“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” ~ Proverb

We arrived in Rome around mid day on Saturday having parted with six member of our group. Our rooms were not ready so we went out in search of food and wine.  Our blood sugar and blood alcohol levels were dropping from having not eaten or consumed alcohol in a few hours.  We quickly remedied that with a delightful meal at Berzitello with pasta, pizza and wine!

Having refueled we met with our tour guide Arianna and headed out on a walking tour to conquer Rome, but not literally of course! Our tour hit the highlights of Rome including, Navona Square, the Pantheon, Minerva Square, Pietra Square, Colonna Square and the Trevi Fountain.

The streets are narrow and hilly and full of small stone blocks which makes walking a bit of a challenge.  Everyone held up well, and to realize you are in the middle of a city in today’s world, seeing things that were built before the birth of Christ, is astonishing.

Trevi Fountain is the most beautiful fountain in Rome. Measuring some 20 meters in width by 26 meters in height, Trevi Fountain is also the largest fountain in the city.  The name of Trevi derives from Tre Vie (three ways), since the fountain was the meeting point of three streets. There is a myth of the fountain which originated with the movie “Three Coins in the Fountain.” In order to achieve the desired effect, you should throw the coin with your right hand over your left shoulder.

1. If you throw one coin: you will return to Rome
2. If you throw two coins: you will fall in love with an attractive Italian.
3. If you throw three coins: you will marry the person that you met.

It was a fascinating three hour tour which we enjoyed tremendously.

The Pantheon was incredible in beauty and history.

Piazza della Minerva is a piazza near the Pantheon. Its name derives from the existence of a temple built on the site by Pompey dedicated to Minerva Calcidica.

After a few more sights and over 10,000 steps according to fit bit we ended our tour in Navona Square which is a piazza built in the first century AD.

After that we needed a glass of wine (or two) and because Skip is known to everyone as “Mister Spontaneity” we found a place for wine, decided to dine there, and enjoyed a delicious tartufo desert as well at Tre Scalini!

“A man’s got to believe in something. I believe I’ll have another drink.”  ~W.C. Fields