I flew from Riga to Roma on the last leg of my 4 week Europe trip, ending the trip where I started. Baltic Air was awesome, and I would highly recommend pre-ordering the sweet crepes, yummy! The first day I landed in Rome I only had 2 hours to explore, so the last two nights were dedicated to uncovering some Roman gems, and that I did! 

The first time I went to Rome I thought it was a bit dirty and too hectic, but this time the grungy part of the city gave it a raw authentic edge that I loved. I was so amazed by the ancient parts of the city intertwined between the more modern builds. I loved how I could be walking along a street and look up to see an ancient wall that could have been a castle, or part of an aqueduct hundreds of years ago, just incredible! 

My first day, I walked in a sweaty haste to my flash hotel, I decided to end my trip in style and I was so grateful for this! After check in, I ran back out to the bus and made my way to the Borghese gallery. An old rich family that had curated a gallery of beautiful and elaborate paintings, marble statues and all things opulence. It was pretty incredible and a high concentration of awe inspiring beauty! One could just stand there mouth agape in admiration of the artist curating all these elaborate pieces. There is room after room of magnificence, I went without the audio guide, I am sure it would have been better with it, but my listening skills are poor at best. I just didn’t have the patience, and weirdly I find it a sensory overload listening sometimes. I enjoyed what I saw, and then made my way back outside. The gardens were okay, in the height of summer they were quite scorched. I am sure in winter or spring they would look a lot better. 

By the time I got back to my own piece of luxury and after a big sweaty day of travelling I was ready to relax by the roof top pool! Hell yes! I ordered myself some drinks and enjoyed some pool time, admiring the sprawling city below. I chatted to a few other people up there but mostly was happy in my own company. Later that evening I made my way down to the hotel restaurant and enjoyed a really yummy little mini pizza with prosciutto, rocket, ricotta cheese and anchovies. I added the rocket and anchovies and it made it so good! Just the right size, and so yummy. It was so good in fact I went back again the next night and ordered the same meal! Paired with the house white wine I was in heaven! 

In the morning after a great sleep, I made my way across town to meet my tour guide for a bike riding tour on the Apian way. We met at a local coffee shop and it ends up being just myself, the guide Alessio and his friend Marco who was in training to be a guide, perfecto! He gets me all kitted up with an e bike, making the riding super easy, almost too easy, I want a physical challenge. The road is very bumpy, but fascinating. This road is what gave Rome the saying “All roads lead to Rome”. It was a hot day, but the e bike made it easier. I loved the wide open fields full of fennel, the old aqueduct walls with throngs of caper bushes, and the tall pine nut trees with kernels on the ground ready to crush with a rock and eat! Food every where! We stopped at a little pond and there were heaps of turtles nesting in there. Lots of berry bushes and greenery, it was lovely to be outside the city centre and see the real Rome. 

After the tour my guide drove me back to the train station. On the way we stopped at a little market and had the sweetest juiciest watermelon I have ever had! On a hot day and a long bike ride it was just what I felt like! What a treat. 

Soon I was back on the train and decided to venture into the heart of Rome like a proper tourist and go see some sites. I am what I call a bad tourist, I really try to avoid the hotspots and the tourist traps, but when in Rome! It has to be done! My favourite was the Trevi fountain, always so beautiful. It really was quite fun just wandering the streets, going in and out of the shops, admiring the coloured glass, gelato and Rome paraphernalia. I did buy a few little things, and always cute to see the hot priest calendar! Which is totally a thing! 

After thousands of steps I was ready to head back to the sanctuary of my hotel and my roof top pool. There I made myself comfortable with an Aperol spritz and a swim. I had a good chat with a young Danish couple so that was nice, and then simply enjoyed the sun, the views, and the ambience of a roof top pool. So good! I went back that night for the dinner I had enjoyed the night before, more vino blanco and I was very happy sleeping in my cosy hotel bed for the last night of my incredible holiday. 

The next morning I was back to the airport, taking the train this time for 14 euro, was a little faster than the bus and super easy. The only other highlight to report was finding the gem of a swatch at the Rome Airport. Swatch are doing a new travel series this year and little did I know but I had stumbled across gold! It was so cute! My friend was desperate for me to buy it, but I was on the plane before I saw her message. I do love a swatch! 

And that is the end of my travel series. I hope you enjoyed my travel stories. The only thing now is to book another holiday!! I have Melbourne booked for October and hopefully I will get back to Europe in January, let’s see what the future will bring.

Ciao!

Anita xx