Day 4: Last Day in Rome

May 14^th Day 4 Rome:

Kristina's FitBit Information: 9.68 Miles walked & 23,389 Steps

On this day, we woke up rather early to meet our tour guide in the lobby to go and visit the Ancient City of Rome and the Colosseum. After about fifteen minutes of walking, we got to the entrance, got our ticket scanned, and entered the ancient city! This was one of my favorite days; our tour guide was so friendly and so knowledgeable and passionate when it came to explaining all of the ancient artifacts, buildings, and locations.

Angela Processione’s tour of the entertainment facility, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill was unbelievable. Angela was one of the best guides we had on the trip, and she definitely made the tour much more interesting. She spoke with such enthusiasm that it made you excited to hear about the ruins and the history that lies within their walls. She was excited to teach us and we were excited to learn, which made for a fantastic day and fantastic conversation.

The structures in this part of Rome are made up of layers and layers of architecture that vary in style. Each type is from a different time period and they all have different meanings. The biggest building clearly had four different types of architecture: one from ancient Roman times, one from medieval times, all the way up to present day! It was amazing to see so much history in one building. After explaining that structure, Angela then pointed out the exact location where Julius Caesar was cremated. She also showed us a mini pictorial flip chart of how everything looked back then when all of the buildings and structures were intact; the before and after pictures really helped us to understand what we were looking at.

Being in a location so renowned that has such magnitude of history was quite extraordinary. One of the most fascinating facts that had our group thinking was about the Roman Forum and all of its pagan ruins. These ruins were once intentionally covered by the Christians and then built upon. Now much of them are uncovered, but you can still see the burial lines.

The buildings, the architecture, and the history that ties it all together made for an educational and exciting experience. We walked around statues and through archways that commemorated rulers’ victories from hundreds of thousands of years ago. Angela then guided us up a steep slope to Palatine Hill where we saw what is left of the houses of the ruling class of Rome. We even got to see the personal fighting pit that would entertain the upper echelon of Roman society.

After that we walked back down Palatine Hill onto the street to go over to the Coliseum itself. It’s hard to believe that the structure is real, even when it’s right in front of you. The Coliseum was the setting for the famous Roman gladiators and was the entertainment hub in ancient times. We walked around inside to see what it originally looked like, how people were seated, and how the trap doors worked to bring different animals into the arena. There is so much history and mystery within this one building alone. The circumstances and bouts that gladiators would be put through leaves a lot to the imagination, which is appropriate for a monument belonging to ancient times.

We all got some great pictures on this amazing tour and it was a fantastic beginning to our day. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped at a small deli where we all picked up a fresh prosciutto and arugula sandwich to eat before our next event.

After our quick bite to eat and wash-up at Hotel Atlantico, we got back onto the metro with Lisa to Spagna. We first stopped at Il Palazzetto, where the International Wine Academy of Rome is held, to have our sommelier-led wine tasting. Then we headed across the street to have a tour of the Hassler Hotel.

Fortunately, on this day we had the great pleasure of meeting the owner of both hotels, Roberto Wirth.  He was on property and was gracious enough to greet us and introduce himself. 

http://www.abilitymagazine.com/lemmon_wirth.html

What an incredible experience. Our sommelier was named Jovica Todorovic and he was truly passionate about

wines and their presence and uniqueness. His expert knowledge and skill really brought the wines to life. 

Our first wine that we tried was a Tuscany Chardonnay, a warm yellow in color, with a citrus and almost buttery flavor. The second was Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, a 2014 rose that had a taste similar to sweet cherries. Our third wine was Ceretto Nebbiolo D’alba, a 2012 deep red wine that had a berry yet oak-y flavor to it. Finally, our last wine we tasted was almost a Brunello, Alta Mora Etna Rosso, a robust almost spicy darker wine. Each of the wines was simply delicious in their own way.

Jovica explained to us his philosophies of wine; how each wine has a different sense in every single different moment of the day and with every single different dish. He compared wine to a book, how you would enjoy different wines at different times and in different places. He explained that some are more complicated, yet others are more light and simple. His attitude towards wine was that it plays together with food; food makes the wine experience better, and wine enhances the taste of food.

Jennie wrote that “hearing [this] information in Italy and saying ‘Yes, I’ve heard that before!’ really helps reinforce what we have learned [back home].”

Throughout the tasting, we were given small breads, cheeses, quiches, and sandwiches to have with the wines and everything was delicious.

Afterwards, we got to take a tour of Il Palazzetto, which is used for events and meeting spaces as well as the wine academy. They had a beautiful venue with a patio, elegant dining space, as well as a bar and lounge room. Upstairs was an elegant rooftop restaurant and bar that we walked through on our way to tour the Hassler Hotel.  http://www.hotelhasslerroma.com

The Hassler Hotel sits at the top of the Spanish Steps with a glorious panoramic view of Rome.

Tamara explained that we went to visit and explore “what a five star hotel looked like from every floor. This experience we may not have been able to get [on our own]. Just being in the Hassler it felt like I was going to be in debt.”

No pictures were allowed at this point. As we entered, the luxurious lobby was home to beautiful marble structuring, wooden accents and elegant furniture. We were escorted by our tour guide to the back of the hotel and out onto a patio that is the Palm Court Restaurant and Bar. It was beautifully set and decorated; there was even ivy and foliage growing along the back stone wall. To the right as we walked in was a spectacular neon blue bar with high bar seating and water features flowing down the sides. One of the bartenders came up to us and asked how we were and gave us some insight about this bar, the hotel itself, what he’s seen since he’s been working there, and what guest are looking for in a luxury property experience. We even got to take a look at the menu which was full of signature cocktails with fresh local ingredients. All of the associates there were respectful, friendly, knowledgeable, and professional.

Jennie said that “as a hospitality major, [she] always enjoys hotel tours. Tours introduce students to new aspects of the hotel industry and give insight that students could not otherwise get.”

Next we all went up an elevator to the 6th floor to see Imago, a panoramic Michelin starred restaurant with a spectacular view over the city. Such a beautiful restaurant! As we walked through, we noticed that all the tables were set perfectly and identically, not a wrinkle in sight or silverware out of place. It takes over six months to even get a reservation at this restaurant, imagine how memorable the experience must be!

Melinda wrote that "the Hassler and Palazzetto Hotels are beautiful and spotless. They show off the high fashion and elegance of Italian culture that we, as college students, don't get to see very often. Watching the waitors polish the silver before dinner service and seeing the plush stools for purses are just a few examples of the level of service provided at the Hassler's restaurant." 

Magen said that her favorite part “of the Hassler tour was the unexpected tour of the Hotel’s Michelin Star restaurant with views of the entire city of Rome. [She] knew the restaurant was top-notch when [she] saw that there was little ottoman-like furniture next to the tables so the women’s bags did not have to touch the floor… now that’s classy!”

After our hotel tour, we took a nice walk through the city and over the river to a scenic park with a beautiful overlook of Rome.

From here we went right to dinner at another spot near Via del Corso called Palatium. http://www.enotecapalatium.com/#_=_

This was another Luke Palladino recommended restaurant. 

Kelly said that “it was the first time [she] tried lamb, and [she] thought it was delicious. [She] was more open to trying some new things on the trip.”

We started out with some appetizers of fresh olives, cheeses, and meats on a wooden platter, with a fresh chilled bottle of a 2014 white, Satrico Casale del Giglio that had a crisp apple flavor.

The food was delicious and the wine was even more so. We laughed and talked and of course ate. We reminisced about the days that had passed since arriving in Italy and discussed what we were excited about for Florence. 

Taylor M. wrote that “[She] had delicious gnochhi and of course we had a fantastic wine selection. It was nice to eat all together for our last meal in Rome!”

Jennie said that “this [dinner] concluded possibly one of the most filled, action-packed days we had…and [it was her] favorite. J”

Day 3: Vatican City

May 13^th Day 3 Rome:

Kristina's FitBit Information: 10.9 Miles walked & 24,212 steps

Bright eyed and bushy tailed we were as we departed for Vatican City at 8 am and met Lisa again in the lobby of the hotel to get back on the metro and head for Vatican City! All of us got dressed up due to the dress code which we all took advantage of in our own way. What it came down to was most of us wearing maxi skirts and dresses.

When we arrived and on our journey walking toward the Vatican Museum, Lisa took us through a market place where vendors and local farmers and fisherman came to sell their products. The sights and smells were wonderful, fresh and bright. We all wished we could have come to shop there every day.

Our guide, Angela, took us through the vast Musei Vaticani. In a way we were lucky. Every Wednesday the Pope makes his address in St. Peter’s Square, which means less crowds in the museum. We were able to walk around through countless galleries and halls with ease.

The piece de resistance of the day was getting to see the Sistine Chapel.  Angela walked us through the panels and paintings before we went inside, but there aren’t enough words to capture the beauty that surrounds you in the small chapel. Each fresco is more beautiful than the next. DaVinci’s attention to detail is unmatched and the Sistine Chapel alone was worth the trip there.

Taylor M. wrote “She told us the stories behind the panels painted on the ceiling and the walls of the Sistine Chapel, which I found very interesting and it definitely made me appreciate it more when we got into the Chapel because I had a better understanding of what I was looking at. I also learned a lot about Leonardo di Vinci and the type of guy he was, which was fascinating! The Sistine Chapel was absolutely breathtaking! There is something to see in every corner of the room. Of course you have to remain silent when inside the Chapel and no pictures are permitted, but it's hard to stay quiet and control the restraint to capture the beauty that surrounds you when you are in such a sacred and beautiful place!

Jennie C. wrote “I would like to mention that all of our tour guides on this trip were enthusiastic, welcoming, and knew their facts. Also, as a side note, the guided tours were the best way to visit the attractions. Yes famous artifacts like the Coliseum and the David are magnificent, but it is much better to have a guide there every step of the way to explain the history and interesting facts that you would not have otherwise known. For instance, Angela told the tales of Michelangelo and I now have much respect for the brazenness of the artist during the Renaissance Period.”

Magen wrote “Since I have been there before and have studied Renaissance art for my Art History minor, I knew a lot of what the tour guide was talking about, but that did not stop me from being completely in awe of the art and the history that we saw.” 

Taylor V. wrote “We learned a lot about Michelangelo on this tour since the Sistine Chapel was a big part of it, and the more I learned the more fascinated by him I was. I bought a poster of the Last Judgment because Michelangelo put so many personal elements into it, and really made the painting his own. Speaking of the Sistine Chapel, it is very against the rules to take any pictures of it. It was just so beautiful and I was so Michelangelo obsessed, however, I thought about trying to sneak a picture anyway. That is, until a very scary guard was sneaking up on people taking pictures and screaming at them to get out. That deterred me a bit, and I decided to just study as much of the Chapel as I could so that I’d never forget it. Seeing something so incredibly beautiful up close and personal is very easy to remember. I would have loved to spend all day studying the artwork of the Vatican and falling in love with the armed guards of Vatican City, but unfortunately we had an itinerary to uphold.”

Taylor M. wrote “After we left the Chapel, we attempted to make our way to St. Peter's Square. On the way, I stopped at one of the jewelry counters and bought myself a gold St. Anthony medallion to wear on my necklace with my gold horn. I was very excited about this as it was a goal of mine to get it specifically from the Vatican on this trip! I immediately put it on my necklace and have not taken it off since! I also purchased a Pope bobble head after our museum tour right outside the walls of the city, he would then go all over Rome and Florence with me and I took pictures of him at every site to document his travels.”

Tamara wrote “This trip really showed that tourism will truly always survive”

We stepped out of the chapel and walked around to one of the entrances into St. Peter’s Square only to find that it was still closed after the Papal Address’ conclusion. We left to get lunch and then headed back to explore. A few of the gals ate at a small ristorante across the way from St. Peters Square called L’insalata Ricca, we ordered the best fresh bruschetta and tomatoes, fabulous avocado salad with fresh tomatoes, corn, mozzarella, and arugula with balsamic dressing.

Jennie wrote “We separated for lunch, where I had my first authentic Italian pizza. Remembering what I learned from my pizza presentation during the semester, I knew that Italians eat their pizza with a fork and knife. The wait staff was friendly and charming giving the restaurant an approachable atmosphere, as is with the majority of restaurants in Italy.”

We returned back to the open piazza and tried to take in everything that is St. Peter’s Square (as well as some Vitamin D). We tried to get into the basilica but the line was wrapped halfway around the square. It wasn’t meant to be this time around. But it does give us all a reason to come back to Rome!

We were back on metro and rode it to Barbarini where we met Lisa to go to the Rome Tourist Office for an overview of tourism from Rome’s perspective. Two of the ladies in that office gave us a lovely  presentation, they explained to us that the two main factors for tourism in Rome are cultural and religious: cultural of archaeology, history of art, and independent metropolitan culture, and religious as the capital of Christianity and home of the Pope. Other important sections of their tourism include wine and food tourism, educational tourism, and congress tourism, as well as sustainable and cinema tourism, shopping, and tourism adapted to the needs of the disabled. They promote Rome through national and international travel fairs, communication campaigns, online, and through social media. They mentioned as well that their top three arrivals to Rome are tourists from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The representatives in this office also explained to us the city tax, it consists of a per day per person tax applying only to the first 10 nights of stay, applied to guests of establishments providing accommodation in locations classified as tourism resorts or art cities. Three star hotels are four euros for the tax, four star hotels are six euros, and five star hotels are seven euros. Over all they gave us a thorough and interesting presentation, and even gave us small Rome info bags as we left to learn even more about the city.

The gals separated into groups for the evening. One group ended up back at the Piazza della Popola and then at an Italian supermarket. They decided to buy wine, cheese, and meat to share.

Melinda wrote “Sitting in the lobby, drinking wine and chatting with friends was definitely the perfect end to a tiring day in the sun.”

Day 2: Dubbed “Jet Lag Day” by Jennie

May 12^th Day 2 Rome:

Kristina's FitBit Information: 8.6 Miles walked & 21,300 Steps

Victoria wrote “Waking up is always a struggle for me, but on the first morning in Rome it was the easiest thing to do.”

Kristina wrote on day 2 “My feet were already starting to hurt from all of the walking!

 After eating breakfast in the hotel which had a wide variety of food from meats, cheeses, baked goods, and fruits, We made our way to the meeting room located in the Hotel Arizona. After we  had our fill of fresh cappuccinos and pastries, we all came together in a meeting room in Hotel Atlantico to learn about the Tourism Industry in Italy from Maria Picardi, a tourism marketing expert.

Maria’s knowledge and passion for her line of work was evident throughout her talk with us.

She explained to us that Italy was the 5^th country in the world for tourism, and 3^rd in international arrivals, and that the twenty different regions in Italy are like twenty separate countries. Italian hotels are moving from a traditional style to more of a unique bed and breakfast style that are cheaper and more cosmopolitan. Their tourism has benefited greatly this year from the Universal Milano Expo, from May 1^st to October 31^st, showcasing 140 countries about their ideas and philosophies of technology sufficient food for everyone with a nutritional focus. Maria then explained to us that Italy’s website for travel opportunities was verybello.IT, and Italy’s official tourism website is italia.IT. In the year 2011, Italy changed their tourism by assigning their different regions full legislation for their own autonomy in tourism. It is now up to them independently to find their own funding. Maria believes this is not efficient. There are separate regional boards, each with their own website for tourism. Also in 2011, a new city tax was enforced in Italy to be spent on transportation and heritage sites. This tax is prevalent in hotels, but it is different per hotel and their standards. This tax the guest has to pay may be on a separate bill, and may have to be in cash. This tax has even made some cities too expensive and has begun to defer tourists. It was interesting to learn how Italy is benefitting and adjusting to their incoming tourists, hopefully in the future they will be able to gain an even better understanding of how each region of Italy can make tourism work for them.

Some of the ladies went to this cute little restaurant around the corner from the hotel and Kelly wrote “it was like a scene from a movie, Italian wine, pasta, and the setting outside was something I never experienced anything like in America. It is the norm there to just be able to sit at a table off the sidewalk and basically in the street. And toward the end of the meal, a guy with an accordion came out and started playing music. Molto Belle!”

Another group said they found a cute little restaurant called la Pastorita. They wrote “We sat al fresco and watched the people bustling about during their afternoon breaks. Ours was definitely the best seat in the house as we got to watch the servers prepare all of the desserts.. From panna cotta to gelato to molten chocolate cakes, that scene was enough to make our mouths water.”

Back to the hotel we travelled to meet up with Lisa, the director of European programs for SAI. Lisa took us onto the subway for the first time (an experience that was both familiar and completely foreign).

Melinda wrote “The best part about Italian subways is that there are only two lines, which leads to a lot less confusion and need to switch trains. From the train we boarded a streetcar, which was mind boggling. It was hard for me to picture a city as ancient and urban as Rome with streetcars.”

We arrived at Parco della Musica, a magnificent auditorium for concerts, festivals, and music events. It was a beautiful space, multiple dome like theatres with thousands of seats, wooden ceilings, and an open amphitheatre. Our tour guide showed us all of the different rooms and described to us all of the different possibilities for events and how many people they could accommodate.

Taylor M. wrote “My favorite part of the visit to the site was getting to hear performers practice singing opera as we walked between the two halls. I just wanted to sit and listen for hours!”

 Afterwards, we all came together in a class room a learned a lot about how Parco della Musica is marketed, an average ticket price, and how they work with their budget every year when booking multiple events. It was truly an inspirational space, known for bringing people together from all over the world to celebrate music and the arts.

However, the timing of this lecture was less than ideal.  The effects of jet lag were in full force and it was difficult to keep from dozing off during the lecture. This was totally understandable just unfortunate. Some of the funny comments are below.

 “This is where things get interesting. This presentation ended up begin over an hour and was the first time we had all sat down and relaxed since we arrived in Rome. This ended with most of us falling asleep or continuously nodding off throughout the entire presentation. I was in the back of the room and you could tell those who had given in to the sleep and though who fought it due to the fact that they kept jerking awake. I was in the group that fought the sleep but in end lost the battle until I jerked awake so badly half the girls saw me. This may seem like a poor reflection on the presentation but I believe what it came down to was that we were all feeling the jet leg and the tour guide did not know her audience which led to a dragged out presentation.  In the end we all survived and made it out, hopefully without offending the guide to much.

Someone else wrote “We then went downstairs and filed into a classroom for an extensive lecture on the financials of the place, which after a long hot day in the sun was the perfect recipe for a nap. It was hard to fight off sleep during those two and a half hours if I’m being completely honest, although our guide was very knowledgeable (just a bit monotone).”

Later we all went out and explored Via del Corso, a shopping and dining center in Rome.   We headed back on the streetcar to la Piazza della Popola where we stayed to explore and search for the Pantheon.

Victoria wrote “Now I don’t mean to brag but I have a pretty good sense of direction but the streets in Rome are like a code you need cipher decode to find your final destination. Now I am not complaining getting lost in Rome is what makes the experience more memorable in my opinion. However doing it with thirteen girls makes this more difficult but as always we found our way, making it all worth it.

The Piazza itself is a huge open area where street performers and men selling selfie-sticks are abundant. We ended up visiting the Piazza della Popola multiple times during our stay in Rome, but every time we saw the same elderly couple sitting by the fountain, singing and playing the accordion. It was such a cute picture and just very endearing. As for the Pantheon, we walked and walked and then walked some more. We passed various high end shops, a building that looked like it was a foreign embassy, and a really cool old bookstore that was so full, and books seemed to be busting out from every opening of the building. After asking directions at a tourist info stand, we found the Pantheon. It is an amazing sight to turn a corner and BAM it feels like you’re thrown back into ancient times. The Pantheon inside and out, is a beautiful structure that is so peaceful. One step inside (and away from the men selling cheap camera tripods) and it really takes you back to an ancient time.

All of the buildings and historic structures in Rome are breathtaking; everything has so much meaning behind it, right down to the cobblestones!

For dinner, we ate at La Barrique, one of the restaurants that Luke Palladino recommended for us, also one that has been mentioned in the New York Times! This was a small farm to table restaurant located around the Cavour stop. For us this was in walking distance which was beyond amazing. While looking for the restaurant at one point we turned around and saw the Coliseum.

Victoria wrote “This was amazing to me because the people of the city take it for granted when I have learned about this historical structure throughout my education. I never once thought I would be walking around the streets of Rome and just casually see this buildings as if it were a just like a library.”

We started out or meal with zucchini pie and fresh buffalo mozzarella on a bed of arugula.

Almost all restaurants in Italy are small, so we split into four groups to sit at different tables. Italians tend to eat much later then Americans, thus the later restaurants we ate at in large groups we arrived early enough to get tables pushed together.

Jennie wrote “I stoked myself up to try sweetbreads, and much to my disappointment they ran out. I settled for the beef tartar, which was equally delicious as everything else we ordered that night.”

Some of our menu items that evening included  zucchini pie and fresh buffalo mozzarella on a bed of arugula  perfectly tender pork chop with fried potato slices and a sweet mustard, paired with a 2013 Poggio al Ginperi, lemon ravioli, meatballs, grilled octopus with chickpeas and sesame seeds and incredibly authentic and fresh tiramisu!

Victoria wrote “This dinner I sat with Jennie, Magen, and Morgan. This gave me a chance to get to know other students than the six I had originally went knowing.  We shared wine and talked about

ourselves and our lives back home and our shared joy with being on this once in a life time trip.

Beth wrote “Another unforgettable meal.”

Day 1: We're in Rome!

May 11^th Day 1 Rome:

Kristina's FitBit Information: 8.2 Miles walked & 20,367 Steps

Noelle indicated that she considered day one to be from the moment we all got to the airport on May 10^th, through our landing in Rome, until her head hit the pillow on May 11^th at Hotel Atlantico. She writes, “Needless to say, day one wasn’t like any other day; it was thirty-four hours of excitement and curiosity and exhaustion and I wouldn’t have had it any other way!”

When we first arrived in Rome, we immediately got on a bus to visit Borgo di Tragliata, a destination wedding venue! It was a beautiful and historic property, over seven hundred years old, set in rolling green hills of an organic farm and open terraces with a fabulous swimming pool area.

Magen wrote “even though we were all tired from our flight from Philly, when we walked into this place it was like we were brought to life and transported into a dream.  I could not have thought of a better way to start off our trip than going here.”

Taylor V. said that “this was hands down the most beautiful, magical place I’ve ever seen in my life. The views were breathtaking, the floral arrangements were unbelievable, and the staff was so warm and inviting."

The venue also was a hotel that could accommodate up to 145 guests for wedding parties, and had other spaces for corporate and social meeting events. We were escorted upstairs into a meeting space where the Director of Sales, Christina, gave us a presentation about Borgo di Tragliata. She explained to us that Borgo di Tragliata hosts various foreign weddings, up to 180 per year. Their number one market is Irish weddings followed by demand from the UK, US, Germany and the Netherlands. Christina explained that different nationalities demand different weddings. For example, Italian weddings are relatively short and they don’t drink very much and American weddings held here have different programs and activities like a cooking class or wine tasting.

Their marketing is mostly word of mouth in Ireland, however they have been trying more online marketing with their websites. They normally sell a three day wedding package and have about two groups per week. Christina described that this antique property has been family owned and operated for years. In the winter season, Borgo di Tragliata holds more business meetings and still functions as a regular hotel for non-groups and events. She also shared with us some of the marketing tools the venue uses to attract clients. One such tool is a video she made that highlights some of the key selling points of the property as well some footage of weddings, of all cultures, that have taken place there.

Taylor M. said that she really enjoyed the video "because the pictures were amazing and it was interesting to see different cultures utilize the same space and make it fit their theme.”

To Taylor V., this day "was like a dream come true, because right after I figured out my potential future career, it was lunchtime."

Our tour included lunch out on the open tables on the terrace. Our first SAI tour guide was there to join us and gave us some advice about the city of Rome: what to see and what to be mindful of. Our lunch was delicious; a multiple course meal starting out with roasted eggplant and peppers topped with tomato sauce, focaccia bread and wonderful semi-soft cheese accompanied with a sweet honey like apricot jam. We were also offered a taste of a 2013 Castello di Torre in Pietra white wine that went perfectly with everything we had for lunch. Along with bread, our second course was a pasta dish with ripe tomatoes and a creamier sauce complete with fresh cheese shredded on top. Beth said that this was the best pasta she had on the entire trip!

Our third course was roasted chicken with green and red peppers and baked yellow potato. And for dessert, we had a perfectly light cake with sweet sauce drizzled over it and dusted with white powdered sugar. We also had our taste of genuine Italian espresso! It was very strong! We all added a little sugar to it to drink it a little easier.

Magen noted that the "difference between American and Italian food is wild. Now I love my country, but you cannot compare the food in Italy.  Not only is the cuisine different, but the dining experience as a whole is completely different from the U.S.”  I think we all agree on this statement.

Melinda said that "we all learned a valuable lesson at that luncheon: don’t load up on the pasta dishes because there are more to come, and you’re sure to want to eat it!"

After stuffing ourselves almost to the point of discomfort (Victoria said that "this was a foreshadow of what the rest of our culinary experiences were going to be on this trip"), we hiked up the hill to look at the church and tour the farm around the inn; all the historic buildings were beautiful. This allows for a lot of amazing backdrops for wedding photos!

Taylor V. wrote that she still thinks about "this day nearly a month after the trip, and it may very well be one of my favorite days in my entire life."

We might have all been a tad loopy from our lack of sleep, but overall, we had a great time and Kelly said it was one of her favorite experiences of Rome.

“Are We There Yet?”

One bus ride later and we’re in the city of Rome. Getting into the heart of the city was a culture shock itself. It was like the city was made with no rules and everyone could just do whatever they wanted.The Hotel Atlantico was in a prime location. We were right up the road from the Coliseum and within a block of two metro stations that made it easy to get to any of the major attractions. We all took a little rest to get acclimated to our room and enjoy the beautiful view from all of our windows (even the bathroom had a great view!).

As our first night in Roma, with nothing scheduled, we decided to go out into the city and explore, particularly looking for the Trevi Fountain. Well, it turned into a much bigger adventure than we had anticipated! After two hour expedition around the massive city, we arrived at the fountain worn out. To put the cherry on top of this adventure, the Fountain was closed for renovations! In the end though, we couldn’t be too frustrated because we did finally find it and got to see a good amount of the city in the process. It was like a customized, self-led tour. It was a fun adventure in the end. We got our first taste of authentic Italian Gelato and saw a lot of this gorgeous city. However, the phrase “We’re almost there” is something we would rather not hear again for a while. 

Overall the night was wonderful and the perfect way to end our first day abroad! It was definitely eventful and put a good taste in our mouths, literally and figuratively, for what the rest of the trip was going to be like!

Kristina's FitBit Information: Rome Day 1: 8.2 Miles walked & 20,367 Steps