Ciao! Woke up this morning after 3 hours of sleep (my body clock was pretty jacked up, so I was wide awake at 1am local, London) and packed my stuff to head back to my favorite place–London Gatwick Airport!

I grabbed a quick breakfast at the hotel and learned I am not a fan of Bio Yogurt. No idea what is is, but I needed it as a vessel for my chia seeds and it was not pleasant. Thoughts and prayers to my tastebuds. 🙏

Successfully got through security for the 4th time in 15 hours and waited patiently yet pleasantly in front of a Harry Potter store (really proud of myself for not buying anything) waiting for my gate number to be shown.

Next I was off to Roma by 6:40am!

Landed in Roma and customs is SUPER convenient for Americans, Canadians, Japanese, and like 2 other countries I didn’t hold onto. Haha It’s electronic and self service for the first half with a lot of queues, and the second part with a customs agent was laughable. He looked at my passport, gave me a stamp and that was it. Not one question. Even Canada and England give me 1-2 half hearted questions every time! Lol

I arranged a driver before I got here and he was waiting with my name on a sign. So cool! I must say, having never arranged that before, it will not be the last time. It was so easy and so quick! My driver was shocked I was from San Diego and told me how he loved surfing and showed me pics from a recent surfing trip in Indonesia. (Judging from his pics I must go) He taught me some Italian phrases, and I helped him practice his rough English. It was grand! (Shoutout to Jen 😉) Also, the radio here was interesting. It was Blink 182, then hardcore 80’s, then something I sang in show choir in high school. ALL OVER THE PLACE. No transitions, no explanations in Italian that I couldn’t understand, no reasonable progression between generational genres–just next song. OK GIRL. 😂

Driving into Rome was gorgeous, the Italian sun felt so good after my gloomy (pun intended, but it really was dreary) time in London, and it was so green. All the cars here are tiny and I love it. The windy roads and trees hanging over and around brick walls that wind through the city…I couldn’t stop staring out the window.

Getting the key for my apartment this week was a little sketch. Not gonna lie–I will try to post a video below, but it was basically a lockbox across the roadway from my place, inside of a grate in the wall and behind someone’s parked motorcycle. My tourist looking self with all my stuff maneuvering that was very very low profile for sure.

Once I got into the apartment and settled I was starving so I changed and headed out to grab a late lunch. One thing I have to say at this point is these hosts keep sitting my party of 1 self in the middle of the dining room and I decided it’s because they know I’m a ⭐️. Really though it’s awkward but I am adjusting quickly. Lol

On my way to lunch I checked out the local farmers market in Campo di Fiore and it’s AMAZING! So many fruits and veggies, and cheeses, and wines, and oils and accessories, and trinkets, and flowers!! Literally all of the things. People yelling and negotiating, tasting, and talking with their hands–it was fabulous. I walked around my neighborhood a bit more and found a restaurant that my apartment owner recommended. It was good for sure. Had pasta of course hahaha

Next I went across the river and took in how cool the bridge and lower walkway was, while doing some people watching.

People watching here is fun too. I find most people to be very helpful. There is definitely something about the energy of this city that I freaking love and can’t get enough of. Except the cobblestone streets. It might be worse than Peru…. I basically almost trip every 3 steps. 😂 I seriously don’t get how some of these women navigate this in heels– I tip my hat to you!

Next I went to the pharmacia and bought all the liquids I had to throw away at London Gatwick airport for waaay too many Euros. Yay. Back to my apartment I went, full and delirious from my lack of sleep catching up with me so I took a 3 hour nap and that was 👌🏽.

Later this evening I went out for dinner at Al Pompiere and had the best pasta I have ever eaten IN MY LIFE (Spaghetti Carbonara). I texted Preston it made me want to cry tears of joy! I also learned that I enjoy zucchini blossoms, and more importantly that Olive Oil is very different here. It’s fierce fully aromatic, and packed with flavor! I feel like I had Olive oil for the first time tonight. House wine isn’t bad, and goes down oh so easy.

Preston you would LOVE Rome! So many fountains!!! 😃 Now I am actually sitting at the Trevi Fountain at 11:43pm watching people throw their coins to come back or find love, and just be in the presence of such a dope piece of history. I’m sitting here thinking about the time period this amazing monument was built and all I have to say is humans are incredible. Pics and vids don’t do this thing justice at all–and it really comes to life at night in a beautiful way.

OMG someone just got engaged in front of the fountain!😍

Last thing I wanted to note today– Sitting with your own thoughts and hearing them loudly is one thing I really enjoy about traveling solo. It wasn’t as obvious to me before but it’s very apparent now. My focus is for me to decide on at any given moment…there is something really calming and centering about that. #LearningToListen #ITalkAlotEvenJustToMyself haha

Ciao! Off to grab some gelato for my walk home. 🤤

UPDATE: On the walk home I stumbled upon the Pantheon and man oh man. Roma you keep giving me more reasons to fall in love with you.

Random Thoughts:

-You learn new languages quickly when you NEED IT

– Rome is super dope

-Pasta in America is a joke. Like A LEGIT JOKE.

-Italians are passionate people, but it might be the language that helps drive that. Even learning the few things I am, there is intention you have to put when you pronounce stuff. Still pondering this one. Keep annunciating those vowels Italia! It is important and honorable work.

-Kindness is universal

-I suck at adjusting to time zones

-I had an insane allergy attack today and the thought crossed my mind that maybe somehow a cat snuck into my apartment and contaminated everything then left. It’s the only explanation I could come up with for this super weird oncoming of super bad allergies so randomly. *Mom I am ok-I brought allergy pills 😉

-Walking everywhere is actually nice, I’m orienting myself so well which is hard to believe, I know. HOWEVER- As a pedestrian you have to be mindful to not die. Cuz these cars are little yes, but they don’t stop for you. Lol The lack o side walk on most of these streets isn’t helpful so….stay woke! 😂

– Even walking around between 11pm-1am on a Monday there were lots of people out and in the 20 min walk back to my apartment I never once felt unsafe or uncomfortable.