If Paris was love at first pastry, Rome was... not so much. The first few people we spoke to in Rome were either rude to us or simply ignored us. We got on our shuttle bus to take us into the city and looking out the window.. this was not the Rome I had pictured. I know big cities are dirtier and there are homeless people and graffiti everywhere, but I don't know... I was so disappointed, it was not a good first impression. Termini (where the shuttle dropped us off) was insane and I was so overwhelmed and it took us a bit to find our hotel... All of that added up to a not so great first impression.
We had a food tour our first evening, which I highly recommend, and our tour guide was fabulous, the area was so awesome and all the food was delicious. By the time we woke up the next morning, the bad impression had disappeared from my mind completely. I didn't see the graffiti or the beggars or any of that anymore. It wasn't dirty, it wasn't crazy busy, everyone was friendly.. Overnight, I loved it. We did and saw so much in such a short time. We saw The Vatican (we didn't take a lot of photos because you're not really allowed and it was just crazy, and the photos I took didn't really capture the amazing-ness of it), the Colosseum and the rest of all the cool ancient things, we wandered around and would happen on these beautiful old buildings and gorgeous fountains.. the weather was amazing (except the skies opened and it absolutely poured for like 4 hours one day, zero exaggeration), the food was phenomenal. I can't say much else except we are definitely going back.
So, let's get to the pictures shall we? If you thought I overshared with Paris or Versailles.. well, apparently I got super camera happy in Rome. Just be prepared.
One thing I want to point out - the below picture is of a rock / stone that the roads are made out of, they have been around as long as the Colosseum. There are these rut / groove things that are from the chariots and carriages or whatever (my english, so good!). I don't know why but this absolutely blew my mind. I hope it blows yours.
aaaaand, that's Rome. I know. Alllll the pictures. I couldn't help myself. And you know what? It doesn't even come remotely close to doing it justice. Rome might not have made the best first impression but it absolutely (eventually) exceeded my expectations. That might have been the food.
So, you going to Rome? Or have you already been and loved it as much as I did?
Rome looks amazing despite your negative first impression! Gimme all the amazing food and gelato... yum! I've always wanted to go to Rome so I need to make a trip out there! It looks insanely busy though!
ReplyDelete<3, Pamela
Sequins & Sea Breezes
I think it's great to be camera happy. I'd always rather have more pictures than not enough. I'm glad you enjoyed it, even though it was gross at first. We went to NYC for the first time last weekend and I felt the same way. We got off the bus at like 11pm friday night and it was dirty, it was smelly and there was trash EVERYWHERE. But it grew on me. Anyways, I cannot wait to go to Italy. It's always been high on my bucket list!
ReplyDeleteSarah
Midwest Darling
*sigh*...... seeing these pictures (and i swear, we took the same pics!) makes me miss rome/italy! wasn't it so beautiful??? also, bus/train station - no! we were told by the locals to stay away from there so no wonder your first impression didn't do much for you! LOL
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine being in a city with all of that history! Again your pictures are blowing me away and make me want to hop on a plane right now. And of course the food and gelato look delicious!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh this is making my heart go pitter-patter! I could look at these all day. Your Paris photos were great but these are even better to me because I can actually picture being where you were (since I've been there). The history there blows my mind too. I'm glad things turned around after your first day! Also, I didn't know pasta tour was a thing but that sounds like the best idea ever. (Also, I love that sleeveless top and need to know more about it).
ReplyDeleteWhat GORGEOUS Pictures!! Oh you make me want to jump on the a plane and go to Rome again, asap!! I didn't take one bus or train in Rome, we walked everywhere. We just wandered around and go lost, it was so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI love Rome! I think is one of my favorite cities ever! It's so magical, and pretty, and it feels like you are walking through time! I agree, pictures don't do it enough justice!
ReplyDeleteTotally totally agree about the first impression! We came from Zagreb which was modern and crisp and cool and very European and yeah...dirty and graffiti and I was like uhhhhh not what I was expecting. But yeah, as you settle in and see more and more it's like wow! This place is amazing!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, all the pictures and all the gelato!!! Your pictures are amazing and I"m so jealous [in a good way] of you trip. I'm hoping to get there one day with my husband!
ReplyDeleteI love Rome! After I graduated from college, I went on a trip around Europe for a few weeks. One of the stops was Rome and I fell in love. I agree that Termini is INSANE and it was so crowded and really hot when we were there. I really liked it though, especially the Trevi Fountain (which I saw you couldn't see..bummer!!) All these pictures are bringing back tons of memories :)
ReplyDeleteA food tour of rome - brilliant!! This makes me want to go back and relive my college days when I studied there!!! Gorgeous pictures girl and I'm sorry i was off to a rocky start, but glad it picked up for you!! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteFirst, I love that every third pic is of you with an ice cream cone! Haha! The food looks incredible! I've always wanted to go to Rome. It's on the list for sure. Isn't it funny how cities can be so glamorous in photos and then you get there and you're like, "It smells, there's crap everywhere and actually, it's pretty ugly..." Chicago and NYC were like that for me. Chicago stayed that way, but NYC got better as I got into Manhattan. And some cities you're like "How is this so clean?! What is your secret?!" Prague was like that. I mean their Metro didn't have one speck of dirt, anywhere, and didn't smell like pee. The rest of the city was just as spotless!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous pictures! Yes to all the gelato! Don't you wish you could box some of that and bring it home!? Not sure it would make it though. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've heard the same things about Rome as far as first impressions go, so you're definitely not alone. I feel like I would bawl my eyes out visiting the Vatican solely for how overwhelming it might be, lol (good 'ol raised Catholic girl over here). It's a bummer that the Trevi fountain is under construction, but at least you still got to see most of it, and the Colosseum looks insane - I can't even fathom how long that has been in existence!
ReplyDeleteAll of the food and the architecture... these pictures are amazing!! Glad your cold only kept you down for one day!!
ReplyDeleteMy sister has been living in Europe for a year, Italy is here next stop. I feel like it's impossible to take a bad picture there!
ReplyDeleteI love all the ice cream pictures, I can see where your priorities lie. :)
My camera happy self appreciates your camera happy self. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteThe food and sights look wonderful.
How awesome are those ruts from the chariots back in the day?! Definitely amazing! And I felt the same way about Barcelona, I was very underwhelmed when we first got there, but fell in love more and more as the time went on. And look at all that amazing food... oooh and the ice cream! :-D
ReplyDeleteHow fun! Lovely photos! I would definitely eat all the foods when in Rome...that pasta dish, oh my! And your hair looks fabulous as usual!
ReplyDeleteSuch a trip of a lifetime!!! Loving all your pictures! ... I have to ask, did you use a camera or your phone? What kind of camera if that?
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you loved it despite a poor first impression. All of your pictures are amazing but I can't get over those pizzas!
ReplyDeleteI am seriously just over here dying a little bit inside. Italy is absolutely my #1 dream vacation and now excuse me, I'll just be booking my flight in the next 5 minutes now ;) I wonder if the bad first impression was maybe just more of the chaos, the traveling, being tired? I feel like I always hype things up in my mind but if I was a little stressed or worn out maybe I would feel that way too at first? I'm glad the next day those feelings were gone and everything looked AMAZING :)
ReplyDeleteoh gosh, I LOVED Rome. So, so much. Sorry you had a bad first impression! It's just so stunning. Loved each and every photo- thanks for sharing! (PS your hairstyle remains amazing intact for all that walking! go you!)
ReplyDeleteIt looks gorgeous there. i love all the ceilings they are just so detailed. Give me all the ice cream!! Haha!
ReplyDeleteI love that you went picture crazy because I loved looking at them all! I also love how often you had ice cream - it looks so delicious! All the sights look gorgeous and it looks like you had the best time.
ReplyDeleteThese picture are all gorgeous! The ceilings always blow my mind. So much detail, so intricate. I'm pretty jealous of all the gelato you had in several of these!
ReplyDeleteYES YES YES. God, I love Rome. I love it with all my heart!! I am just like you with old stones. My head can't handle history sometimes. Did you also see the sewer covers that had S.P.Q.R. printed on them? I got a major kick out of that.
ReplyDeleteSO glad you guys got to do this trip. Rome was so incredible and the Coliseum is truly the coolest thing I've ever experienced. The food was pretty damn good too ;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures once again. That chain of yours is gorgeous. I am itching to travel somewhere anywhere after all these posts by you.
ReplyDeleteyesss i love all the photos! i want pizza and pasta now :) i loved rome and we will for sureee go back again someday! xo jillian - cornflake dreams
ReplyDeleteOh Bella Roma! How I miss her! I hate that you had a rude welcome to Rome, but I'm so glad you fell in love with the city before you left. We had kind of that sort of welcome to Florence so it definitely tainted the first day we were there. So I understand that. Oh but Rome... my favorite. So good to see photos of one of my favorite cities in the world! :)
ReplyDeleteAll of your photos are lovely, they made me miss Italy! I had the same first impression when I first got to Rome but then I ended up really enjoying it. It's the best place for delicious food, especially the gelato :)
ReplyDeleteI had a bad first impression when I went to rome too. I didn't find the Italians to be very welcoming but all the other tourists we met along the way were. And HOW on earth do you make your hair look so gorgeous while traveling? I always look a frizzy mess!
ReplyDeleteI had the same love/hate relationship with Rome. But mostly LOVE! Your post is making me pine for it!!! Jealous of your food tour! Wish we would have thought of that! Was it super hot? We were there in December and loved the weather. But we're from Minnesota, so basically any other weather is great :)
ReplyDeleteFirst, I love all the pictures with ice cream (gelato?). Second, Rome has always been on my secondary list of places to go but seeing all that history must have been amazing. That's my driving force for wanting to go. I love all that stuff.
ReplyDeleteLooks like such an awesome trip! I'm glad things got better after your first impression. All that history is so fascinating!
ReplyDeleteAhhhhhh Rome looks absolutely amazing!!! It stinks that you had a bad first impression, but at least the city tried to make it up to you :) I absolutely 100% believe the food had to be amazing. And all the frozen treats too...gimme gimme!!! I would love to be able to go there one day.
ReplyDeleteI want to go to Rome (well, Italy in general) and just eat ALL THE PASTA! lol
ReplyDeleteI hate that your first impression was not great, but glad that it got much better. Love all of your pics!
Ahh! At first I thought you didn't like Rome, but I'm glad it turned around for you!! Italy has been my most favorite country to visit so far and I definitely want to go back too. I mean gelato and pasta/bread/wine everyday - what more could you want? ha. We did Venice, Florence and Rome and a Tuscany day trip and I think that helped break up all the big city-ness of Rome. You definitely need to add Venice and Tuscany to your next trip there. :)
ReplyDeleteI studied abroad in Italy and Rome had to grow on me too. I was living in Montepulciano so I got spoiled by quiet Tuscany. It took a few trips for me to warm up to Rome. I think it was definitely the food for me too that finally changed my mind! Gosh your trip looked amazing. I'm loving living vicariously through all your photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful photos! Yum, gelato! And it totally blows my mind too that grooves from chariots waaay back when can still be seen today. I wonder how since I'd think the rock would be scuffed-down by all the people walking on it....anywho, and you looked so cute while on vacation with your hair did and makeup on. I look like total crap when I'm vacationing :).
ReplyDeleteI love all of these photos. You look lovely and happy, the food looks delicious, and the sights are so fun to live vicariously through. As always, thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteOhhhhh myyyyy. Just look at allll that lovely food and pretty buildings! I'm glad you were able to get over your first impressions, I'm not so good at that. I need to work on not holding grudges I think! I also love the gelati shots scattered throughout - excellent work! Defo not photo overload, the more the merrier. And YES that cartwheel track is AWESOME. That's just the kind of stuff I love discovering! History, man.
ReplyDeleteLove your photos! So jealous of all of those gelato photos! I loved Rome! We were with a bunch of Catholic friends, so we went to a prayer service with the Pope at the Vatican! It was a neat cultural experience for us. Also, your European fashion is on point! Love your printed shorts!
ReplyDeleteoh my goshhhhh Rome looks AMAZING! we are twins because if I went to Rome, I would have 100 ice cream pictures haha seriously I bet it was so good! and stone roads?!?! my mind is blown, that is SO COOL!
ReplyDeletexo, Candace | Lovely Little Rants
I love how you have ice cream in every few pictures! Haha! So jealous! Looks like such an amazing time!!
ReplyDelete<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
Alright. I'm not going to talk about Rome. I'm going to talk about your pictures. That one of you & KC with the fountain spray in the background - so cool! Your nails - lovvvve the colour. Your eye make-up when you're eating the pasta - on point girlie! Your hair from the back when you're at the Colesseum (I don't think I spelled that correctly) - so pretty and perfectly not-too-styled, but styled enough to be so pretty. I adore KC striking a pose on the Spanish Steps. That pizza - I want it. And, I know it's tough to choose, but what was your favorite gelato flavour?
ReplyDeleteI never knew until this moment how much I wanted to visit Rome! It looks amazing! And you, my friend, are absolutely gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that Rome grew on you! Many people feel the same way you initially did. Because of all the negative I heard, we only spent two days in Rome. I wished I had a week. It was my favorite stop in Italy (only have Florence & Venice to compare it to though).
ReplyDeleteOh, this post. It kind of made me sad! I passed up a two-week trip to Italy when I was in high school (with my dad and stepmom—I'm sure my "no, thanks" makes more sense now) and I don't regret it, because that trip would have been absolutely awful, but I wish another opportunity had presented itself since. I will go someday, there's no arguing that. I just want that someday to be like... right now :) but thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures. They'll have to hold me over in the meantime!
ReplyDeleteIt looks absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing all those lovely pictures with us!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving all of your pictures. It's really making me feel like I need to up my travel picture game. I've been to Rome once and loved it! I wasn't there nearly long enough and will definitely be back sometime. I didn't have the best first impression either because we got lost for what seemed like forever and then I had one of the worst allergic reactions ever and I still had an amazing time. Must be a Rome thing! It has a way of winning you over no matter what. And PIZZA!
ReplyDeleteColds on vacation are the worst! I'm sorry Rome was a little disappointing, but the food tour sounds amazing! How amazing would a vacation full of food tours be?! (I'm going to be so fat when my metabolism slows down.)
ReplyDeleteI love the massive amounts of pictures! Italy has been on my list of places to go since I was a very young. I kind of wish we'd gone to Italy when we were in Europe last year, but I really want to experience so much of the country that I was worried I'd be disappointed if we only hit one city. I'd love to do a Venice/Florence/Rome trip, but I'd also like to visit Tuscany and Milan. Oh, and that food tour? Definitely something I'd want to do! I'm glad you wound up loving Rome despite the bad first impression!
ReplyDeleteI've spent one day in Rome and want to go back soooo badly. We did the Vatican and we got to walk around the Colosseum. It's my dream to go back and go inside the Colosseum.
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed in Naples, they were having a power outage the day we were there so we had a hard time finding a restaurant and the city just seemed dirty and the people rude. We went out to Pompeii though, that was amazing.
love the gelato pics!! and of course your Rome pics! i've only been when it was so, so cold, so i loved seeing it in warmer months! i'm glad rome made a better impression the next day! :)
ReplyDeleteYou took some amazing pics! The Colosseum ones especially, they blow me away, so cool! I've been thinking about Europe a lot lately and how much I'm dying to go, haha. My friend lives in Milan right now so it's the perfect excuse to visit...
ReplyDeleteOh my gawd...why did I read this post before lunch? I want that pizza! So much ice cream (or gelato...whatever it's called). I really, really want to go now! Such beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteWell Rome has been on my list of places to see forever - You looked stunning and so does Rome!
ReplyDeleteI cant major travel this year and had so many plans - including Europe - bummer!