Roman adventures

Pizza! Pasta! and Wine! 

These are what people think of when they hear Italy. I had the amazing opportunity to go beyond the carbs and wine and into the historic ancient Rome. I climbed St. Peter's Basilica, explored Castles and walked along the scenic streets of a true small town. 

My Roman adventures were truly everything I never knew I needed to explore. 

I can show you better than I can tell you... 

After an 8 hour flight, I was sleepy and in dire need of a energy boost! Cappuccino to the rescue, in the airport as I waited for the rest of my group. After my much needed caffeine and some patience I was finally heading to the hotel. 

The hotel was on a quite street, and offered free coffee and croissants for breakfast. The rooms were for two people and the beds were twin sized with a mini fridge and small counter and chair. The bathroom was standard. I will say the shower was HOT! I totally appreciated this after a long day of walking.  

The best part about the hotel was it was right outside of St.Peters Cathedral. Literally! I could walk to the corner, make a right and walk down one block to the entrance into the courtyard of the Cathedral. It was so amazing! 

Perhaps, my favorite thing about Rome is the ease of transportation. As a city girl, I am accustomed to commuting on the trains and busses. As a result, I was able to easily adapt especially because the trains were no where near as complicated as the transportation in my city. 

Now that I've painted the picture lets see some...

Because every day starts with un caffe and maybe a Croissant

 And the occasional Castle...

 Castel Sant'Angelo

Roman Views from the deck of the Castle 

                           

Rooftop Castle Views... Straight to St. Peter's Cathedral

The fountain was a MUST SEE!

Just Amazing

 

It was even better at night... totally worth the train and walk back to the attraction! 

Speaking of walking this is one of the streets in the high fashion shopping area...

Views from Via dei Condotti to the Spanish Steps

Did I mention Gelato is LIFE !

I tried so many flavors during my trip and I was never disappointed. 

What is Ancient Rome without the Ruins???

 The Ruins of Tempio del Divo Claudio 

Also where a lot of counsel meetings took place, laws were passed and trades of goods were made

 Did you know?

When you purchase a ticket to the Colosseum, you receive free entry to Tempio Del Divo Claudio. 

It's a very short walk and totally worth your time. The ruins are more than intriguing and excellent photo ops!

But who can go to Rome and not see...

The Colosseum 

(trying to get a full picture is pretty impossible but fun trying)

Pay the 7 Euro for the audio guide. It will make walking through the Colosseum so much better! 

 It's like going back in time!

Did I mention Romans love eggs.

Especially when they are chocolate 

SOOOOOOO GOOOOD! 

Of Course St. Peter's Cathedral has to be climbed...what is a tour without it?

Entry way steps...

More Steps... like 871 in total more

 Vatican Views

Vatican City

 
Vatican Rooftop... there's Gelato up here ;-)

Rome is utterly amazing. However, Florence is a short train ride away and it is worth every moment. I spent the day exploring Florence and here are some photos...

The famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge

As some one who avoids bridges at all cost I must say I appreciate that you can't tell you're on the bridge until you're in the middle. It was quite a fun experience for me. 

Florence just is not complete without a visit to the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum. Yes fashionistas, this is history in the making, literally. I enjoyed every moment of if. 

 

Back in Rome, it was almost time to return home. Vacations have to include a final dinner. This is where it gets interesting. Earlier I stated I was able to figure out the transportation due to being in a large city. 

Well, this is my proof. I looked it up and traveled there in the evening, for dinner. 

I was very proud of myself as I totally stepped out of my comfort and explored a part of Rome I hadn't seen before. 

Ok, so I made a wrong turn coming home, I eventually figured it out. But, nonetheless, it was worth every step! 

Highly recommended restaurant in a tucked away neighborhood. 

Table for one please

I treat myself really good, I must admit :-)

What is dinner without desert? This literally melted in my mouth and I was sad when it ended. 

I hope you enjoyed this photo blog of my journey in Rome, Italy. It was fun reliving these moments. 

There were so many other photos, maybe we can do a part 2.

Stay tuned....

Thanks for stopping by and Traveling with May 

Quebec Check

One of the amazing things about the internet is you can go anywhere. Literally. Anywhere, in the world. No, I don't mean on google maps. I mean via other people, you can see their pictures, videos and read about their experiences. It gives you a sense of travel without leaving the comfort of your couch.

There is this AMAZING blog, thesophisticatedlife, by Nadeen that allows you to truly feel as though you're there with her. The blog is broken up into travel, food, wine and Atlanta. It's quite refreshing and enlightening.

There was a recent post about a trip to Quebec, Canada. It is very informative and includes some beautiful photographs. 

Now, I'll be honest, Quebec or any other part of Canada has never been on my 'places to travel' list. However, after reading this, it definitely is. The blog provides insight on 15 things I probably would've never paid attention to. 

The blog explains the details of Quebec, the city, province and its historic language. Nadeen, the blog owner, truly takes the time to help you understand the history behind the language and how it translates into the language spoken today. 

Then she moves into the food, oh yea! As any traveler would tell you travel and food are definitely brother and sister. I know some people who only travel places based on the food because it's an adventure in and of itself. 

thesophisticatedlife explains the maple syrup and Poutine love affair in Quebec. Poutine is a well known and often imitated dish by many places in Canada and the United States. It's an interesting combination of three ingredients. Wondering what it's like? You can totally check out the blog here to see what she thinks. 

There are also plenty of Irish Pubs in the area due to the Irish history in Quebec. She does go into some detail on the history and how it has been implemented in the culture. 

I appreciate the insight on the pubs because good beer and drinks are definitely key to any vacation. 

This blog entry provides very well rounded insight on Quebec, Canada and all the exciting things to do, big or small. 

Like steps, there are plenty of steps to climb in Quebec. If anyone has climbed the steps of St. Peter's Basillica in Rome you know how much the view at the top is worth the climb. Quebec views do not disappoint. 

I love that this blog is all inclusive it really provides an in-depth look at the culture, food and history of Quebec and makes you feel as though you are there. Nadeen does an amazing job explaining the details. 

This blog is 15 Fun Facts about Quebec, Canada. I don't know about you but I'm ready to book a flight. 

And in case my blog is enough... totally checkout thesophisticatedlife to see for yourself! 

Thanks for stopping by and Traveling with May