I had just graduated college in May. My three best friends had been planning our post-grad Europe trip all semester, and the day has finally come. May 11th came before we knew it - just days after walking across the stage - and we were packing our (very small) bags to embark on the trip of a lifetime. We limited ourselves to carry-on bags which was a challenge within itself, but we made it work and we were on our way.
Lauren, Jessie, Keri, and I planned four weeks abroad and coordinated every detail down to a tee. We found great hostels, booked tours for the big sites, and did research on the hottest spots to eat around each city to make sure no meal went to waste. We planned a week in Italy, a few days in Amsterdam and Paris, another week in Spain, and ended the girls' trip in London. Let's get into our first stop: Rome.
We traveled from Indianapolis to Rome via Chicago and we were eager to get into the city to eat. Knowing the next week would be all things pasta and pizza, pacing ourselves was key. Nevertheless, we dug right in.
Day 1: May 12
Quickly after checking into the Ostello Bello hostel near the Colosseum, we made our way over to what we realized later was a touristy strip of restaurants, with large menus in English and an inauthentic experience but still fantastic food. My first bite in Italy was a gooey pizza and Lauren had gnocchi (pictured below). We took a tour around the Colosseum and surrounding ruins, and then explored the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain (and had our Lizzie McGuire moment). By the time we hit mid-afternoon, we were fading from the heavy afternoon heat and sunshine and from our long night of traveling, so we stopped for coffee and a rest at a local café.
By the end of the afternoon, we made it back to our hostel, washed up for the evening, and made our way to the Trastevere neighborhood which is known for a great nightlife scene within small alleys in otherwise calm, sleepy streets. We stumbled upon Hostaria del Moro, a quaint family-owned restaurant with an impressive wine selection and the greatest Italian staples for our first evening in the ancient city. I started with the Caprese salad which was unbelievable, naturally. For my entrée, I enjoyed baked gnocchi in a fresh tomato sauce with tomato chunks and the freshest flavors to date. The four of us split two bottles of the house white and chatted late into the evening. This was a fantastic first day of our trip. By the time we were in for the night, we quickly fell asleep to prepare for another great day in Rome.
Day 2: May 13
Our full day in Rome was jam-packed, so we wasted no time getting out for the day. While breakfast was a quick bite at a cafe, we started with a stop at the Pantheon before stumbling upon Piazza Navona and a quick lunch at Pasta in Corso before going to Vatican City. For lunch, I enjoyed my first cacio e pepe, and while it was delicious, it wasn't anything special to capture in a picture. The remainder of the afternoon was all about exploring the incredible St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. We did, however, underestimate the energy needed to absorb the entirety of the Vatican City, so we worked up an appetite for gelato, where I opted for a chocolate coffee flavor. It was a great afternoon.
Our evening was spent back in the Trastevere neighborhood with happy hour at Vecchia. This was my first run-in with an Aperol spritz during this trip, and it paired well with the spread of meat and cheeses that came out. For dinner, we made sure to get into Mìmì E Cocò as raving reviews said to get the risotto - and that's what I did. The mushroom risotto with copious amounts of butter and cheese made this risotto unforgettable, and months later I still think about it. Paired with a glass of the house white, this second and last dinner in Rome was fantastic.
Rome was exhausting but an absolute blast. Stay tuned for the inside scoop on our next stop: Florence.
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