Three Days in Rome
Rome, Italy - Summer 2018
I’ve been dreaming about going to Italy for years. I’ve romanticized it. The pasta. The pizza. Shopping. Wine. Ok, you get my point. Rome was the second stop on my two-week vacation in Europe. This was the last city where it would be just my husband and I before meeting up with friends in Croatia and we made the best of our 3-night stay.
Accommodations: Hotel Isa – A small boutique hotel located 15-minutes walking distance from the Spanish Stairs. The hotel provided free breakfast and nightly happy hour on the rooftop. It was everything we needed to be comfortable and close to the many sights.
Culture
Beyond tourists, I didn’t encounter many Blacks in Rome. Typically, when I travel somewhere I love to experience the Black culture, however even google had nothing to offer in terms of Black tours in Rome. Although we couldn’t find Black neighborhoods pieces of our history was there. As we walked through the city we spotted several ancient obelisks that we later learned were stolen from Egypt in 10 B.C. #Culture
Food
Eating is really one of my favorite pastimes. I ate my way through Rome and I have no regrets. Of course we had pasta, pizza, gelato, cheese; basically everything you must eat when you visit Italy. Here are some of my favs:
Da Enzo – Based on reviews we expected to wait an hour since they don’t take reservations. We arrived 30 minutes before closing and there was still a line outside. “Close at 10” actually means they stop taking reservations at 10. As long as you get your name on the list before closing you’ll get a meal! Our small party size worked in our favor and we were seated within 10 minutes of arrival. Seated inside, which is pretty small, the vibe was cozy. My husband went for the highly recommended Carbonara while I had the seafood pasta special. The only word that can describe our dishes is DELICIOUS!
Hostaria Capo De Fero – There came a point when I didn’t want anymore paste *eek* I know, I know how is this be possible in Italy but hey! Thank God we found Hostaria Capo De Fero. Located in the Trastevere neighborhood, known to be vibrant and upbeat. The evening we went the place was full of locals which made my heart smile. Since I was craving seafood I opted for the grilled seafood platter with prawns, fish, and squid paired with a bottle of white wine. My meal was light, yet filling. If we would’ve found this restaurant earlier in the trip I’m sure we would’ve gone multiple times.
Wine & Food Pairing at Rimessa – If it includes wine tasting sign me up! Recommended by a friend, we booked the wine-dinner pairing inclusive of 8 wines and 14 small dishes. There were cheeses and pasta, meatballs and cured meats, spreads on breads and dessert. More importantly, there was wine from all over Italy. Our host was very knowledgeable while catering to our crowd which was more interested in tasting than wine history. My husband and I tend not to like the same wine, but with the wide selection there was something for both of us. We left completely satisfied with the entire experience.
Speakeasy
Regular bars are fine, but I love the thrill of finding a speakeasy. While planning a night out we came across Jerry Thomas Speakeasy which required us to answer a question to retrieve the password for entry later that evening. In true speakeasy fashion there is minimal signage. Needless to say, we walked past the entrance several times before finding the actual door. Once inside, the dimly lit intimate setting married with craft cocktails made us feel like we traveled back to 1920. Although you are required to pay a membership fee, I felt like we were part of an exclusive club so I didn’t mind.
Sights:
Since this was our first time in Rome, we visited all of the tourist attractions. Here are the top 5 things I wish I would’ve known.
Buy a Roma Pass – this pass saved us hours of waiting at the Colosseum. You’re able to cut the line at select attractions and get on public transportation for free.
If you plan to visit the Vatican book your ticket in advance! Tickets are released monthly.
Visit the Trevi Fountain during the day and at night. I personally like it better in the evening.
Ladies if you’re visiting the Pantheon make sure your fully covered. No bare shoulders, short shorts, etc.
Uber is pretty expensive. Instead use the MyTaxi app.
