Rome!

Everything about this place is amazing. You have major sites like the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. You might Uber around town and see the Colosseum as you drive by. They sit amongst all the other old buildings, and the cobblestone streets big and small are beautiful. The city is literally built on history and has so much character. Castles, a river, ancient history-it’s all here, and most of it pretty walkable.

We’ve spent time here in the past but today we are taking a shore excursion bus tour from the ship into the city.

We got dropped off near the Pope’s residence at our rendezvous point-an Italian ABC store.

The first thing we did was walk to Piazza Navona for tartufo. Dark chocolate encrusted chocolate gelato topped with whipped cream and chocolate bits and maybe a cherry mixed in. Tre Scalini is one of many eateries lining the well-visited picturesque and historic gathering place.

Delicious!

…one of the three fountains here

We didn’t hang around too long as the sun was up and there weren’t many shaded places to sit and hide from the heat.

We need hats! We did visit the place where I got my current favorite hat 3 years ago. My old hat came home and we left with 3 new hats! Wardrobe change!

Next we walked to the Trevi fountain where we threw coins into the fountain (right hand over left shoulder) and kept close watch on our bags. It was crowded!

Then we walked through Piazza Popolo on our way to the amazing but out of the way pizza at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele. It’s located at a cafe next to a children’s center. On the way over we passed through some kind of political protest/gathering.

We got margherita and marinara pizzas. They come out of the oven quick and delicious. So simple yet amazing, with just the right amount of burned crust.

On the way back we walked along the water and surprised a homeless guy laid out on the stairs up.

Here are book sellers nearby the castella. I was hoping for foosball tables like they had last time during fashion week or whatever, but it was to no avail.

One thing I noticed about these Roman streets is that they really knows how to line them up with amazing end destinations.

Ciao, Rome. You wonderful thing!

Onward.

Naples