Roma, Italia

Rome is the real destination of the port of Civitavecchia.  I ventured to Rome only on one occasion, having had my fill in the past.  Please don't scold me.  One of the things I love most about cities are their parks and the not-so-easy-to-get-to locations.  I didn't have time to go to the places I enjoy most--Trastevere being one of them--so I often chose to rest up and stay close to the port instead.  Thankfully I've been able to see Rome on multiple other occasions without a timeline.  Tourist attractions are a bit of a "once and done" thing for me, especially in peak tourist season.  I didn't feel compelled to do it again, especially in a sweaty time crunch.

Il Vittoriano in Piazza Venezia

So after an hour and-a-bit train ride, there were only a couple things that were new to me (not like I know all there is to know about Rome, obviously):

Pantheon, Fall 2011

1. The view of the Pantheon (not to be confused with the Parthenon in Athens, Greece) is so much better when it is not covered in scaffolding!  The couple times that I visited during college, there was major restoration going on and the view was definitely a disappointment.  However, I'm not kidding when I say I can't stand the crowds, so I didn't venture inside.

Summer 2013--A view without scaffolding.

2.  Getting your butt grabbed by Italian men -- "The Myth of Italy"

Just because it doesn't happen to you for the entire year you live there, doesn't mean it will never happen.  Apparently it is more than just a myth, and it is really quite unnerving and unsettling, especially when you turn around and have absolutely no idea who, in the throng of people, it was.  My friend Kev was sure to have my back for the rest of the day.

3.  If you have ever seen the Trevi Fountain before, it is not worth it in peak tourist season!! *wildly shakes head, "Hard pass." - Pitch Perfect, anyone?*
(Sorry if I lost you there.  Don't worry about it.)  But if you haven't seen it, just ignore me.  It's not to be missed if you are visiting for a first time.

Fiocco di Neve.  Delicious, non-tourist gelato. 

4.  No matter how fast you eat your cono di gelato, the August, Lazio sun will always win.  Be sure to leave the gelateria with lots and lots of napkins for the impending mess.




The gelato of Fiocco di Neve definitely didn't disappoint. (I mean, it must not have if I took a picture in front of the place!)  However, we found the place I'd been searching for all day...just after consuming our cones.  Oh well.  You win some, you lose some.  Either way, we ate gelato (duh) and it was delicious.

You know, just some roadside ruins near the Colosseum.  What?  You mean they don't have that in New York?

Those are my brief words of wisdom from my quick trip to Rome.