First trip (Rome, Itlay)

The Colossum

I have been in the travel industry for 10 years and have only been a few places in the world. Mostly the countries attached to the US. On a whim a friend asked me to go with them to Rome. I said without hesitation, yes. I live in Hawaii, so getting to Rome was not going to be a quick task, and given my job and the fact that I only had 5 days off was going to be tricky. I had to make a flight from Kauai to Phoenix, to Atlanta, to Rome. The only problem was that it all rested on the first flight and if I did not get on I was not going anywhere. So to start the day with a hangover from friends visiting was not a good way to go. I work for a regional airline out here in Hawaii, and I’m based in Kauai, that said I had to get up get packed and head to work and not return for 6 days, yeah that sounds fun.

I got to work with my roller bag, literally flying behind me, (I never have a roller bag because we are home every night here on the islands).

Very cool, had to take it

I made my flights, met up with my travel partner and her dad in Atlanta, and it was a 9 hr flight to go. I got some sleep to assure that I was on some sort of time zone.      We got through customs no problem, and out the doors of the airport we go, into a new adventure.

The Colossum at night

Got to the hotel and I was under the impression that we were staying with my friends dad, but that changed quickly, so off to find a hotel was the first part of our adventure. We wondered the street for about an hour, and quickly learned that I was for sure in another country. The language barrier was there but not a huge issue. We found a great hotel named Ginvera, near the train station. After getting settled in we began to explore, I knew that the Coliseum was around here somewhere.  I could not keep my mouth closed as it fell as I saw the huge Coliseum, WOW! We ventured up the street snapping pictures and being absolutely amazed at everything I am seeing.

The Pantheon at night

I could go on for hours describing the entire adventure, but I am neither good at simplifying nor giving great detail, so I will best simplify as much as possible. The next morning started with Cappuccino at a small café, and set the days plan into action. We plan to start at the Sistine Chapel and walk our way back to the hotel back on the other side of town. From the Chapel museum we went to Saint Peters Square, passed on the St. Peters Basilica, (way too long of a line), Castle Saint Angelo, The Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, (which seem to appear out of nowhere. We sat and had a bottle of wine while watching the many people of all countries pass by. I even shared an inside joke with a little old man who was pointing out attractive women to our waiter, I partook in this game too.

After the Trevi Fountain, we walked back to the Coliseum and took the tour there.

The streets of Rome

Stand in the Coliseum and listening to the goofy 4 euro handset, the only thought that went through my head was of my father who recently passed away, and the excitement that he would have gotten from me showing the pictures and telling of the story of the Coliseum. . . .After the Coliseum we headed back to the hotel to rest a bit and get ready for dinner and some nightlife. We went to Piazza Novona, where we had dinner and a large beer at Café Jazz.  From here nothing seemed too exciting so we hoped a cab to the nearest club. We were whisked to a bar called Coyote; we had a beer or two and were ready to go when we wondered down the street to find a few more clubs. We decided to go into AKAB, a young, hip, and loud place, it was perfect (for me). I few too many more beers and laughing with some locals we had a great time dancing and mingling. We hoped a cab back to the hotel to pass the hell out.

My first site of Rome

The next day had no plan, but recovery from the hangover from last night’s beverage consumption. We went to Jewish Ghetto, and then headed to the Pantheon, and the amazingness of it.  We were making our way back to meet my travel partner’s dad when we stopped in an internet café and I learned that my travel back to the states did not include me getting back to Hawaii in time to go to work on the 10^th. So I sat there for about an hour stressing over that, and made and executive decision to play it by ear.

The next morning was started at 4 in the morning to get to the airport in time to change my travel plans to get me home. The flight I needed was an Alitalia flight at 9:20am from Rome to Los Angeles; we got to the airport at 6:30am to the ball rolling.

This car rocks

All in all it was a great trip, great food, amazing sites, friendly people, and an interesting travel partner. I will again visit Rome and finally see St. Peter’s Basilica.