I had a very long bucket list of things I wanted to accomplish when I first moved to Germany. Heck, the more I’ve lived here and seen the beauty this continent has to offer, my list just keeps growing!

While the majority of the items were specific destinations such as Oeschinensee Lake in Switzerland or Schrecksee in Germany, some items were just vague things I thought would be fun to try.

Things like: eat Italian food in Italy or have a Greek salad in Greece.

The beauty of a bucket list with specific and vague items on it is that it allows for adventure to be experienced through the broadest aperature possible. Makes since, right? Well, to me it does lol.

That’s how I wound up in Rome on a 4-Day weekend; I just wanted to eat Italian food in Italy. And with that mantra as my guide for the Labor Day weekend, I headed to Rome for what I consider to be the best time I’ve had since being stationed in Germany.

Working for the US Air Force means, in essence, I’m a government employee. And you know what one of the biggest perks of being a Federal employee is? Not having to work Federal holidays!

What’s more is that each military branch usually allows a “family day” to be observed in conjunction with a Federal holiday; basically a “pass” from work for that day. Family days are usually the day before or after the Federal holiday, which means we get 96 hours (including the weekend) off from work.

In other words, we get 4-day weekends, a lot lol. I’ve managed to abuse my passport during every single one of them since being stationed in Germany; a trend I plan to continue until I’m forced to PCS lol.

It’s hard to capture, in words at least, the beauty and grandeur of Rome. Dubbed the Capital of the World by some, I like the phrase “The Eternal City” better because it’s much, much more fitting.

Rome really is a city that, despite all odds, is still standing. Through wars, tyranny, famine, riots, environmental changes, you name it; this amazing capital has survived.

Wheels up

Rome was my first trip outside of Germany that required more than just my trusty Subaru. And, to be a real traveler, I decided that all I was going to take was my backpack, a change of clothes, and my Nikon camera.

Thursday after work, I made my way to the Stuttgart Airport. I was anxious, excited, nervous, and pumped to be headed to Rome for my first “big” trip since moving to Europe in July.

If you know anything about the main airport serving Rome, you know that it’s about 30 minutes outside the actual city. So, my plan was to ride the metro from the train station to the city center and then take a taxi to my hotel.

Well, some hooligans decided it would be fun to play on or near the tracks and ended up delaying my actual arrival to the city until about 11:30 at night lol. Tired and hungry, I found a sweet vegan burger spot just outside of the main train station and inhaled a delicious meal before hailing a cab.

As I checked into the hotel room, I was as giddy as a kid on Christmas Eve. The room was small but cozy, and the bed was immensely comfortable. After a quick shower, I laid down and anxiously awaited morning so I could begin my epic exploration of The Eternal City.

Day One – The Sistine Chapel, St Peters Basilica, and the Pantheon

As I awoke to the beautiful sounds of hotel doors slamming, I checked my watch and saw that it was just after 7:00am. Perfect!

I made my way to the window, threw open the curtains, and was instantly greeted by the warm morning sun. Peering out of the opening, my eyes adjusted to the abrupt burst of sunlight before finally focusing on the beautiful dome of St Peters Basilica in Vatican City.

I instantly knew this trip was going to be perfect.

I made my way to the rooftop of the hotel for an incredible breakfast and a world-class cappuccino. With batteries charged, both spiritually and physically (for my camera and GoPro lol) it was time to head out and explore the city!

Like I said in the beginning of my post, I didn’t really have a “set” agenda for this trip. Simply put, I just wanted to eat Italian food while I was here lol.

Nevertheless, I did the smart thing before leaving Geramny, and made a few reservations for the key tourist attractions. First on the list was a tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel.

I arrived at the skip-the-line entrance around 8:45am after an amazing stroll across Vatican City. I couldn’t believe that I was finally standing where millions of souls have gathered for hundreds of years to worship, receive good news, or simply hope for a chance to see the Pope. Heck, maybe even I’d get to see the man himself! *Spoiler alert, I did!* lol, more on that later…

Since it was Friday and not quite the weekend, St Peters Square was almost a ghost town. Save the few runners who were up early getting their miles in, it was just me, the incredible architecture, and a few pigeons. I took a few minutes to appreciate how fortunate I was to be standing where I was.

Once inside the Vatican Museum, I was simply speechless and in awe of the incredible paintings, sculptures, and other works of art, heralded by historians all over the world.

Of the incredible masterpieces that adorned the walls, the one that stood out to me the most was actually a painting on the ceiling in the Hall of Constantine. It was the Victory of Christianity Over Paganism by Tommaso Laureti (1585)

This simple yet powerful painting is worth a thousand words. As you can see in the image below, a statue lay broken on the floor and in its stead is a cross. In summary, once Constantine declared Christianity the main religion of Rome, pagan gods were cast aside.

As a Christian myself, this painting really spoke to me, and I took a few minutes to admire the power this scene portrayed. That was, at least, until my neck began to cramp lol it is on the ceiling after all!

Moving on from the Hall of Constantine, I began to feel the anticipation build as I read signs that directed visitors to the Sistine Chapel. I was finally going to lay my eyes on a wonder that I had only ever realized through pictures in magazines and books throughout my childhood.

Have you ever been someplace or seen something so remarkable that you can remember every single detail leading up to that moment? As I write this blog post, my mind keeps playing a tape in my head where I crossed the threshold into the Sistine Chapel and gazed upwards.

I can still hear the echoes in the massive room from the hushed conversations of hundreds of tourists as they all admired what is considered one of the greatest paintings in the world.

I can still remember the feeling of my jaw literally dropping as I scanned the immense ceiling, admiring each detail of Michelangelo’s masterpiece from over 500 years ago.

I can still remember how it felt to have my mind race so fast and so full of questions that I almost felt exhausted, all from a single series of paintings.

I found a seat on the side of the Chapel, leaned back, and truely lost myself for over an hour. Everything I had been taught about the Old and New Testaments growing up was now jumping off the page right above me.

I was speechless to finally stand in the presence of what is considered to have no equal on the planet. Words cannot describe the beauty and complexity of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling; it simply needs to be realized for oneself.

With my tour of the Vatican Museum over, I was ready for some delicious Italian food, just like my bucket list prescribed! So, I headed to the nearest pizza joint for a slice of heaven and a glass of wine.

With my belly full, and a slight buzz I might add, I made my way back towards the Vatican to tour St Peters Basilica. I had about two hours to kill before I had to make my way over the Pantheon for a guided tour, so I figured I’d fill my time with some astonishing architecture!

Inside the massive cathedral, the first thing I noted was the sheer size of it all. Everything felt so large that it almost felt as though it was built by, and for, giants. I felt immensely small as I wandered around the massive complex, admiring all the beautiful sculptures and paintings.

Just like with the Vatican Museum, the excitment I had couldn’t be contained. I was grinning from ear to ear and silently saying “wow” as my eyes wandered around every inch and marble column.

To those that don’t understand architecture, it’s easy to simply see a big building and appreciate it for the surface-level details like the arches and paintings on the walls. However, as an architect major, I was totally nerding out on this one lol.

For example, the building felt “light”, even though every column weighed hundreds of tons! And you really have to remember that all of this was hand-carved…out of stone! I mean just look at all the perfect symmetry and straight lines that were accomplished though hours and hours of painstaking chiseling.

There’s just so much engineering that went into ensuring the church would look and function the way it does and that its visitors would have a particular experience. It’s hard not to admire that craftsmanship for what it is!

I must have lost all track of time as I wandered around because, before I knew it, my tour of the Pantheon was due to start soon. I snapped a few more photos and made my way to the exit.

Realizing I only had a few minutes, I decided to rent a Lime scooter and scoot my way across the city to the Pantheon. After all, I was already over my 10,000 steps goal according to my Fitbit lol

Arriving, I was again greeted by an awe-inspiring building that I had only ever seen through presentations in my college studies. I anxiously approached the entrance, presented my ticket, and headed inside.

The first thing that immediately stands out to viewers is the massive dome structure. Again, to the typical tourist, the Pantheon is just another ancient structure that has stood the test of time. To me though, I couldn’t help but admire the fact that a concrete dome was constructed so long ago but was years ahead of its time

What’s more is that the dome was never completely filled in; there’s still a large, round hole in the very top. This means that when it rains, the floors inside get rather soaked directly beneath the opening. Fear not though!

The architect took that factor into consideration and planned for the floor to slope ever so slightly to strategic “gutters” within the Pantheon so that water could be captured in a run-off and then whisked away from the site. Pretty cool right?!

After my wonderful guide satiated my thirst for knowledge of this amazing architectural creation, I realized just how hungry all this learned had made me! So, I thanked my guide, and made my way for the door. The day was far from over but, boy was I beat! Checking my Fitbit, I saw that I had easily surpassed my daily goal of 10,000 steps and was quickly approaching 20,000. No wonder I was so tired!

With no real destination for dinner in mind, I decided to simply wander the city streets and take in the city for what it had grown to be. Being surrounded by ancient stone temples and paintings from Michelangelo really does transport you back in time; I wanted to see what Rome was like now though.

Well, that plan couldn’t have worked out any better. Before I knew it, the sun had set and a slight breeze rolled in, symbolizing mother nature taking her last big breath for the day before she lay her head down. My wandering had led me to the most perfect cafe sitting on the edge of a small plaza where an older gentlemen played the accordion for tips.

It was here that I finally fulfilled my dream bucket list item: eat Italian food in Italy 🙂 That night, I had the most incredible carbonara I’d ever had in my life, in likely the most gorgeous city I had ever visited.

Sufficiently tired, I decided to follow in mother nature’s footsteps by making my way back to my hotel, and racking out.

Day Two – The Roman Colosseum, The Roman Forum, and Trevi Fountain

Up again before 7:00am, my whole body was anxiously awaiting to get out and explore well before my mind was lol. Nonetheless, I gave in to its adventurous desires, threw on my shoes, headed up to the patio for another incredible breakfast, and was out the door before 8:00am.

Some folks will say that vacations and early rising are not synonymous. I stopped associating with folks like that a long time ago lol. Vacations are what you want them to be! You’re spending you hard earned cash and well-deserved time off; you do it exactly how you want. If you want to sleep in, do it! If you want to beat the crowds and pack in 30+ things in a single day, go for it!

With that little rant out of the way, I’ll press on with my Roman adventures lol.

Today was the pinnacle of my vacation: I was finally going to see the Roman Colosseum. This was only something that I had ever seen in famous movies or billboards growing up, never something I thought I’d actually get to visit in my lifetime. I was elated to finally have tickets in my hand to view this incredible monolith later that morning.

My first stop of the day was to Trevi Fountain, and BOY was it crowded! As I approached the amazing sculpture, the first thing I noticed were the massive crowds surrounding the attraction. All the research I did suggested I get here before 9:00am but even then, the masses had formed.

Nevertheless, I sat in awe of the amazing intricacies along every curve and straight line of the impeccable marble. What’s more is that the more I stared at it, I felt as though I had seen it before, but how could that be? As I racked my brain, I finally came to a distinct memory I had while in Vegas for a good buddy’s bachelor party. Turns out, Vegas has a mockup of this famous fountain at Caesar’s Palace!

Tradition says that you are supposed to throw coins into the fountain for various wishes. One coin guarantees you’ll return to Rome, two coins guarantee you’ll fall in love when you return, and a third coin guarantees you’ll get married after the previous two wishes come true.

So, like a true Instagram influencer, I ponied up a coin, stood with my back to the fountain, and tossed it in. Who wouldn’t want to return to this beautiful city anyway?!

As my timed entry slot for the Colosseum neared closer and closer, I could literally feel the anticipation mounting. Though Google Maps told me that I was only 7-8 minutes away, I noticed my feet were moving at a pace that was going to get me there in more lie 3-4 minutes. Sure enough, as I rounded the corner to the amazing landmark, I was early.

To finally witness something you’d seen made famous only in magazines, movies, books, and documentaries is like finally shaking hands with your childhood hero. It was everything you could’ve dreamed of, and then some.

Like the feeling I get when I reach the pinnacle of a hike, I stood next to the massive stonework feeling miniscule. The towering arches separated by monolithic columns appeared as giants as I walked around the perimeter, trying to get my bearings. I couldn’t fit the entire structure into a single frame that my eyes could comprehend, which paradoxically helped me comprehend the scale of the Colosseum. Before I knew it, it was time to head in!

Just as magnificent as the exterior, the interior of the Colosseum was nothing short of breathtaking. As I wandered the stone halls that literally millions had before me, I instantly felt taken back in time to the days Commodus and Titus.

I had a wonderful time appreciating the fact that I was standing where ancient Romans once moved hastily to their seats to watch the Gladiators battle.

Before I knew it, rain began to fall, and spectators who failed to prepare accordingly for the afternoon showers headed for the overhangs of the structure. Luckily, I had packed an umbrella with me, so I was able to stroll unimpaired by the hundreds of tourists who also had the great idea of visiting this icon on a Saturday.

For a few fleeting moments, it felt as though I had the entire Colosseum to myself, and it was a moment I’ll never forget.

With my soul overflowing with joy and my mind racing with imagination, I took one final glance at the historic feat before making my way to the exit. As though Zeus and I had planned it, the rain ceased falling as I crossed the stone threshold back into the present-day Eternal City, and the 21st Century for that matter.

The next stop on my list was the Roman Forum. I had never heard of the Roman Forum prior to visiting Rome, not in the literal sense anyway. However, it was here that important religious, political and social activities were conducted. Much like the city centers of today’s cities function, everything from (what we would call) farmer’s markets and street performers to elections and political debates took place here as early as 500 B.C.

Meandering the ancient city streets and passing the prominent political buildings, I found myself on the west end of the Forum due to the fact that more people were on the east end, and I apprecaited the peace and quiet. As I pressed through a passageway of a half-standing structure, I was blown away at the amazing view of the Colosseum I was seemingly afforded all by myself.

As if the view of the Colosseum wasn’t already as impressive as one could imagine, the view from the east end of the Forum was unparalleled. I sat for almost an hour in complete silence as only a handful of other tourists joined me in the solitude of the space only found by wandering to the ends of the Forum. The soundlessness of other people amid the awesomeness of the century’s old masterpiece was solace personified.

Checking my Fitbit again, I noticed I was quickly approaching 20,000 steps, and it wasn’t even 3:00pm yet. Nevertheless, my mind’s thirst for adventure begged my feet to continue and, without hesitation, they propelled me through the rest of the Forum for some of the best views in all of Rome.

Sufficiently overwhelmed by the unbelievable sights, my stomach made a sound reserved for something crawling out of the night to scare the life out of its prey and I knew right away that it could only mean one thing: I needed sustenance, fast lol. I found a cozy little cafe that served vegetarian lasagna and ate until the beast inside of me went quietly back into its hole in what I could only describe as a food coma.

Looking out the window of the cafe, I noticed a small fountain across the courtyard that was rather populated for being such a small attraction. In a cat-like fashion, my curiosity peaked, and I found myself navigating in the direction of the medium-sized crowd.

As it turns out, no one was there to stare at the rather benign water feature, rather they were there simply to sit on its steps and enjoy a drink. So, I headed to the small bar serving mixed drinks and beer adjacent to the founatin, grabbed a long island, and perched up on the fountain’s stairs like everyone else.

Afterall, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, amiright? Lol.

Day quickly turned to night and soberness quickly turned to a fun evening buzz. With a slight reduction in reaction speed, I decided to walk down to the Colosseum for one last peak at the icon before the sun set for the evening. While the view wasn’t as great as the view from the Forum, I was more than elated to add a night photo of Rome’s main attraction to my collection. Next stop: bed lol.

Day Three- Seeing the Pope and the Only Gothic Church in Rome (Santa Maria Sopra Minerva)

In my video, I kept wanting to refer to my final day in Rome as being “bittersweet”. However, I had to keep correcting myself because there was just nothing “sweet” about leaving my newly-discovered paradise! The weather had been perfect, the residents welcoming, the sights majestic, and the food heavenly. I didn’t want to leave!

Begrudgingly, I checked out of my amazing little hotel room, handed over my room key, and set off for one final day of exploring before I was set to depart around 5:00pm. Being that it was Sunday, I figured I’d start my day of rest by attending mass in likely the most holy place one could ever attend church: Vatican City!

As I approached the small City State, I had to pass through metal detectors before being directed towards the seating area. Naturally I wanted to sit as close to the stage as possible in anticipation that I might see The Pope with my own two eyes. Comfortably finding a seat near a dozen or so nuns, I sat my backpack down under my chair before opening the small booklet handed to me by one of the volunteer ushers.

Well, I couldn’t have chosen a better day to attend lol. Just as my luck would have it, I wasn’t going to simply be attending mass at the Vatican, I was an hour early for the beatification of Pope John Paul I…what?!

According to Wikipedia, beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person’s entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name. Because I’m a Christian, I’m not too familiar with the Roman Catholic Church, but a large crowd in front of the Vatican could only mean one thing: the Pope was coming! Lol.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when the Pope took center stage as the echoes of the heavenly choir bounced off the historic buildings all around me before entering my ears. Was I dreaming? Had I really been so fortunate enough to have this cherry on top of my vacation? I had to literally pinch myself to remind myself that I really was here and that this really was happening.

Not knowing a lick of Italian, I tried my best as I joined in with the masses singing hymns found in our tiny rain-soaked booklets. Oh, did I forget to mention that it was raining? I might have, only because with all the magical things going on around me, I hardly even noticed.

As the service concluded around 11:00am, I headed in the opposite direction of the towering shadow formed by St Peters Basilica. Realizing I had forgotten to eat breakfast, my stomach pangs grew stronger and stronger as they seemed to make out the audible word, “fooooood” lol. I gave in to its demand and stopped at a small cafe and had a croissant and cappuccino. I was in heaven.

Shortly after I paid my tab and bided farewell to the nice Italian couple I chatted with over breakfast, I made my way to the only gothic church in Rome: Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.

To get there, I had to pass the monumental angelic statues guarding the bridge leading up to Castel Sant’Angelo. For some strange reason, I kept thinking of Tom Hanks’ 2006 thriller, The Da Vinci Code.

Ominous choir music seemed to fill my head as a slight feeling of paranoia creeped over my shoulder before filling my body. It felt as though at any moment, these statues might just come alive and begin the rapture as foretold in the book of Revelations. Weird, but, that’s the kind of shit I think about in places like this lol.

The more I took photos of the stone giants, the more I noticed, and subsequently admired, the complexity and smoothness of the stone. I wonder if he knew that his creations would live on into the 21st century?

Safely across the St. Angelo Bridge constructed by Emperor Hadrian in 134 A.D., I made my way through the city’s streets and alleys before finally arriving at the St Maria Sopra Minerva Basilica. She was an absolute beauty, and as I crossed the threshold into the church, I was instantly in awe.

The arches, the craftsmanship, the intricate masonry, it all worked in such a beautiful fashion that it felt like I was at a concert where magic was the opener and innovation was the headliner. There’s just something about gothic cathedrals that cannot be put into words, it simply needs to be experienced. If I had to try, I’d say that there’s something alluring about the scale and weightlessness one simultaneously feels when in the presence of these structures.

After about an hour’s worth of my final moments in Rome spent cranking my neck to see the different angles of light flooding into the St Maria Sopra Minerva Basilica from the windows, I said goodbye to the basilica and made my way (sulkingly) to the airport. My time here was finished, or finito as the locals might say.

Though I’m not big on legends, or even luck for that matter, there is one legend I hope to be true: the Trevi Fountain legend. If tradition has it her way, I’ll undoubtedly return to the Eternal City because, well, I threw a coin in the fountain after all. And, if fate doesn’t want to play ball, then I guess I’ll just have to buy another plane ticket show her who’s boss 😉

Thanks for reading!