ROME — alohadeys

My first stop was this modern-day marvel of city called ROME. Its easy to think: the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the Roman Forum- and yes that is exactly what I did. The excitement of just getting off the plane and driving into the city was truly amazing. First got settled into the Airbnb then rushed out the door & headed straight out to ROME the city. The extreme hot and dry heat took a toll on me but I couldn't help but make every effort to go find the Colosseum :) Walking up to this massive historical structure was really the most impressive pieces of architecture I had ever seen in my life. Built between 72 A.D and 80 A.D, I was so astonished by the look of it and having to think about the history right in my face- I couldn't believe it!

Below the Colosseum were numerous rooms and underground passages. Here is where the animals and gladiators were kept, waiting to meet their fate in the arena above. There were also 36 trap doors in the arena for special effects!

The view from Palatine Hill is an absolute must see. Rome was known to be "founded" on the hill. It was the legendary first home of Romulus and Remus- and was later chosen by emperors and aristocrats for their luxurious villas offering spectacular views of Rome. We booked a tour package for the Colosseum, Palatine hill and the Roman Forum. That is probably the best way to go because all three historical sites are right next to the Colosseum. HELPFUL TIPS: It also is great to buy "front of the line" tickets because it WILL be crowded at the Colosseum (no time to waste!) Also, the heat put me down a bit especially during the hot summer so make sure you bring lots of water and SUNSCREEN!

I love to eat as far away from the tourist attractions as possible. The best feeling after exploring all day is eating the best foods with the best service and just having the perfect feeling to just relax and sink slowly into a food coma. The more local the better! For absolute delishiness, a must go to is TRASTERVERE. It is a neighborhood town only a short cab ride from Rome and is the only place I loved eating for dinner. You will have an overload of amazing restaurants in that area but it is purely the best scenery of the classic italian dining but with good food, good vibes and the atmosphere is just perfect. The best place to eat in that town is called Grazia y Graziella. You won't be disappointed :)

We headed to the trevi fountain later that day for sunset, it was truly magical and so picturesque! You can tell everything was kept well maintained.. it looked practically new! But holy crowds! It took us a minute to wiggle through to get a spot right by the fountain but it was worth the wait. This fountain features Neptune, god of the sea on a shell-shaped chariot pulled by two horses, each being guided by a triton. One horse is calm while the other seems reckless, representing the different moods of the sea. Throwing coins in the fountain is a must for everyone to do! The amount of coins that you throw comes from legends that explain the meaning behind it. One legend claims that you should throw three coins into the fountain. The first coin guarantees your return to Rome, the second will ensure a new romance, and the third will ensure marriage.