When in Rome….Bring Comfortable Shoes

I have officially experienced utter craziness and chaos. We arrived in Rome late December 2010 and met up with my husband’s brother Dierk and his fiancee Debby (Dierk & Debby live there) and began our 5 day adventure in Rome.  I was in Rome for a week in August 2003 and loved the city…but it was SOOO hot!  This time of year  I was able to enjoy it more….its incredible history, art, architecture, food, etc.

There is so much to see in Rome, your head spins constantly.  And as you walk, you know that under your feet are still things that have yet to be discovered or are in the process of being dug up and revealed. I was in awe of everything around me.  This city is gorgeous.  We visited the Colosseum for the second time and toured around the inside.  It is one of the seven wonders of the world, and it certainly should be!  It is very impressive and it is something to know you are standing where gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology once took place….in 80 AD!  The fact that the arches and so much of this amazing amphitheatre are still standing and in such great condition is incredible.

And did I mention the pizza?  The pizza in Italy is really the best…with its chewy, thin, crust, fresh tomato sauce, lots of basil and fresh mozzarella baked in brick ovens: add some arugula on top after its baked and you’ve been to heaven.

Jens and I of course made sure to visit the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain (my favorite!) again, but this time also explored the Callisto Catacombs (very freaky but really interesting!), the Circus Maximus, and many more Roman ruins, fountains, piazzas, and churches.  The subway system is a breeze to navigate and enables you to get all around the city fast and for cheap.

And did I mention the pizza?  The pizza in Italy is really the best…with its chewy, thin, crust, fresh tomato sauce, lots of basil and fresh mozzarella baked in brick ovens: add some arugula on top after its baked and you’ve been to heaven. We also tried Arancini:  Italian fried rice balls stuffed with cheese and tomato, fried zucchini blossoms, wonderful pasta dishes with seafood or pesto, deep fried olives, and incredible breads and wines.

New Years was a lot of fun:  the four of us made our way to the city centre in front of the Colosseum after a great dinner at Debby and Dierks’, along with champagne and a few other “festive” drinks and became part of a mass of fellow celebraters.  Fireworks were going off everywhere, concerts were going on, glass was smashing, people were partying hard.  It started to get a little too crazy for us down in the streets, safety was a concern, so we made our way up a set of stairs to a roof top where we watched the chaos from above.  A great view of the new years’ pandemonium.

A long walk back to our hotel afterwards as taxis were charging 100 Euro for a quick trip…but fun was had.  The next day we had a wonderful and traditional Italian family meal at Debby’s house where we were treated warmly by her fantastic family.  A very memorable new years and trip to Rome.