day at a local restaurant and got to eat our first Italian dinner together.
Vatican City
On Day 2 we met with our local tour guide who introduced us to Vatican City. Known as the world’s smallest country, it holds the greatest church in the Christian religion. We got to see St. Peter's Basilica and the famous sculpture, Pietà. Our tour included some of the Vatican Museums, including the wonderous map room, as well as the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel. We got to sit along the perimeter of the Sistine Chapel and marvel at Michelangelo's beautiful frescos, including "The Creation of Adam". I think Liliana enjoyed it too because I felt her kicking in my tummy!! During our free time, after our tour, my mom and I found this restaurant called Ponte & Parione. We stumbled upon it on our way back to our hotel. What really enticed us was the freshly made pasta they were making in the window. The food and service was excellent! If you plan to visit Rome, we would highly recommend this restaurant.
Ancient Rome
The next morning on Day 3, we woke up early and enjoyed a lovely breakfast at our hotel. We then met with another local guide to tour the infamous Colosseum and Roman Forum. We got so lucky that the weather was perfect this day, a beautiful balance of sunny and cool. The Forum was breath-taking and full of green grass and spring flowers. After our tour, we enjoyed a quick bite at a local Italian sandwich and pizza shop. After a long day of walking, it was so nice to relax in our coach bus as we set off for Tuscany.
