Rome (definitely) wasn't built in a day

I came back from Rome with sore muscles and with a horrible cold, but it was all worth it!  Now I just want to go back for there is so much more to see and explore! 

Rome is a mixture of culture, beauty, jealousy, glory, history and indulgence.  Our hotel had an amazing location and we could walk everywhere.  We arrived late afternoon on a Thursday and had the whole evening to explore the streets of the age old city.  The sounds of Rome, coming from the streets and it's people, has an extraordinary ring to it that I immediately recognized after watching the Italy part in Eat Pray Love again when we arrived back in Sweden. 

And off course I had to do my research "Rome in 2 days" and book a Vatican tour beforehand!  And that really helped our time limit!  Our first night we explored Trastevere, where the cute and cozy little characteristic trattories (an informal restaurant or tavern serving simple Italian dishes) can be found between the cobbled streets and authentic, medieval neighbourhood.  Trastevere is separated from  the rest of Rome by the River Tiber and this was our furthest walk from our hotel, but a beautiful one!  And yes, we got lost on our first evening.  One-and-a-half-hour-lost, getting me in bed far later than I had planned.  And after a couple of glasses of red wine this wasn't the most fun I ever had, but definitely and adventure on its own.  We accidentally walked around the Roman Forum (which was Ancient Rome) instead of through, but then (luckily) ended up at the beautifully lit up Colosseum. And what a sight! I felt a couple of a chills down my spine and tears down my cheaks!

Our first day basically consisted out of the Vatican museums, the Cappella Sistina (Sistine Chapel), St. Peter's Basilica and Piazza Navona.  The Vatican tour provides you with amazingly interesting facts.  I've never been a fan of the Vatican or it's politics, just because they pillaged the whole of Rome and all it's treasures are locked up in their museums and vaults.  Who knew they stripped the Colosseum of it's marble to build St. Peter's square?!!  But I have to admit, the tour was interesting and watching Angels and Demons in the aftermath was a kick!

Piazza Navona - having a glass of wine while the sun touched the last colorful buildings in the square, watching artists and their paintings, with the three baroque fountains spurting water softly through its ocher-colored water, artists trying to make a coin with interesting gestures - giant flying bubbles, the invisible man with glasses, a stage with actors dressed up in medieval costumes, a horse carriage and the beautiful Italian language in the air.

Day two and three consisted out of  The Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Imperial Forums, the Arch of Constantine, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and a lot of Pasta and Pizza!

There's so much to do and see in Rome and around every hook and cranny is a sight worth seeing or a cobble street worth exploring.  On our way to the bus station on our last day we walked straight into a parade:  a children's street carnival.  Children dressed up as cartoon characters could be found all around Rome (and I started to notice it on Piazza Navona the day before).  And this sums up Rome for me:  a surprise around every corner!

Piazza Navona