Italy was the second stop in our adventure and it was grand. Pizza was our first meal in Rome, as in Paris, and it was just as delicious as we anticipated. We got into Rome early enough that we couldn’t check into our airbnb right away, so we lugged our backpacks with us down the Roman streets to the Trevi Fountain where we indulged in gelato-- when in Rome! We eventually made our way to our bnb later that day and crashed hard. Our next two days in Rome were spent sipping cappuccinos and enjoying heavenly pastries at a nearby cafe, wandering the streets in the center of the city with no particular destination, and eating some of the best pasta. My favorite part about our time in Rome was the way we aimlessly explored, no rush, no plans, no intentions at all, simply taking it all in. We would turn a corner and happen upon things like the Colosseum or a Roman Forum or the Pantheon, but we were just as content taking every backstreet possible rather than the main streets, or lying in parks, or sitting under a bridge with our feet dipped in the water, or appreciating the deep, earthy colors of the Roman architecture. While Paris was the stuff of soft, pastel daydreams, Rome was the essence of summer and warmth and vibrance. Our last day in Italy, we hopped on a train up to Florence. I wish so badly we had stayed there for longer than just a day, but I’m glad we got to experience it at all. A wonderful mixture of a little bit of bustling and a little bit of small town vibe, it was a gem. Upon arriving, we had a wonderful meal of spaghetti and wine followed by tiramisu and I swear, I’m ruined-- no spaghetti or wine or tiramisu will ever live up to that meal in Florence. Following the example of how we had spent our days in Rome, we explored the backstreets with nowhere specific in mind, just admiring the beauty and charm of the city. We walked along the river, checked off seeing the David from our bucket list, and stood in awe of the Duomo. Italy brought such sunshine to Katie’s soul and she was sad to wave goodbye when we left the following day. I had loved it too, but was very anxious to return to my very favorite country: Scotland.
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