Italy's Power In "Dolce Far Niente."

April/May 2024

"Dolce Far Niente" A famous Italian phrase meaning "The sweetness of doing nothing." The perfect representation of the Italian life. The air is filled with the smell of fresh baked pizza and the aroma of cappuccino's being brewed in the morning time, the streets filled with people and their laughter filling the space around you. Italy is a place to eat more calories than you can count and sit outside to watch the world go by with your family and friends enjoying every slow peaceful moment accompanied with a bottle of wine every step of the way. What more could we need, right?

This was a special trip for me. I got to enjoy great company with my friend Nicole joining me and it was also her first big international trip. This was nothing short of the typical girl's trip. Countless bottles of wine drank, pasta devoured, and conversations shared. It was the example to take a step back from life's chaos and appreciate the sweetness in doing nothing.

Flying into Leonardo Da Vinci airport in Rome after a few lay overs and 18 hours of travel. We were off to our Airbnb located about 40 minutes from the airport and just a short 20-minute walk outside the hustle and bustle of the City of Rome. We were located in the slower, quiet local neighborhood of Trastevere. This was the perfect place to stay! It still had enough excitement going on around us, with the feeling of being in a more local area. If there's one thing, I like to treat myself to and I have the opportunity it's a balcony with gorgeous views. A stunning wrap around balcony with views overlooking Rome was the ideal setting for any European trip. We loved spending our mornings with the windows and doors open and the fresh air filling our apartment as much as we could. Below on that small patio every evening sat a couple who we named "Gio, and Barb" after a few days. This couple sat and had dinner every night, shared conversations, and gave each other so much love that we could see from our little stoop overlooking. Now this might sound a bit creepy and stalker-like (I know), but Gio and Barb were a large part of our journey. To see love from strangers that was so deep it really inspired us and made us think about our past, present, and hopefulness of what love should look like for our futures. I wish I could thank this couple for their impact on us. Their everyday nature with each other unknowingly touched us both greatly.

Trastevere, a bohemian district located on the West bank of the Tiber River. This historical little neighborhood is filled with shops, gelaterias, trattorias, and street musicians on every corner. This small neighborhood is nothing short of the perfect mixture of exciting, and the true Italian experience. Our Airbnb host Dennis was absolutely wonderful and accommodating to all of our needs. With some of the best views of the city you couldn't beat the price, and location! I love getting to spend my time in hostels because I feel like it does give you more of an experience, and great way to meet new friends, but even staying in an Airbnb, or hotel I try to get out of the main areas most people rush to. I love stopping into the same stores, coffee shops, or cafes and becoming a regular during my time spent there. Feeling familiarity makes me feel at home and it's always nice to make friends with everyone and become a new familiar face in the neighborhood!

A short walk from our apartment our first restaurant, Osteria Sonnino. We tried many restaurants during our time and this little spot that we fell into day one ended up being at the top of our list during our stay. The staff remembered us after our one visit and were always accommodating to fit us in without a reservation if we needed, and they were always sure to tell us "Hello" through the week when we would walk by. This is where our love for Chianti started and was one of the many bottles we shared conversations over. For our first meal we couldn't resist the homemade lasagna and carbonara. Day one was spent exploring the local shops, and neighborhood before heading back to rest for our first full day in Rome!

The exploration began after having breakfast in Trastevere and walking into the city Limits of Rome. Getting lost in new cities when I arrive is such a fulfilling thing. You're only lost if you think you are! For me being "lost" allows myself to take in every sight, smell, and sound of a new place with no plan. This helps me to learn my way around, and also stumble across so many things that I wouldn't have known about. Thats the beauty of travel!

It was easy to know what path to take for our first stop on day one. Exchanging some money along the way we made it to the Colosseum. One of the world's largest amphitheaters, securing its spot on the list of our Worlds Wonders, and the third for me to experience this year. YAY!

Naturally I try to find a good spot for photos. These tourist locations are always filled to the brim with crowds so a little creativity, and a look to the left there lied a small hill that leads to a walking path. A small stroll up the hill there sat a rock with a perfect view of the Colosseum. Many of the crowds waiting to enter the Colosseum are out of view which made it a great photo op!

Tours to the Colosseum are quite popular in Rome. A lot of the landmarks in the area are a fight to view. With crowds, and lines that go for miles. I'd have to say this is one of the worst countries I've experienced such a large problem with accessibility to landmarks. You can find yourself waiting hours just for a short tour and waste so much time just waiting in lines. I would have needed three extra days just to give myself time to stand in line to view the inside of most places. I would highly recommend in a place like this along with other European destinations searching around for most tours at least a few weeks before your arrival. I didn't take the time to explore inside of the Colosseum, but If I had the opportunity, I would have done the evening tour to see this historical place at night, I've heard its incredible!

Walking about the city it was a great time to stumble into a few of the many churches spread across Rome. Sant'Ignazio of Loyola was built between 1626 and 1650. I found this was the most stunning Church in my opinion. The dome of this beautiful church is covered with beautiful artwork from Andrea Pozzo. I took part in lighting a couple candles as I walked in that were one euro a piece. I lit two candles one for my aunt, and another for my grandfather that passed last November. When I'm travelling no matter where I am in the world whether it be a church, temple, mosque, or any religious site, if there is a place for remembrance, I take part in the traditions of each religion and make sure to thank two of the best angels I have looking over me along the way. This is always a great time to learn more about other religions, ceremonial acts that people of the faith follow, but most of all it’s a time for me to give thanks. I know they have both been looking down on me (probably slightly terrified wondering why I can't just sit at home) but none the less, making sure I'm safe along the way.

We couldn't go too long without having some of the delicious Italian pizzas. Our typical pizza of choice was the Margherita.

Continuing through day we met some incredible new friends. Enjoying running about the streets, exploring roof top bars, a bit of shopping (courtesy of our new friends), bottles of wine drank, a bit of dancing in the living room. Before we knew it 3 a.m. welcomed us and sleep was more than needed! Time flew by in the center of endless talks on street benches, and the liveliness of Roman streets and our little neighborhood in Trastevere. Needless to say, it was an eventful night! This was a night that was filled with once strangers, that are now a large part of my journey. Not everything should be written out and these two "strangers" helped shape a large part into decisions weighing on my mind for some time and helped write some of my story this year for sure. The more I travel the more I realize no matter if something is good, bad, positive or fails in the end, I cross paths with people that no matter what have shaped my story and I'm so grateful for every single one of them.

Let's just say, day one was everything you might hear about "When in Rome!"

An early start to Roma Termini (Romes main train station) to catch the train to Florence for a couple days. Running through the station on lack of sleep and a train that was going to leave in a matter of minutes we rushed and got to the doors just in time to board and be on our way.

I used the Omio app to book my train tickets in Italy. When booking trains in Italy they do things a bit differently, don't forget to have your tickets verified to avoid being charged a fee. You can find small kiosks that will validate your transportation tickets, or using the Omio app it validates your tickets so there's no need to take an extra step. I'm so thankful I did this because we cut it pretty close that morning with Romes's traffic already starting during our Uber ride. It was also really convenient to have them right there in my apple wallet or located in the app.

Florence is about an hour and a half train ride through the scenic hills of the Tuscan countryside. Nicole was feeling the effects from the night before and missed most of the views during the train ride...

Not far from arriving at Santa Maria Novella (main station in Florence) we walked about 10 minutes to our hostel. To stay on budget, we stayed at "Plus Florence" it was located in a great spot for walking around the city. This hostel is pretty large! They have a pool for the summer months, bar, and restaurant located on site. If you're planning to stay for a longer period there's a small kitchen area, and spaces to work as well!

Nicole woke up not feeling well as I mentioned and as the day progressed, she got worse. After Nicole spent most of the day wandering aimlessly there was no doubt in my mind she needed to rest. Once you travel alone, I think it's safe to say that when you travel with others there's some complications when you can't just go do whatever you want anymore. Theres another person to worry about besides just yourself. Nicole is my ultimate travel companion. This girl was sick almost the whole trip, but this day she was not well. No complaints, and she pushed through every single minute. Theres not many people I can think of wanting to travel with, but this girl is the one that I know will undoubtably choose the moment and fun over letting anything hold her back. Thankfully we hadn't planned too much for Florence besides just a few small stops. our first day in Florence we took the time to rest, and by Nicole’s request had some hot ramen for dinner along with some gelato. A local place close by called Kung Fu Ramen was worth the stop! Handmade noodles, and a broth packed with everything needed to cure her sickness! (Shout out to the Italian man at the local Farmacia for the cocktail of drugs he prescribed because my girl woke up a new woman the next day!)

Florence is a staple for the famous wine windows! Don't forget to stop if you see the little window and get a glass of wine to enjoy while you walk about the city. The wine windows are located in different parts of Florence so keep an eye out they're easy to miss!

Two months before I left, I made a reservation for the famous restaurant Osteria Pastella. I was patting myself on the back for this reservation. Before the doors even opened, it was lined with all the people who made reservations to fill every seat in the building (not joking. EVERY seat was filled.) Along the other side was a line that had to wait well over an hour to try and get in. Osteria Pastella is a cozy warm little restaurant. Famous for its truffle pasta mixed on top of a large wheel, and the famous Florentine steaks. I would definitely recommend getting one of the massive dry aged 32 oz steaks! Especially since it only cost $42. This was our one nice restaurant that we planned to spend a bit more money at, so we did decide to treat ourselves a bit more since we planned to do this as a part of our budget. The steaks are a staple in Florence, and I was happy that this was something we took the opportunity to enjoy.

I love getting to explore the local markets and Florence has some great markets that are worth exploring. The famous leather markets with options lining the streets you can get everything you can imagine, and a great souvenir made of authentic Italian leather. Strolling through the leather markets there's a few openings to also explore a couple of the large grocery markets. I love checking out the local food markets and seeing what they offer. You can find pastries, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, and some even have a few small food vendors offering some fresh delicious meals! It always amazes me looking at the fresh foods in these places. Everything is always colored so beautifully and the size comparison to a lot of our foods in America is wild! I have my own idea of the food network in America and these markets are a perfect example to see the difference in quality when things are truly fresh.

*Make sure to look up the daily hours that the markets are open. Opening/closing times do vary, as well as days.

It was a rainy couple days in Florence and after leaving three umbrellas at various spots across the city and 30 euros later it was time for me to get back to sunny Rome! My budget couldn't handle the continuous purchase of umbrellas any longer.

Growing up in the early 2000's it was safe to say getting to live my real-life Lizzie Mcguire moment was pretty awesome! The Trevi Fountain is a popular spot so plan accordingly. Early mornings are typically the best time to find a less obstructed view of the fountain. In the evening time during parts of the year they even do a lightshow! The Trevi Fountain has become widely popular from the 2003 Lizzie Mcguire movie, as well as the "coin toss" legend surrounding the fountain. I think it's safe to say if you were born in the 90's, I think I can speak for us all when I say this was a dream life, we all wanted wrapped up into one Disney movie.

It's said that tossing one coin over your left shoulder with your right hand you will return to Rome, throwing a second coin in hopes to find true love, and if a third coin is thrown securing that love with marriage. I'll keep my fingers crossed, and faith in my coins!

From the fountain it was about a 20-minute walk to check out some of the catacombs. One of the famous catacombs in Rome is Capuchin Crypt. This was a self-guided tour by headset that provided information through a small museum leading into the basement of the Church of Santa Maria Della Concezione Dei Cappuccini. This tour costs around $10.

Photos aren't allowed inside of the crypt, so this is something you just have to go and see for yourself! Friar Michael of Bergamo arranged over 300 loads of deceased bodies from a monastery arranging them throughout the corridors. The monks that had passed during the time of construction were added to the crypt where their tombs still lie. This was definitely something that is interesting to see with a lot of history surrounding it. I actually enjoyed walking through the small museum much more than I expected, I learned so much that I knew nothing about. This is definitely something to make time for on your visit to Rome. You can make the tour as short or long as you would like. I would give yourself at least an hour or two so that you can take the time to learn about the history surrounding this burial below the church and the long history surrounding the Monks. Walking about this basement all I have to say, and I mean this in the most respectful way I possibly can... I'm not sure how long this man was left in the basement, but he got pretty damn creative with all these bones. I don't think I would have ever thought how our bones could be formed into chandeliers, and so many different designs along the walls...

*Get more info and book your tickets here! Home - Capuchin Museum and Crypt

If you can still manage an appetite after the crypt, be sure to make a stop at Limone on your way back into the city! Limone has a few locations in Rome but its conveniently located near the Capuchin Crypt. Limone is a gelateria with the famous gelato IN a lemon! We got the limoncello accompanied by the lemon cheesecake flavor. It was a perfect refreshing and not too sweet treat! They also offer a large selection of traditional Italian limoncello in collectible bottles if that's on your list of souvenirs!

When heading to Italy keep an eye on the weather no matter the time of year. Most nights can drop and get pretty chilly even in the months you think would be warm. I was happy that I planned my trip to Florence early in the week because I treated myself to a leather jacket. Even in May I got plenty of use out of this jacket in Italy, especially the evening time. The temperatures dropped quite a bit once the sun went down.

I always do research in each destination I travel to so I can be sure to not stand out too much. It's also good to make sure that there aren't any specific clothing restrictions that can come across offensive in some cultures.

*If you're planning to visit to the Vatican City to see The Vatican church be sure to take a scarf or sweater to cover your shoulders. Most of the churches through Italy will require your shoulders to be covered. I like to pack a scarf with me everywhere because it's the perfect way to cover up and also easy to pack and carry around with me.

Into the weekend girl's night took over! Filled with food, and a few bottles of wine. We decided to check out a speakeasy like bar located in Trastevere named "Rem." The bar's theme is based around your dream cycles, hence the name "Rem". With an interchanging menu based on the sleep cycles the bar had scheduled through the evening you can try a few interesting cocktails. One of our drinks had Cheerios in it, we were a little unsure if cheerios meant the same thing in Italy as America and it did. Little Cheerios cereal lined the rim of the glass. I'm not sure what was in these drinks, but strong is an understatement! After only a few girls' night took a wild turn pretty dang quick!

Walking back to our apartment (followed by a few men) I knew the drinks were settling in because Italian sounds similar to some Spanish words. Nicole yelled at the man "I don't speak Spanish!" accompanied with her rambling about whatever Italian words she knew making absolutely no sense I think he knew we weren't worth his time after a bit.

If there's one thing Nicole and I will ALWAYS agree on its the absolute need for a hot dog after having some drinks. A little corner bar a block from our apartment that we slept on a bit too much during our stay took us by surprise. Our random stop to look at the menu there lied the holy grail of food for the two of us. Hot dogs covered IN CHILI!

We picked up a bottle of Chianti at the convenience store near our apartment (this was one of those spots we became a regular at. The shop owner was sure to know us quickly after the thousands of tissue packs we bought. Whatever was blooming in Italy in May was a recipe for our allergies!) We grabbed our hot dogs and to the balcony we went! Getting to travel with such a close friend, having just us girls is something we all need from time to time. Sharing a special moment in life travelling to a new country for us both, crying together, and talking through the night over wine (and the world's best hot dog) can cleanse any womans soul. I'm truly blessed to have such an amazing person in my life that I get to share these experiences with and stand by my side through every bit of life that's evolving every trip I take.

Our Rome adventures were quickly coming to an end. After picking up a cappuccino and sandwich we headed into the city for one of the last times.

TATTOO TIME! What's a better souvenir than one that lasts forever! I found a great old money speak easy/tattoo shop with amazing interchanging artists! If you want a tattoo in Rome this is your spot! Wisdomless Tattoo has many artists to choose from. They take appointments as well as walk ins. If you're planning to walk in definitely get there early because they are pretty popular. Matching tattoos consisting of the popular olive branch we felt was good significance to Italy. I got a little added touch to mine and included the phrase "Dolce Far Niente." My Italy was filled with slow mornings, enjoying more than wonderful company, kind people, good food, and wine. I just can't imagine what could encompass the phrase more. Italy is all about appreciating all the small things in life. The memories are always brought to my mind, and I'm reminded of such a valuable lesson in life every time I see the tattoo before me.

I'm not sure how I got onto this habit, but in every country if there's a McDonalds, I have to try it! All the menus have different items and for some reason America might have created this popular food chain, but the rest of the world has perfected it. We heard about a McDonalds in the city that was truly "authentic" Italy. It was decorated with Michael Angelo type statues and felt like fine dining! They also had a great pastry bar to choose from so many bakery items. I have to give the award so far to Italy and Egypt for the best McDonalds that I've been to!

If you also want to check out this specific McDonalds and grab a quick bite, make sure to go to this location. The McDonalds is located near the Spanish steps so be sure if you're in that area you're already close by!

When checking out the Spanish Steps, be sure you don't sit down! Sitting on the steps is a violation that can result in a fine of 400 euros! Even if you think nobody is watching that's a big risk to take. For those who also aren't able to walk the steps there is an elevator located near them that will take you to the top as well as down into the square below them. Nicole and I had walked these steps our first day early in the week and the whole time complained about how many steps there were Nicole said to me "This is ridiculous I need an elevator." to our surprise we didn't even know we were on the Spanish Steps until 3 days later when I realized the photo we had taken looked a bit familiar, and there actually was an elevator...

Not far from the steps if you want a stunning view overlooking Rome check out Zuma with a rooftop and views you can't beat during sunset! This is a Japanese fine dining restaurant. If you've had too much pizza and pasta this is a great spot to have dinner or just a cocktail with incredible views below you.

Italy quickly came to an end. After a few proposals, some new ray ban sunglasses gifted to us, and the perfect step away from the chaos of life we were boarding our flight back to America.

If Europe is a place you want to explore add Italy to your list of countries! Filled with historical landmarks, Tuscan countryside's, beautiful coastal getaways, and some incredible shopping! It's a place that can suit anybody's taste for a vacation. Italy can still be budget friendly, but it takes a bit more thinking. This was one of the more expensive trips I took this year, and also one of the cheapest flights I booked. Do some research and don't just fall right into the typical tourist areas this can help save money on accommodation and also give you a more authentic experience. Book some tours in advance to help avoid waiting in the insanely long lines, and most of all... Don't plan too much. Give yourself the time to be slow and appreciate the beauty in the moment surrounding you.

Grazia Italy, until next time.