Ah... Rome!!

10/4/13

Arrived in Rome at 1600 with no real transportation dilemmas. Even though our flight was only an hour long, it still turns into an all day travel venture by the time all the buses and transfers are involved as well as finding  a place to stay. we jot got back from dinner and gelato. It's 2100 and I am spent!! Tomorrow we explore Rome. Even thought I have been here before, I am super excited to go out and see it all again. It's been 10 days since I have seen any sort of TV or heard any type of radio, and I am quite ok with it. While I do not miss it a bit, I do wonder what's going on around the world. Via facebook, I've learned our government has shut down for a few days and some demonstrations are taking place in Greece. Both make me nervous as Athens is our next stop. I really do not want to be involved in any sort of violence while abroad. In fact, I am a bit scared and reluctant to go. Our bed and breakfast in Rome is cute; two beds, two windows that open to the street, a mini commons area, and two toilets and two showers to share with 8 other people. I feel like I am back in my college dorm days.

10/7/13

Ah Roma!! I forgot how much I adore this place!! I've been so busy taking it all in, I haven't written for the last few days. I promised myself I would write the duration of the trip. Anyway, I am writing this while sitting on the Spanish Step. Simply the best people watching place there is. There's a bride and groom taking wedding photos; I still can't help but wonder if that will ever be me?

My feet are SO raw from the past 3 days of walking around the city of Rome. Between the cobblestone streets and the unexpected down pours (If I didn't know any better and were near the beach, I'd swear I was in Hilo!! Better not, I just visited the Sistine Chapel...) , my feet look as though I've ran a marathon. Instead, I've only eaten like a marathoner. I have indulged in so much pizza, pasta, paninis, gelato, peronis, and red wine it's amazing my pants still fit. I feel like Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love. I think the only thing that is saving us is we probably walk around 7-10 miles per day. 

Serving: 1 person. This is also what you get if you order pepperoni. Red pepper pizza

I couldn't resist going back to all the same places I visited the last time I was in Rome. It's just too amazing not to:

Tonight I am going to meet Steph, a travel RN I met while working in Hawaii. I haven't seen her in over 2 years and we happen to both be in Rome at the same time. How crazy is that?? I am super excited to meet up with her. Last time I say her, we were working the night shift on Laulima.

Last night, we went to an Irsish bar and met a couple from Wales, Louise and Daffid. Awesome couple, hoping to stay in contact and connect in the future.

It's about to rain (shocker)-- off to take cover.

10/8/13

It was SO good to see Steph!! Of course, we stayed out way too late and drank way too much. Needless to say, I did not do much with my last day in Rome, but that's ok, I needed some down time.

Such a surreal moment. I was excitedly nervous!

Looks like I've lost my bartending skills

I am not exactly sure what it is about Italian men, but they sure know how to get a lady's attention. Grrrh! Just like my last visit to Rome, I met a guy while we were out last night, that's causing my heart to daydream and my mind to flutter. In fact, it appears as though I am smiling at my pasta as I write this. Yes, the pasta here is worth smiling about, but not worthy of a permagrin! We just had that instant, magnetic connection. The kind full of chemistry and excitement. The kind where you forget that there is anyone else in the room. The kind when you realize it's 3 am and it's feels like you just said 'hello". The kind where when asked if you wanted to hop on the back of his scooter and get your own personal tour of Rome, your heart is screaming "Yes!" but your mind is telling you to 'go home.'  My mind trumped my heart's desire (as it usually does) and I quickly gave him a kiss on the cheek, and ran off down the street to hail a cab. In hind sight, I should've jumped on the scooter. Sometimes I need to think less, and do more.

It's late, tomorrow we leave for Athens. Can't wait!

4 Things I Love About Rome:
1) The Food!! Pizza, pasta, panini, gelato, wine...
2) The People
3) Italian men seem to have a "thing" for blondes...
4) and 1 always steals my heart.