Vatican City

Vatican City

TIP #1:
Please make sure to keep your shoulders and knees covered before entering the Vatican! No shorts and carry a shawl! 

Our last day was spent at the Vatican City! The Vatican City is a city-state surrounded by Rome and is home to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Like the Colosseum, it is definitely important to purchase your ticket in advance to avoid waiting in line. When Sam and I got to the Vatican, the queue to purchase tickets was so long that it ended up wrapping. The wait time was an average of four hours! Continue reading “Vatican City”

Iconic Monuments in Rome

Iconic Monuments in Rome

TIP #1:
For major attractions like the Colosseum, buy your tickets online in advance to avoid waiting in line for 3+ hours

COLOSSEO

Our first stop for the day was the infamous Colosseum (70-80CE). The largest and most iconic amphitheater ever built, it was used for gladiator fights and public spectacles. It was really awe-inspiring to finally see the Colosseum in real life. One of the more interesting aspects I found myself thinking about is how crazy it is to see this incredible structure that is thousands of years old situated next to a cafe that is hundreds of years old which was right by buildings that were far more modern and contemporary. The juxtaposition of the layers of history and architecture is something to admire. Continue reading “Iconic Monuments in Rome”

Exploring Rome

Exploring Rome

I arrived to Rome first (Sam was estimated to arrive closer to 18:00). There were several ways to get to the main train station in Rome (Roma Termini) and I decided to just take the airport bus since it was cheap and our Airbnb was located just a few blocks from the station. The airport bus takes you directly to Roma Termini in approximately 40 minutes and it only costs €4. The other alternative is to take a (white) cab and while it is quicker, it will cost €30 one-way. A side note: One thing I learned was that “arcade” means “arches”. I was a little confused with the directions due to that minor misunderstanding and ended up wandering around a bit.

Continue reading “Exploring Rome”

A Taste of Italy

A Taste of Italy

My Italy trip was split into two parts. I initially planned to spend a week in Italy with my friend Sam (we planned this trip together after meeting only once!) as she only had one week of fall break. However, after reading up on the various regions in Italy, I ended up just extending the trip to two weeks to get a strong taste of Italian culture and taste of the cuisine.
Continue reading “A Taste of Italy”