Photo by Travel Coffee Book

Rome, Italy

Rome will forever be one of my favourite places to visit.  The locals are incredibly friendly.  The food is amazing.  The architecture and the art is beautiful. The weather is pretty much always nice.

Do you love art? Architecture? that was made thousands of years ago.  I don't know anyone who wouldn't.  Almost every street in central rome has a beautiful church with works of art.  Look inside all the churches you come across. You may find something extra special, a Caravaggio perhaps?

Length of Trip

If you are planning on visiting Rome, I would suggest that you book for at least 9 days.  There is so much to see that you will not even make a dent.  One week is really not enough to see Rome.  Try booking some tours around the city, you can usually do this thru your carrier.  It would take you years to see everything.

Being Prepared

Bring a pair of great walking shoes.  Rome is a fairly large city and their taxi fair is quite steep.  You will find yourself walking many kilometres a day, but trust me, it'll be worth it.  If you will be travelling during the summer, you will have to bring a hat.  Although you may look like a tourist, the street vendors will often sell the Chinese fan umbrellas: these are great if it's scorching hot (August). It's also a good idea to bring some warmer clothing and jackets for the colder times of the year.

Food

Food is very important to the Italians.  They eat later than we do (8pm) and it is a fairly big ordeal.  It usually consists of a three or four course meal and locals will spend a few hours eating.  If you go to a restaurant where the owner/staff member is urging you to go inside.  Chances are the food is crap.  The cooks who really value their food will not ever do such a thing for their own pride.

You may notice that their isn't all that much breakfast or lunch food.  This is because the Italians will basically really only eat a supper.  Every morning I would go to a "grocery store" or "health food store" and buy myself a small breakfast.  This was much cheaper than going to a restaurant and I could get a healthy meal for myself.

Drinks

If you are a coffee drinker your in luck! Especially if you are not European.  Coffee where I live is pretty bad.  The beans we tend to have make the coffee taste burnt. It's weird.  In Europe however, I absolutely love love love their coffee.  Cappuccinos and espressos all the way.

Another thing that I found was delicious was their Coca Cola.  If you didn't know, every country basically has a different Coke recipe.  I found that the Italian one was much better then the North American version.

Safety 

Do not carry a map out in the open or wear a fanny pack.  You just scream tourist.  Most places that's not a big deal but in Italy it is.  You will be a prime candidate for pick pocketing.  Leave your important money and passport in the safe at the hotel or keep it hidden in your shoe.  Go into a store to open your map or to ask for directions.  If you have read anything about Rome you would have been warned against thieves.  I will be honest with you, you will most likely encounter one.  There are other things that you can do to protect your valuables.  Do not put any of your essentials in a bag, or if you must, put it deep inside the bag.  If you carry a purse keep the zipper towards you.  While walking keep your hand on that zipper.

Rome is a beautiful beautiful place. If I could only pick one place to ever travel to. It would be Rome.