woke up at 7, showered, packed and headed for the airport. Got to the Prague airport around 9:30, checked in and waited for our 11:50 flight. 2 hours later we landed in Roma! Ahh, it felt like coming home! Upon getting our luggage, we boarded a shuttle bus and Mark took us to the Victor Emmanuel Monument (the wedding cake building), Trevi Fountain (here I am wishing for a return trip to Rome!), the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Afterward, we went to the hotel and checked in. The hotel itself is pretty nice but its about 20 min outside of Rome.
At 7, we got back on the bus and headed into town for our included dinner (Gweed overslept!). Penne pasta and chicken.. yum!!!! It was Flavia's birthday so she got a special dessert and we all sang to her. She is too cute. Derek is starting to feel the Contiki Cough. Gross. Anyways, back to the hotel by 9:30 for an early night.9/22-Rome:
After some much needed sleep, we woke up at 7, showered and left the hotel at 9:15. We rode the bus to Ottiviano metro and walked to the Vatican Museum where we had gelato for breakfast. (Our goal for Rome was for the 3 of us to have 26 gelatos while in Rome for my 26th birthday hehe) Anyways, our Vatican tour was ok. Our tour guide spent a lot of time going over the Sistine Chapel and we didn't see as many things as we did the last time we went there, but nonetheless it was cool to go again. The pope was doing a talk in St Peter's Square that day so we couldn't go into the basilica but we got some "Where's Waldo" shots of the pope.
After pizza and more gelato, the 3 of us rode the metro to Termini station to purchase our Roma Pass (a 3 day transportation pass and entry to 3 sites) and then onto Piazza di Spagna to see the Spanish Steps. It was quite hot in Rome that day so we didn't linger long and made our way back to Ottiviano for more gelato and to meet the group. We got back to the hotel at 5, showered and met in the lobby to fill out a Contiki survey. We left the hotel around 7:30 for the optional dinner show. The food and wine was really good and the show was interesting (some enjoyed it more than others! ahem Derek!) The show ended around 10:30 and we went back to the hotel for another early night.
9/23-Rome:My birthday!!! Yay! Woke up at 8, showered and left the hotel at 9:15 to catch the bus to Ottiviano metro to Colleseo. A large group of us went through the Roman Forum and then Derek and I separated from the rest and went through the Colloseum with Kristin and Matt (Gweed was being pretty cranky, sorry buddy but you were, and I wanted to avoid the negative energy from the Chloe-Derek situation)
Afterward, the 4 of us caught the metro to get off near the Capuccin Crypt. We found a nice little restaurant where I had some of the best pizza I've ever had in Italy. Followed by more gelato, we went shopping near the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. By early afternoon, we were all starting to feel tired so we caught a cab back to the hotel at 3:30. After a nice nap and another shower, we met in the lobby at 7 to go out for my birthday. Everyone came out!!!! :) The 4 of us took a cab to Piazza Navona where everyone took a lot of last group shots since this was the last night of the Contiki tour. Eventually, we all walked to a small ass pizzeria where it proceeded to take 2 hours for everyone to order, eat and pay. Kind of annoying when your group was done by the end of the first hour. But nonetheless everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to me and I got some kind of tiramisu dessert. Yay on the first part; I'm not a big coffee fan so I graciously had a few bites before passing it on to Derek, who is getting worse with his cough by the way (along with Matt and Gweed--what is up with the men getting sick?!) FINALLY, the group walked to a small pub where if you paid 20 euro you could have unlimited drinks for 2 hours. We cheated: Derek paid the 20 euro and then rubbed his stamp on my hand. Genius! Although the dinner pretty much dampened my mood, along with Kristin and Matt dipping out early (Kristin had to get up at 4 in the morning and Matt sounded like he was dying at this point). But we managed to hang out until 12:30 before we caught a cab back to the hotel. Such a bittersweet night. I met some really kickass people on tour that I am missing dearly right now. They almost become your family since you're stuck with them day in and day out for those 2 short weeks. But Derek and I would be lying if we said we didn't have our favorites and we have already made it our goal to make sure we see them again! (you should know who you are! ahem our 4 favorite aussies and lil kiwi ;)
9/24-Rome:
Afterward, the 4 of us caught the metro to get off near the Capuccin Crypt. We found a nice little restaurant where I had some of the best pizza I've ever had in Italy. Followed by more gelato, we went shopping near the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. By early afternoon, we were all starting to feel tired so we caught a cab back to the hotel at 3:30. After a nice nap and another shower, we met in the lobby at 7 to go out for my birthday. Everyone came out!!!! :) The 4 of us took a cab to Piazza Navona where everyone took a lot of last group shots since this was the last night of the Contiki tour. Eventually, we all walked to a small ass pizzeria where it proceeded to take 2 hours for everyone to order, eat and pay. Kind of annoying when your group was done by the end of the first hour. But nonetheless everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to me and I got some kind of tiramisu dessert. Yay on the first part; I'm not a big coffee fan so I graciously had a few bites before passing it on to Derek, who is getting worse with his cough by the way (along with Matt and Gweed--what is up with the men getting sick?!) FINALLY, the group walked to a small pub where if you paid 20 euro you could have unlimited drinks for 2 hours. We cheated: Derek paid the 20 euro and then rubbed his stamp on my hand. Genius! Although the dinner pretty much dampened my mood, along with Kristin and Matt dipping out early (Kristin had to get up at 4 in the morning and Matt sounded like he was dying at this point). But we managed to hang out until 12:30 before we caught a cab back to the hotel. Such a bittersweet night. I met some really kickass people on tour that I am missing dearly right now. They almost become your family since you're stuck with them day in and day out for those 2 short weeks. But Derek and I would be lying if we said we didn't have our favorites and we have already made it our goal to make sure we see them again! (you should know who you are! ahem our 4 favorite aussies and lil kiwi ;)
9/24-Rome:woke up at 9 to check out of our Contiki hotel (more goodbyes in the lobby--so sad!) and took a cab to Hotel Lancelot where Derek and I stayed at the last time we were in Rome. Our cabbie was f'in crazy! After almost hitting a guy's dog he proceeds to get into an argument with him before cussing out a girl for trying to parallel park lol. After checking into the hotel, we caught the metro to Ottiviano, grabbed some pizza and headed to St Peter's for our Scavi tour which takes you underneath the basilica. I think all 3 of us were feeling pretty drained at this point; feel were hurting and Derek and Gweed were looking worse. But we trudged on. After the Scavi tour, we went inside the basilica for some pictures and after more gelato we headed to Castel Sant Angelo. AMAZING VIEWS! I made the boys walk up many steps but wow was it worth it!
Nonetheless, us sleepy Americans caught a cab back to the hotel so we could take a nap before meeting the Aussie girls for a last dinner. At 7, we looked our hotel window to see Hayley and D waiting for us. Bel apparently had had a pretty crazy night on my birthday and was still feeling hungover. So the 5 of us walked to the pizzeria down the street, grabbed some more gelato (our final tally was 27- one to grow on! lol) and walked around the Colosseum for a good hour. It is so pretty at night:
I think we were trying to drag out these goodbyes as long as possible. Unfortunately, it came time for us to head back and do final packing so we said ciao to the girls and walked back. We were so excited to be finally going back home to see our kitties!!
Nonetheless, us sleepy Americans caught a cab back to the hotel so we could take a nap before meeting the Aussie girls for a last dinner. At 7, we looked our hotel window to see Hayley and D waiting for us. Bel apparently had had a pretty crazy night on my birthday and was still feeling hungover. So the 5 of us walked to the pizzeria down the street, grabbed some more gelato (our final tally was 27- one to grow on! lol) and walked around the Colosseum for a good hour. It is so pretty at night:
I think we were trying to drag out these goodbyes as long as possible. Unfortunately, it came time for us to head back and do final packing so we said ciao to the girls and walked back. We were so excited to be finally going back home to see our kitties!!9/25-en route to home:
woke up way too early to catch at cab to the airport. The cabbie tried to rip us off but good ol Rick Steves saved the day. After a LOOOONG 10 hour flight, we connected in Chicago and finally made it back home around 6:30 eastern time, had some Skyline and passed the fuck out. Kitties were so happy to see us, I swear Josie was my shadow for a good week! Derek and Gweed were really sick (both ended up having sinus infections) and I was starting to come down with something myself (I am still struggling with bronchitis-figure that one out!).
But all in all, this was definitely a trip I don't think any of us will ever forget. Contiki is a great tour company and again we met some really great people. We have pictures and memories to last us a lifetime and even if we don't make it abroad again before kids, I am glad to say we ended with a bang.
Thanks for reading all, I hope I made sense in my crazy rambling. Until next time (when its back to normal and boring).. Ciao!!!
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