I haven't actually written here in ages, although I schedule posts so far in advance that it's only just over a week since one was posted. I've got absolutely loads to catch up on here and on my book blog, and I'm determined to get some stuff done before June disappears in a flash like April and May did! So here goes...
On the 27th of April I went to Rome with my mother! This was a place I haven't wanted to visit for ages but Lee wasn't bothered about going so my mum and I decided to go instead. She uses a really good travel agent in Heckmondwike and they found us a hotel near the Trevi Fountain and booked it all for us. It wasn't a bad price either, especially for such a central hotel.
We had to get up at around 2.30am to go to the airport, so she had stayed over at my house the night before. When I got up two of my cats were blinking at me in the bedroom like why are we awake when it's still so dark outside?? I got the last of my things together and we went to Manchester Airport. We got to Meet and Greet okay, we got in okay, and we got through security eventually, although my walking stick swabbed for ~something so it took me a while to get through. We went up into the Italian type place for something to eat. It was about 5am by this point so we had breakfast and a mimosa each because we were on holiday! Even though it was 5 in the morning.
The flight took off about 7.30. Oh and I saw my friend Steph in the airport! Very briefly but it was nice to see her. We arrived about 12.00 and didn't have to queue as I can use the disabled lanes. We got our cases and then weren't sure how to get into Rome as the airport is quite a way outside. We had considered getting the train but there was a shuttle taxi thing which was only 25 euros each - the train plus a taxi from the station to our hotel would have cost about that, so it was a good deal! We were dropped off quite a bit away from the hotel which wasn't easy to navigate with big cases, especially as the streets near the Trevi Fountain were incredibly busy. But we eventually got to our hotel around 1.30 and were able to check in.
Our room was on the first floor and with the window shut it was incredibly quiet despite the hubbub outside. Plus, with the shutters shut it was really dark, too, which was good for sleeping! It was a basic hotel but good enough, for sure!
We headed out into the streets and kind of looked at the fountain, but to get close to it now you have to pay, so we decided to do that later. We talked to some Americans and then we walked almost back to where we had been dropped off where we chose a restaurant to eat in. We ordered a vegetarian pizza to share and two glasses of prosecco, which were delicious and cold!
Then we walked to the Pantheon. I had been sent an Instagram reel that said to take your blue badge to Rome because it gets you in for free a lot of places and it lets you bypass the queues, so I had it in my bag. As we walked up to the Pantheon we could see two massive queues so we were a bit confused as to where to go, but then we asked a man and he let us straight through the barrier, for free. So I was already glad I had taken my badge!
It is stunning inside the Pantheon, I'm really glad we went to look at it. The roof which is unsupported conrete is just amazing, and all around there are different shrines so we wandered around looking at those and taking photos. It was busy!
After that we walked to Piazza Navona, which my mother wanted to see because it is in the Tom Hanks film Angels and Demons. It is really pretty. We went into a cafe there and had coffee ice cream which is our favourite. The cafe was apparently once frequented by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Fancy. We then walked back to the hotel where we had a rest and I had a shower because I was sweaty and filthy.
We headed out about 6.30 and paid to go into the Trevi Fountain. It was still incredibly busy but just a little bit less. It was fun to go down to near the water and get some photos, but there are many guards who are very officious with their whistles, which maybe ruined the vibe a little bit! People kept offering to take our photo and vice versa, which happened the whole time we were in Rome and which was really nice.
We walked a street away from the fountain and went in a restaurant, where I had a negroni sbagliato (one of my faves!) and my mum probably had some prosecco. Then it turned out we had ordered drinks off a tapas type menu, so they brought plates of salami and cheese. I don't eat meat and my mother doesn't like cheese, so we swapped and that was fine, but then the waitress was concerned for me because I just had cheese, so she brought me a plate of grilled vegetables, a bruschetta, and some bread with olive tapenade. It was delicious! We had had lunch late so we didn't need much so it turned out for the best for us. We each had a macaron for pudding.
Then we went to a bar which was on the rooftop and which had a view of the Trevi Fountain. You had to sit further back to start off with and then as people left you moved up to the front tables. It was a warm night and such a lovely view. We had a delicious if expensive glass of pink prosecco each and ate the crisps and nuts which came with it. We weren't late to bed as we were knackered after our very early start and after walking thousands upon thousands of steps.
I was wearing a new dress to go out in the evening. It's a Joe Brown's one and I got it from Simply Be, in the sale. I love the red colour and the crinkly material, and it's lined which made it ideal for going out in the evening.
Here's ten thousand photos:
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