Viva Roma!

June 29

After four flight delays, one gate change, and a plane swap, we arrived tired and travel - dirty to Rome, Italy.

We made our way to 61 Via Piave, our Airbnb, where our friends had arrived a day earlier. We showered and headed out for a late pranzo with Haily, Jemal, Carla and Sky. The city center of Rome is crowded with people, scooters, and motor bikes. We made our way down one of these narrow cobblestone streets and found a charming cafe where we enjoyed a meal of authentic Italian pasta.

I had the mushroom fettuccine. After our lunch we took time to have an epic photo shoot in the street. After returning, several of us decided to go on a walk round town. One narrow side street meanders into another everywhere you turn here.

An American girl in Rome

Avoiding the souvenir shops and open store fronts, we set out on our goal of finding a particular chocolate shop. Our route took us past the spectacular sculptures of Via Delle Quattro Fontane.

One of the four corners of the
Via Delle Quatro Fontane

We made our way through a piazza and down a slippery, but beautiful set of steps before finding ourselves in yet another warren of tiny cobblestone streets with vendors peddling their wares, cafes, pastry shops, gelato shops, and boutique hotels. The chocolate shop was closed, but the gelato shop and pastry shop across from it provided yummy treats and a break before we made our way to the Pantheon, and then on to Trevi Fountain. Trevi is one of those touristy must see places when in Rome, and it is worth it.

Trevi Fountain

It is breathtakingly beautiful. It is crowded at all times of day, and unfortunately the area is left dirty by the many visitors who neglect to dispose of their trash. Of course we threw coins into the fountain and made a wish. We left Trevi Fountain with the intent of going back to our apartment, but the majesty and wonder of the Venchi  Chocolate shop and it’s chocolate wall drew our attention and we went in. I was so excited to find that they had vegan chocolates.

Stopping only once more to purchase a poster of  Vetruvian Man, we then made our way to the Airbnb and called it a day.