Italy (Rome)
Slept pretty well on the overnight train but had to rise early as we reached Rome at 6-ish am!
Most of the shops have yet to open for business and we had to wait for our airbnb host to be ready so we hung around at the Rome Termini train station.
Bought our roma pass from one of the convenient shops at the terminal.
Have previously read that you need to get it at ticketing. Not necessary, just find those "mama" shops you can get it! ;) same price!
Very useful pass here which allows you to get unlimited public transport access till midnight of the 3rd day so you don't have to worry about paying fares. Plus, you get 2 complimentary attractions passes in which we used it for the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. The 2 attractions would have already cost you about €15.50 each.
There is another Roma Pass which is valid for 48 hours costing €28 and I had initially planned to get. Upon calculation, thought I might as well top up €8 for another attraction (which I was already planning on visiting 2 archaeological sites anyway)!
Damage: €36
Stopped by McDonald's once they opened and got our breakfast! 
Got a egg and cheese bagel which was very small! Nevertheless, the bagel was warm and soft! Just before we left, bought 2 croissants for just €1 each! Nicely fluffed and cheap! Heh!
Damage: €7.80
Rome Metro
With that, we hurried on the train to put our luggage at the airbnb stay!
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| Credits to www.rome.info/metro |
Rome Metro is pretty easy to navigate and straight forward.
Well, we didn't go to many stops, just a couple of the mains + station where our accommodation was.
Check out the link above for train map.
After we put our luggage, quickly set off to see the Colosseum!
Address:The Colosseum, Piazza del
Colosseo, 00184 Rome, Italy
Just right outside the train station - Colossuem
You can't miss it!
You can't miss it!
Tip: We didn't engage any tour guides for this itinerary so I installed Rick Steve's guide in my phone and listened to it while we walked around.
Though it can't beat having a real guide around to show you around and answer all your queries, it's still an economical way to enjoy the place while learning more!
Also, spend some time to read the exhibits they have around!
First sight of the Colosseum or 'Colosseo’ in Italian was it's renovation fenced up external wall for partial of the structure. -_-
Nevertheless, still magnificent and surreal as if we arrived into the movie set!
We heard and watched so much about this place and definitely was glad to be able to see it real!
Just thinking of the amount of effort to build this place of entertainment, their avenue of leisure in the past and the number of unimaginable anxieties of the gladiators or sacrifices many years ago shudders me.
The boys fighting it out as if the gladiators.
Bad boys, bad boys!
Bad boys, bad boys!
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Place built with stone and marble.
Withstanding natural calamities like earthquakes and the fall of Roman Empire!
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View from above though still not the place where the rich sits in the past.
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So much history and stories in this place which used to be able to house 50,000 audience.
Love this shot and the black and white filter!
Almost seem like the place is empty.
Note: Beware, ok, maybe not beware but be aware that there are locals (or not?) dressed up as gladiators outside the attractions who will pose for you or with you in expectation of some monetary transactions. Of course, if you are feeling generous, do take some photos with them, am sure it will bring some fun and good memories!
Address: Largo Romolo e Remo 94,
I-00186 Rome, Italy
Just a 5 mins walk away from Colosseum
Headed over to the nearby Roman Forum to see the ruins of Ancient Rome where it used to stand the city's political, religious and commercial center.
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The monuments
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My panorama shot of the place though not accurate as the Rome pillars are not curved.
Flaws of camera shots, that's why you would need to see for yourself!
A huge monument as a tribute to King Victor Emmanuel II.
Read up more in the link above.
There is a flight of stairs leading up where you will find a lot of people posing for their photos there.
There are security there and while you can pose on the steps, do note that you can't sit on the steps and make hand gestures - opening your arms widely.
The security officers will come up to you and we saw a couple of tourists being called out and warned.
Address: Via Flavia 98, 00187 Rome
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm
Stopped by for our late lunch for some artisan pizza!
It was along this stretch of street (1 street behind the main traffic) and quite a distance walk from the train station, about 15 mins or so.
Small shop with minimal standing area, you can order from the clear glass display of various pizzas over the counter.
Spoilt for choice, the staff patiently greeted us and even introduced all their pizzas to us.
The name, ingredients and recommendations! Great service!
I choose the Bacon with pumpkin sauce which one their popular choice although I'm not a fan of bacon. Liked the tinge of pumpkin, crispy bacon and generous serving of cheese! The crust was kindna fluffy yet crispy at the edges since it was thin crust.
NB had a vegetarian one as their meat pizzas are all with either pork or beef.
His spinach pizza wasn't that appetising but Alex's 4 cheese pizza (according to him) was the best we had in Italy. Not that we have tasted that many though... He mentioned the mozzarella cheese tasted like meat!
Damage: €4.50 for my pizza!
Rating: 8/10
Spanish Steps
Address: Piazza di Spagna, 00187 Roma, Italy
Located just at the exit of Metro Station Spagna
Where tourists alike "picnic-ed" on the steps, at the feet of Pincio hill.
Lots of traffic there and throughout the day, there are always people sitting on the steps munching on their panini (sandwich) or simply just chilling with their friends.
Time to spot NB!
Well, if you are into luxury brands, you can find quite a number of brand boutiques like Prada, Miu Miu, Gucci, Valentino, Longchamp at the street across the steps.
Trevi Fountain
Address: Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma, Italy
You can actually take a walk to Trevi Fountain from Spanish Steps (10-15mins walk).
If it's hot, just grab a refreshing gelato and walk! ;)
The saying goes, once you throw a coin into the fountain, you will be back there again.
True enough, we went back the next day -_-
Just when I thought I will have a chance to go back again! =P
NB was so nonchalent while I looked super happy throwing the coin!
LOL! Wish my wish comes true! Although I've forgotten what I wished for. =/
Loved the ice cream from the gelateria just beside Trevi fountain (facing fountain, on your left).
Always packed with people, the serving is pretty big and quite a good selection of flavours.
Chose hazelnut and dark chocolate.
Absolutely love the bitter sweet taste of dark cocoa. Licks!
NB gets the small cone while I get the big! =P
Haha! We shared =P
Can try the orange chocolate, a tinge of orange citrus in bitter chocolate gives a oomph!
Damage: €3
Rating: 9/10
After walking for hours, headed to our nearby Supermarket for some grocery shopping and dinner!
#favouritepasttime
Since we had a kitchen, we decided to buy some ingredients home to cook!
Got canned spaghetti tomato sauce, microwaved chicken franks and boiled mushroom stuffed tortellini!
Good enough to satisfy our tummies!
Trivia: What's the difference between tortellini and ravioli?
Both are stuffed pasta but tortellini is semi moon/ ring shaped with a hole in the centre while ravioli is square!
Tried both on my trip, no major difference and I liked them better than regular pasta!
Damage: approx €5 per pax?
Rating: 7.5/10
And this was for breakfast!
One of our favourite yogurt brand #muller , think we tried all the flavours available!
Thick, creamy with yummy fruit bits! ;)
Damage: €1.80 or so
Rating: 8.5/10
Damage for Day 6 = €56 per pax (rounded up)
Photo (all except those lousy shots taken by my mobile phone) credits to Alexander!
