Good and bad decisions

Day 3 in Rome

Read day 1 here and day 2 here.

We set of with the idea of going to a beach town. Meaning, we wanted to leave Rome.

Chloe had suggested Sperlonga beach but the hotels were sooo expensive there.

We quickly checked the map of Italy, train ticket prices and hotel prices...and: Pescara/Montesilvano sounded like a good idea.

Trains are super cheap in Italy, if you reserve time to travel. The speedy trains are expensive and cost around 4 times more than a ticket for a slower train. Our tickets from Rome to Montesilvano cost 11€ per person. Not bad, not bad.

For some reason the train schedules were a mess but after hassling around we finally made it to Montesilvano. The view from the train was...wow. Amazing. Let pictures tell more than words.

The most beautiful thing during the journey was definitely a waterfall! I totally recommend everyone to take a train ride from Rome towards the east of Italy. Rome to Tivoli is just perfect. A one hour ride and you see all you need. The waterfall, snowy mountains, beautiful nature, small cute towns...etc. Plus we were told that Tivoli is a nice town to visit anyway!

Unfortunately we went up to Montesilvano which is right next to Pescara.

It was: small, ugly, cold, rainy and BORING. And we booked a hotel for two nights. How dumb were we!

The first street we walked on in Montesilvano was even called Via Finlandia.

so...the evening of day 3 was...well, we just walked around on the beach and there's nothing interesting to say.

Day 4 in Montesilvano

Was not any better. It was worse. It was raining terribly. We slept, I slept, quite a lot. Relaxing and recovering from all the Rome-walking and heat. In the end it was quite a good resting day. But I really don't recommend Montesilvano for anyone. There is nothing to do. Maybe if the weather would not have been rainy, we could have actually been on the beach and enjoyed our time...but we were unlucky.

Andrea C. this was for you!

In the evening we decided to leave on the first train to Rome. That was 6am.

Day 5, back in Rome

A lemon from Montesilvano which I took with me back to Holland hahah.

Back to Rome. YAY! We couldn't have been happier when we arrived. Finally. Plus J-P had found a really good and cheap hotel right 2min away from the train station. Ok, near the China town area again...but at least it wasn't far away like the last hotel in Rome.

We had, again, trouble finding the hotel. After walking and walking we finally made it and what a surprise - this hotel was seriously really awesome and only 40€ a night per room. I highly recommend the place. It was on street Enrico Cialdini and called something like Cialdini Inn.

After a little rest we went to the Villa Borghese park and ate some tasty mozzarella ciabattas.

When I was little, daddyyy brought me a big pine cone and they had huuuge ones at the park, too.

From the park we went to check out the Spanish stairs.

J-P being a football fan, he of couuurse wanted to go and see some football stadium. So. We walked to the Stadio Olimpico.

...only to find out it was closed and open for tourist visits.

After a 2-3h walk, that was so pleasant news.

In the evening we went to eat and watch the Manchester - Chelsea match. We went to eat at Alejandro's restaurant, the man who got us our first hotel in Rome. Ale remembered us and we got a table reserved right in front of the TV.

MANCHESTER UNITED WON!!! And JP hated me because I cheered for them and knew they would win and ha ha haa JP wasn't too happy that his favorite team...LOST.

And probably will not be thanking me for mentioning all this once again. :)

The last day, day 6, coming up later again.

lotsoflove,

linda

x

The backpacking experience

Rome day two

Day two in Rome started off with packing our bags and leaving the oh so lovely China-town part of Rome that we were staying at for the first night. Please understand the sarcasm.

No, it wasn't that bad. It just was not that interesting either.

We had booked a hotel for 17,50€ each a bit further away from the city. Breakfast included.

As it was only 10am and we had hours before check-in, we decided to walk to the hotel. We thought it would not be "that far".

Many tourist attractions were by our walking route, so we stopped to check out a few. Or in the end - pretty many and nearly all that Rome offers haha.

I really loved the Trevi fountain. It was beautiful. Always full of people, so walking around the closest streets was almost impossible. Anyway, it looked stunning as the sun shone on it.

We walked past some (?) building and heard music...tadaa.

The Pantheon. Umm yea, I didn't find it too special. There was a mass going on so we couldn't go in. For me it was enough to see the Pantheon and mass from outside and yea...it was OK.

We stopped for a sit down at the artistic Piazza Navona. A nice piazza worth going for a coffee at.

Lots of people selling paintings and other art.

The Castel Sant' Angelo. Didn't visit inside as we had our backpacks with us but it's not expensive - just 5.50€ or so. I'm guessing the views are lovely. There is a park right next to the castle where people like to go jogging. It's also a nice area to go sit down and enjoy the sun at. Small but cosy.

The Vatican square was so much smaller than I had imagined! Loads of people were walking towards us as we made our way to the square. I guess the Pope had just ended his speech. What a pity! I would have wanted to high five the chap and joke around. Or at least take a sneak pic of him talkety talk. Unfortunately we were probably 10min too late.

We had a little trouble finding our second hotel. The map didn't even reach up that far. I had checked the address and route from the internet but it didn't look that far! We asked people for help but unfortunately finding a person who speaks or understands at least somewhat sufficient English is almost impossible. Or at least was for us. Ok, maybe asking all those cute old grandpa's wasn't the best idea but they were just too sweet! Finally we found a pizza-man who showed us the route again. He said it was veeery far. I didn't believe him. And anyway - our motto of the trip was "we're not in a hurry, all we have is time".

So we walked....

And walked.

And guess what?

We walked. And nearly gave up on life.

But yet we continued to...walk.

Until it was 2pm and we had walked for 4hours. We decided if we won't be at the hotel by 3pm we will take a taxi.

So we walked...and finally made it to our hotel.

It wasn't that bad to walk but it wasn't the most best experience either. Love little sweaty pig Linda in +30°C. I suggest people to use public transport as we only later found out that it cost only 1€ per 75min. At least we did our exercises for the day, week or month.

On our way I saw this shop/bakery, can't remember what it was, and a previous exchange student, Elena, came to my mind.

Our second hotel, Il Castelletto, was really cute. Totally worth it's price and more.

After taking a shower we decided it was time for food and we found a nice pizza place to grab a bite at. Crunchy pizza yet again. I totally blame TINA for making me find the love for pizza. I used to hate it ! EW.

We made our way back to the center to check out other places. Guess what part two? We took a bus! But not too far as it started to go the wrong way... We were going to change to an other bus but I couldn't be bothered to wait. Took too long. SO. We walked.

Hello gorgeous!

We found an organic shop from Rome by accident! I was sooo happy. Finally a shop that sold liqourice root! And only 70cnt per root. A must buy.

We found ourselves from the Area Sacra. It was full of cats! Woot.

In the middle of Rome, in the middle of hectic streets - tens of cats.

It was an area you could adopt them from. Nice idea.

Jonas, Lauri, Esther and Tina came into my mind...cats!

We walked past the Pantheon again and there was an aaaamazing artist. My favorite guy of all artists.

He made jewelry out of spoons and forks!

I bought a spoon ring for 15€, which was the only shopping I did during the whole journey. (I'm proud of myself)

I love the ring. It's so great how someone has made up such a fascinating idea. So simple but so pretty !

I want to start twisting spoons and forks into chic rings, too!

So go buy spoons and forks by the Pantheon from this amazing master artist!

Later we went for dinner at a restaurant in the middle of Area Sacra and the Pantheon. It was right at one corner of the Sacra and I reallyreally do not suggest it. The service was just awful and ever so slow. They did not give a s of us. The food wasn't any better than a pasta I would make, either. Oh how I felt like leaving without paying...I even had to go inside to ask them to bring the bill as they didn't come check up on us.

btw, the tips are automatically added on to the final amount, so...you kind of can't not give a tip even though the place would not deserve it.

Day two was full of walking but fun.

x

Linda