My first time to Rome has been oddly different to what I would have imagined my visit to be like. First of all, I had the faintest idea of what Rome actually looked alike, and I am so glad that I have finally seen it for my own eyes : ruins and romantic sidewalks.
As I was told by many, the driving there is absolutely insane, but that just makes it more exciting as a tourist in the country seeking excitement. Watching cars whiz by alongside the trams, buses, coaches, and plenty of taxis, I managed to make my way to everywhere that I needed and wanted to visit on my 5 day trip to this historical capital.
I stayed in the wonderful Lodi Guesthouse on Via Di Porto Maggiore, just 6 minutes from Manzoni Station, and 10 minutes from Termini Station. Our landlord, Marco, was warm and inviting and gave us many tips on what to see and where to visit. One of the best places I visited with Fred was Trastevere, a colourful little picturesque area in south-west Rome. I had planned attending a Food Tour on the day as it was my surprise for him for our two years together, and we ate our hearts out happily. A big thanks goes out to our tour guide, Jasmine, who took us to the best places to taste the traditional food of Rome, while also taking us to the oldest building in Rome, which is now a wine cellar - it's even older than the Colosseum! Trastevere really does have a lot to offer when it comes to gastronomy from sweet parma ham to the oldest Romano cheese and smooth healthy gelato in floral flavours. I am happy to say that this has been one of the best ideas I have had in a while!
The Colosseum is a must-see for all tourists heading their way to Rome, and while in the area, Fred and I decided to take advantage of all the nearby sights too including the public rose garden, the knights of Malta keyhole, the 'Bocca Della Verità ' (Mouth of Truth), the Palatine Hill and Forum.
After eating to our heart's content and visiting many ruins and historical areas, we decided to head to another area of Rome to visit more important landmarks, unfortunately the Fontana Di Trevi was under re-construction so there was no water in it, however I still managed to throw a coin into the empty fountain, just to feel like I made my presence known in the world, as for everything else, it was all lovely.
We also made a stop at Villa Borghese on one of the days to visit the zoo and all the cute animals there.
On the majority of the nights we were there, Fred and I dined at La Taverna Italiana, a wonderful restaurant round the corner from the place we were staying that basically won us over from the first day we were there, and every time got better and better. They made our dining experience, especially on the day of our anniversary, absolutely fantastic. They were even so kind enough as to give us a free bottle of champagne to celebrate! Rome was a wonderful place to visit, even though the driving is crazy, the people are very friendly and there is loads to see and learn.
