his trip was relaxing in its own way. Where we did not just stay in our Airbnb and lounge.  We explored the city during the day and night. This trip was me, two of my culinary school friends who were also working in the UK and one of my friend’s roommates. Already being on that side of the world is much cheaper on flight from London and back it was 100£ so about 200$ Canadian and then for my stay in Rome like a 3 min walk from the Colosseum was I believe just under 400£. That means 1000$ Canadian for seven full days in the center of Rome

For my friends, the trip started the morning of at the airport but for me it started the day before. Since I lived in the north of England and they lived 1 ⁄2h south of London where I lived a 4 ½ train ride plus a 40min taxi ride from my house to the train station. So, the day before I hopped on a train and made my way to Kings Cross station and then a quick hop on the metro to the bus station and on a bus to get on another bus to go spend the night at my friends place. To go back to London to catch our flight the next morning.

Once in Rome our Airbnb host had arranged a taxi to pick us up from the airport and bring us to our wonderful apartment where he met us and showed us around the apartment and gave us the keys and emergency contact information. He also gave us some lovely tips on which taxi company to use and which one is cheaper. Once that was done and we had settled into our rooms we needed to get out some of our energy from being cooped up in an airport, a plane straight to a cab ride. We were also starving, and it was ten to 9pm so we went on a walk around our new surroundings. Witch included the Colosseum all lit up during the night like many other ruins and attractions in the city. We stopped in this open late bistro with sandwiches and on the wall behind the bar there are about hundreds of different bills of currency of different countries. We get curious and look around  for Canadian money no luck but then I spot on the top corner a 5 cent Canadian Tire bill taped to the wall. For those who don’t know what I’m talking about well here we have a store called Canadian Tire and when you buy things from this store or buy gas from the gas bar you receive a percentage back in this Canadian Tire money that can only be spent in this establishment across the country. For most of us it was a little reminder from home and a good laugh.

Second day we hit the streets in find of a great place to get a pastry and a coffee which we went every morning for a pastry and a cappuccino. Then to spend the best 39€ each for a 72h Roma pass which gave us access to 2 museums and some discounts in other museums and attractions. This pass also includes a map of the city with all that you can do and a card that gives you access to the metro/bus/trans as many times as you’d like during the period of the pass. It cost us more for one taxi ride from the airport to our Airbnb the first night. We visited the Colosseum and the ruins that surround it and got lost in them could not find the exit the weather was getting hotter and we were starving. We finally made it out and found a great place to eat where I believe we had pizza we did even more walking and then that’s when we came across a 24h grocery store just around the corner from our place which we used quite often especially on the late night outs drinking. Oh, wait that was every night. Especially this night where we booked a VIP nightlife tour of the city. We met our hosts for the night in a piazza where we did a bit of bar hopping and then hopped in a cab to a club in the middle of nowhere where we were in this “VIP” area that was not bigger than a small stage in a bar that your local band plays on and we were about 25 people in this space. Plus, warning to most North American people clubs in Europe allow you to smoke cigarettes in the building. We liked the bar hopping part of the evening but less the club it was not our scene, so we hopped in a Uber and went home but kept the bar hopping by ourselves. Don’t forget gelato places are opened late.

We did have a table but the floor was more comfortable.(4th picture in the slide)

The next day was filled with more tourist related things like the Capuchin monks Crypt and more food and coffee.  I can’t forget gelato all day every day. For dinner that night we found a wonderful restaurant that served beautiful fish. Unfortunately, most of the dishes included clams or mussels which I can’t eat. I had a lovely gnocchi dish with homemade pesto. We did a few more bars visited the Trevi Fountain at night. I had seen before in the day when I went to Italy for the first time with my High School and had driven past it quickly at night but this time it was on our own pace and there where not many people there because it was raining we were in November and it was like 10:30pm. 

The next day we took the metro to the Vatican where we were harassed by many tour companies that we already had tickets and just keep walking and they keep telling us you’ll never get in without a tour or pre-bought tickets. Well we stood in line for an hour and a half and we were in. now if you are planning on being there during the high season of tourism recommend you pre-book your tickets it be certain of your entry to the Vatican. Now when I went with my High School if I remember they asked us to bring our passports with us. But they do not ask for it to enter because the Vatican City is its own country inside the capital of another country. On my second visit they also did not ask for my passport, but we did bring them just in case. So, if I were you I’d bring it just for safety. Even thought I’d been there before I truly enjoyed it the second time around. We also visited the sixteenth chapel and the St. Peter’s Basilica.  We spent a good 3h touring the Vatican grounds and then it was time for more pasta and gelato. 

The city is quite busy during the day it was filled with tourists and Romans. But if you are willing to stay up after the sun go’s down and most tourists are gone to bed the city doesn’t sleep all the ruins and buildings are lit with utmost beauty and grace. This let me to some wonderful pictures this barely any people on stairs or photo-bombing.

We also adventured to a few different bars like the Ice bar where everything is made of Ice even the glasses were made of ice. The bar is bar is kept ate a mire -5 degrees. Before entering the bar, they give you this lined poncho that is no way shape or form flattering but it doses help with the chill air. The drinks were delicious and inexpensive. After the ice bar we asked the bartender where he would recommend a great place that is not as much touristy and he led us to this bar called the Blakmarket this bar is quirky and mysterious in its ways this place is more than one level and there are candles melted in this old glass jugs and a mismatch of different chairs and tables.

Our days in Rome came to an end and it was time to head back to our home away from home and back to the good old work.

Hope you enjoyed this post  and thank you for reading along on my adventures.