Epic Italian Grand Tour (Road Trip) Part 3 – Rome

Welcome back! It’s time for the third installment of this amazing series. Are you ready? Let’s head to Rome!

After packing up from the overnight at Il San Cristoforo (one night is NOT enough, next year there’s already additional time being spent in the Naples area), it was onward and upward. The journey to Rome was uneventful, but the views were absolutely stunning. Sadly since I was driving and the rozzers were plentiful along the journey, I didn’t take any photos on the road. Safety first and all that.

But let me tell ya, going into Rome…it became safety third. I can’t condone my own behavior, or suggest you imitate it, but…..come on. Human history everywhere. I couldn’t help myself. (If the Carabinieri are reading, my sincere apologies?)

Booked in to the B&B “2 Passi Al Colosseo” (2 steps from the Colosseo, located on Via Cavour) which I can’t recommend highly enough. Alessandro is an amazing host, who goes well out of his way to ensure his guests have a top-notch experience. However, I promised a specific window of time for check-in, and in typical dude fashion, the “estimated time of arrival” from Google navigation upon which that was based was translated, in my head at least, as “time to beat”. And beat that time, I absolutely did. Making arrival significantly earlier than expected. But that’s okay, because it’s Rome…so sidewalk cafes are beyond plentiful. One was right next to the B&B entrance so…..might as well enjoy the glorious weather and do some people-watching with a spritz!

After a nice little relaxing pranzo and checking-in to the B&B, it was naptime. Sorry but I’m old. I need naps. But the view from the room, once again, was quite on point.

Once naptime was over, though….it was time to get fancy because that evening was one of the big cherries on the sundae of the road trip. It was time for dinner at Michelin-rated Aroma, located on the other side of the Colosseo from the B&B, about a 10-minute walk (but took about 20 due to….well….just freakin look!)

The view from dinner (which was absolutely delicious!) was pretty spectacular as well:

For those curious about the dinner itself….here’s some food porn…..

The next day was pretty packed. Tour of the Colosseo (including underground!!), Forum, and Vatican museums/Sistine Chapel. The photos will do most of the talking, but first I have to throw a HUGE shout out to our guide for the Colosseo/Forum tour, Massimo. He bills himself as a storytelling guide, has done plenty of acting in his day, and his passion for sharing the history of his city absolutely shows through in his delivery. The Vatican museum unfortunately was a timed entry, cutting out the Palatine Hill portion of his tour. Guess that means another go with him next year! Can’t even begin to get upset about that, it’s a fantastic way to spend the day.

Anyway. Here comes the photo dump…..

The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel were pretty impressive as well. I saw Raphael’s “The Transfiguration”. Unfinished DaVinci. Incredible tapestries–and I’m a Scottish Lord (yes, really) so….kinda fulfilled another Indiana Jones moment there. And I even snuck a few photos of the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

After that, given that it was a very expensive cab ride from the Forum to the Vatican, it was a unanimous (heh) decision to walk back to the hotel, maybe find a spot along the way to ceniamo. A fantastic walk, with of course a bunch of photos along the way….

I have to say, even five years ago I probably wouldn’t have wanted to wander around a foreign city on foot. I’d have been just spending the money for cabs, lyfts, whatever. Man am I glad I got out of that comfort zone. That’s how a vacation becomes an adventure.

Got up the next morning, and went for a quick run. Probably the most epic run I’ve gone on….and that includes all those Tough Mudders. Sorry for my normal face. Running in the horse mask is something I’ve done once….and promptly decided was a poor choice never to be repeated.

And with that, it was time to check out, go get the car from the parcheggi, and head on up the road to Firenze….