I am about to admit something shameful now. Until recently (last 2 years) I had never been to Rome a.k.a the Eternal City. I thought it was too touristy, too hyped up and would no doubt be a disappointment, I mean, I don’t even like history that much so what is really in it for me?

Fast forward to the present day and I am daydreaming about going back for a third time. I recently watched the series ‘The Young Pope’ and instead of being moved by the storyline (no spoilers don’t worry), I was longing to be back at my favourite fountain at Piazza Navona.

What happened? Well, 3 years ago a very pretty South African came into my life and reinvigorated my love for Europe. Seeing the cities on our doorstep from her long-distance view was like breathing fresh life into them, and me.

Now I am not saying you all need to go out and found yourself a South African (although I can think of worse ways to spend a Friday night), but more don’t take these close cities for granted. They are wonderful. And there will be blogs to come on Prague, Ghent, and Lisbon, but for now, it is all about Rome.

The first time we went wasn’t exactly how I am used to travelling. We met Pippa’s parents at the Train station (did I mention this was the first time I was spending any real time with them? Yeah….) and then dragged our suitcases over cobbled roads and crowded streets for what felt like hours, but was a fairly decent 20 minutes. I didn’t see much of Rome at this point, I was hot, sticky and being a good lesbian by offering to pull her mum’s case as well as my own. The things you do for love. Anyway, we get to the apartment, get changed and out we go.

We head off to walk to the nearest stop, we walk past cute bars serving ice-cold Peroni and I can feel my thirst building…we walk further still and the smell of wood-fired pizza fills the air…but we walk on. Just when my hangry levels were approaching critical, we stop at a traffic light. I look up and there it is the Colosseum. It is just sat right there in the middle of a busy intersection, and it is awe-inspiring. I look at Pippa, who has been to Rome twice previous to this, and her face has the same expression. Awe, love and happiness.

The trip honestly got better from there, everywhere you walk in Rome is gorgeous (well, nearly everywhere). The Pantheon is by far one of my favourite places to wander with a cold beer (Yes, you can drink as you walk and nobody shouts like chavs, a marvellous place indeed). Even the sightseeing bus that I was so opposed to because it is the epitome of tourism, was a great chauffeur service after one too many drinks.

The following year we went back just us two and did it on a slightly bigger budget. We stayed in a hotel next to the Trevi, went out for dinners in the Campo de Fiori and drank cocktails overlooking the city from The Raphael rooftop bar Even the small bank loan needed for a Cosmo was worth it.

If you have never been to Rome, give it a go I urge you. We have been to around 7 other places since then, and Rome is the only one we are eager to plan a return trip too, again.

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