Italy

Rome and Naples

Day Eleven: 

We arrived late in Rome! The taxi line at the airport was pretty straightforward, but make sure to ask if they take credit cards before you get into the car! I was overwhelmed and forgot, so we ran out of cash way faster than anticipated. Our lodging was, I kid you not, a street over from the Trevi Fountain. We walked by it and were the picture of the memes of suitcases on cobblestones. After dinner and gelato, we headed back and fell right asleep. 

Day Twelve:

Today was the day my sister was meeting us! My mom and I chilled in our rooms and finally went out to meet my sister. Again we got lunch and gelato, before walking to the Spanish Steps. There were so many people. I can’t emphasize that enough. It was very overwhelming. Shops and restaurants lined all the roads and we spent many an hour walking around. On the way back, we stopped at Libreria M.T.Cicerone, an underground bookstore. It looked like it went on for miles. 

Day Thirteen:

Today was a tour day! First off was the Colosseum! Our tour guide was wonderful. The second part was without the tour guide and through the Roman Forum. I wish I had done some extra research for this part because our trio just sort of wandered around and looked at the old remains without knowing much of the history and context behind them. This took up most of the day and by the time we were done, we were starving. I can’t remember where we ate but it was a brunch place with this amazing sweet potato bowl. Because our energy was empty, we took one of the Hop-On Hop-Off buses. This showed us some of the city we hadn’t before (and gave our feet a rest).

After more walking and dinner, we dropped my mom off and my sister and I went to la Feltrinelli before going to Origano Trevi. This had the best food of our time in Rome and such varied vegan options. I got cacio e pepe while my sister got pesto gnocchi. We had this thousand leaves cake which was a MUST. I’m still thinking about how good it was. All of these had vegan or dairy options! 
Couldn’t help but walk by the Trevi on the way back!

Day Fourteen: 

One of the musts my mom wanted to do was go to the Vatican City and see St. Peter’s Basilica. This, again, was a long tour with so much walking. Our tour guide was excellent and although this wasn’t my favorite tour for place and subject, it was still a beautiful day of walking. 

We went back to Origano with my mom and got takeout from BaoBao Spagna before making our way to Naples.

Day Fifteen: 

Our lodging had the most beautiful sight of the ocean! My heart was so full. 

We missed our first tour but found another one to Pompeii later. It was downpouring today but it saturated the stones. This is such an interesting tour. A guide really helps but you only go around an eighth of the area open to the public. 

Another Hop-On and Hop-Off bus was in our fortunes that day. Naples felt sprawling so this let us see so many good sights of the ocean but not the best option if you’re short on time because of traffic. 

The best meal we had in Naples was at a restaurant named, Mame Ostrichina. I can’t sing the praises of this enough. The chef personally brought everything out and explained the ethos and techniques behind each item. There was handmade vegan caviar using tapioca, sushi with a hybrid of Italian and Japanese flavors, and this eggplant crema dish that was beyond delicious. Both are great options for vegans and meat eaters!

Day Sixteen:

We boarded the plane early to go to Manchester!

Highlights:

• Our lodging near the Trevi Fountain was so magical.

• Seeing my sister!

• The Colosseum tour and walking around the Roman Forum.

• Pompeii!

What to know:

• The driving in Naples is some of the most precarious I’ve ever seen! We went the wrong way in a traffic circle to cut people off and get there faster, for no reason lol

• Really do your research on restaurants before you go. I found them very hit-or-miss in Rome. 

• Make sure a taxi takes a card before you get in. 

Bookstores: 

• Libreria M.T.Cicerone - This was an underground bookstore that went on forever. Some English books!

• La Feltrinelli - This felt like a more mainstream bookstore but it was fun to wander around. There was a room of English books.

Food:

• Origano Trevi -  So good!!! All the vegan and meat options. 

• Mame Ostrichina - This was one of my favorite restaurants. Such an elevated meal that you could really see the care put into it. 

• BaoBao Spagna - Really good! We got takeout but it lasted well and the flavors were delicious.