Stop # 1:
Much like researching the best gelato, I knew I also couldn't mess around with finding us some good coffee in Italy and San Eustachio was named in a guidebook as having the best cappuccino in all of Rome. SCORE! They actually make their cappuccino while hidden behind the counter as not to give away their magic secrets.
I was afraid Italian coffee was going to be too potent and strong for my 'delicate'
A lot of places charge extra to take a seat (IF they even have seats available, which there were none in San Eustachio), so most folks just gulp down thier goods before heading out on thier busy day. (and don't even THINK of asking for a "to go" cup...they will look at you like you have 12 heads! The Italians may RUSH out the door...but they SAVOR thier coffee in one place!)
And I just couldn't resist getting this tiny little pastry to go along with our coffee. It was sooooo crunchy!
Anyway, after some more wandering we hit STOP #2: Finding good paninis for lunch!
We had seen so many people wandering the streets with paper wrapped sandwiches (apparently SANDWICHES "ON THE GO" are A-OKJ), that we knew it would make the perfect lunch.
After perusing a few shops, we happen to find this random place close to our next destination and decided to give it a whirl...
We both got simple salami and mozzarella paninis, and I am NOT exaggerating when I say this was the BEST sandwich I ever had in my LIFE!!!!!!! It was just light, crispy, flavorful & airy all at the same time. I think I saw stars when I took my first biteJ hahahhahahhaha I know that's quite a bit of hype for a simple salami sandwich, but I don't know...it was true love at first biteJ
We ALSO ate our sandwiches like true locals: huddled around the store front and chowin downJ
Next up was STOP #3. Cue jaw dropping now....
We literally turned a corner and my breath was promptly whisked away by my first views of St. Peter's Basilica & the Tiber river. I was just speechless by the beauty of it all!
What we NOT so beautiful about the Vatican??? THE CROWDS!!!!!!!!!! I don't know if I've ever been somewhere that was SOOOOOOOOOO people dense. It was hard to even stop and take anything in. You just had to KEEP MOVING!! I almost got swallowed by a tour group in the 3 seconds it took to take this pictureJ
(Can't you just SEE the "fear" in my eyes?? J)
But it was all worth it to see the enormous rooms & domes...
...elaborate ceilings...
...and of course, the museum's main attraction.
OK...I lied. The museum wasn't the most "people dense," the chapel wasJ I will always remember the spectacular ceiling coupled with the KAZILLIONS of people and the guards "SSSUSHING" the crowd which was WAY louder than any of the crowd's buzz. Sorta hilarious, reallyJ
After the museum, we headed into the basilica...
...where we were met with MORE HUGE rooms...
....CRAZY elaborate and ornate domes & ceilings...
...and Michelangelo's Pieta, which was pretty incredible to see in person and to know he sculpted it when he was only 24 years old! (what the hell were YOU doing when you were 24?? I know I wasn't sculpting a masterpieceJ)
(oh yes...and more crowds. Don't forget about the CROWDS!J)
Next, we took the elevator to the base of the famous basilica dome before taking the steep...
...and CLAUSTROPHOBIC 320 steps to the top of the dome.
But the view when we emerged from the
This was probably one of my favorite things we did in all of Rome. It was just extraordinary to see the entire city just laid out at your feet.
After descending back down the dome (which, honestly, was almost as challenging as climbing UP! Shallow steep spiral staircases can play tricks on the eyes!) we headed to a NICEEEE quiet side street...
For....you guessed it! Our daily dose of gelatoJ
Scott renergized himself with some caramel, tiramisu and fiodilatte (vanilla made with no eggs)...
...and I went the 'light & refreshing route' by way of some mandarin orange & strawberry...
Oh, strawberry. I will never love another strawberry ice cream as much as thee! Nothing can compare to your FLAVOR PACKED sweetness. Till we meet again...J
After resting our feet and recharging with our gelato, we headed over to the neighboring Castle San'Angelo...
Once used as a mausoleum for the Romans...but I used it as another place to get spectacular views of the city!
Not the mention the most TO DIE FOR sunset overlooking the Vatican...
After heading back down to earth, we walked along the Tiber river...
And headed to the little town of Trastevere to yet ANOTHER unmarked alley way...
...to a place that was heralded as having the best pizza in Rome. STOP #4...
Dar Poeta's secret for fabulous pizza apparently hails from it's mix of flours that produces a "light & easy to digest pizza without any of the heavy, greasy feeling." One bite and I can say they were correct.
This was one of the AIRY-est pizza's I've ever had. It barely had any weight to it AT ALL. Even the toppings (including Scott's FOUR cheese) were incredibly light. It was bizarre...but delicious! And we thought it was funny that this wasn't sliced AT ALL. That was YOUR jobJ hehehehehe...
We also had an appetizer of a bruschetta sampler...
I BELIEVE we had a cheese & salami (my favorite), a basil & sweet cheese (my SECOND favorite), a tomato, chickpea with lemon, pesto & goat cheese and we guessed one that was mushroom. They were all sooooooo good...except the mushroom (but were not mushroom fansJ)
And are you even READY for our dessert???????????
A simple little calzone, right??
WRONG-O!
As this one was STUFFED (and I mean STUFFED) with....
You guessed it...that God's gift ingredient known as NUTELLA!!!!!!!!!!!
Picture that SUPER THIN AND AIRY pizza crust surrounding a POOL of gooey, warm nutella. Did you just feel warm & cozy inside?? hehehehehehe....yes, it was outstandingJ
And to work off our bruschetta, pizza and NUTELLA....we took a long stroll to what would be our first destination of the next morning:
Had we only known that THIS was the ONLY peaceful moment we were going to have there...we would have hung around longerJ hahahahahahahahaha....stay tuned for most CROWDS, CHAOS and one of our most unique meals of our entire trip coming tomorrow!
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