Italy 2017: Part 2

If you missed Part 1, click here.

Girls' Trips are always the best, but this trip will always be one of my favorites. You may remember that we spent 10 days in Italy, dividing the time between Florence and Rome. For part 2, today I will discuss all of our activities in Rome.

For this trip, I didn't plan anything. My cousin Tiffany booked everything and had some things in her head that she wanted us to try.

We stayed in an AirBnB near Campo di Fiori.

This was the market during the day.

Because we were often so tired, we did end up just eating here a couple of times. Not memorable. (Having a plan ahead of your exhaustion is always needed!)

Tiffany and I explored the Castel Sant' Angelo. It was just as beautiful then as it was this past summer.

The Fall colors were gorgeous everywhere we went.

We also visited the Vatican. But the best part was Tiffany reserving the first tour spot of the day. Now, at the time, nobody wanted to get up that early. But the payoff was being inside the Sistine Chapel alone. Our group was only about 20 large. We did bypass all of the museums in the Vatican to head straight to the Chapel. And for like three minutes we were alone, completely mesmerized by the ceiling. No pictures were allowed, and honestly, it was one of those moments when pictures weren't needed. A picture would never capture the feeling I had of being in the space in a peaceful, calm way. Like I said, three minutes later, the masses started pouring in. But for that few minutes, it was breathtaking.

You can see how we were the first down the long corridor leading to the Sistine Chapel.

Please listen. The sounds of the streets in Rome are incredible. In the summer, I don't remember things like this. I feel like it might have been too crowded.

We also toured the Colosseum.

I visited the house where John Keats died, The Keats-Shelley Memorial.

As Keats was dying, he stayed in the bedroom and watched the people on the Spanish Steps.

I teach Frankenstein, so the writing desk of Mary Shelley was a tremendous surprise! Those are some of her original drafts.

We celebrated Mom's birthday in Trastevere.

Once we discovered Osteria da Fortunata so close to our apartment, we ate there twice. This also explains why I took the whole family back this summer. I had to have the carbonara again!

Just looking at this makes my mouth water. The crispy pancetta with those doughy noodles was so good that on our last night, Tiffany and I ordered two servings.

I was so excited to discover this pastry shop just around the corner from the apartment.

Can you tell they are sisters?

Cannoli or gelato? It doesn't matter. I always say yes.

Another fabulous picture by Tiffany.

If you get the chance to travel with the women in your family, do it. It was so fun. I can't wait to plan something like this for Elaine and me in the future.