Woo-hoo! Booked! Guess Where I’m Traveling to Next? [Hint: It’s in Italy!]
I’m excited to announce my next travel adventure – a month in Rome! [Yes.a.whole.month.in.Roma – the eternal city] And not for work, just pure pleasure (though I will be working remotely, occasionally). I feel so fortunate and grateful that I have to keep pinching myself. You may be wondering how such a stroke of luck came about…
How did this come about?
Basta! Enough! No more crying in my soup.
At the beginning of the year, while crying in my soup over the looming prospect of no Italy, or other, travel plans on my calendar, an unexpected email came to my inbox… from a friend who last year made the super brave decision to follow his dreams, sell the farm (his house, actually), sell, pack and store his belongings, and took the leap of going to live in Italy and to paint. This spring while away traveling, he’s graciously offered me the chance to stay at his place and call Rome my home for a while.
Q. How do you say “no” to an offer like that?
A. You don’t. …It’s the proverbial offer too good to refuse. Fortunately, I’ve created a business that, in this instance, allows me the flexibility to arrange my schedule around such an adventure.
Why is this an exciting prospect?
Get to hang my hat for a month in Rome!
It’s exciting on different levels: I love Italy and deeply identify with the language and culture, having spent nearly a decade living there early on in my adult life. Any time I’m back in Italy, my heart and soul sing. And though I spent so much time calling the “boot” (one of Italy’s nicknames) my home, I barely know Rome, so the opportunity of a new place to explore and discover thrills me.
All roads lead to (and from) Rome
Plus, just as all roads lead to Rome, it’s also a great point of departure. It’ll provide the perfect chance to enjoy Italy’s rail system to visit friends in other places. And, it makes for a great opportunity for Italian friends to pop in and visit me.
How is it I barely know Rome?
Goal: Avoiding throngs of tourists. (Credit: Last Flight Out Photography, “Fontana di Trevi”)
With so much time spent in Italy, how can that be? Well, it’s never been a big draw for me – conjuring up notions of throngs of tourists standing in long lines (or having to book tickets far in advance to avoid said lines) and crowding around to see the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican, etc.… like so many boxes to tick off.
[Side note: Per recent statistics, Rome is the city most visited by foreigners in the world. 54% are European, with folks also coming from North and South America and Southeast Asia. The most common nationality of these tourists is American.]
What’s different about this trip?
Ponte Milvio, Rone’s oldest bridge. Oil on canvas. (Art credit: Rich Evans)
This travel experience will be different. I’ll have the luxury of living in this famed, bustling city and getting to know it from the inside out. I love this idea… living in a residential neighborhood (Ponte Milvio), riding a bike around, taking the bus and other public transport, shopping at mom n’ pop stores for food, cooking at home, sleeping in the same place every night (except for side trips), and the chance to unpack and set up household.
What’s next?
I fly the coop in three weeks!
So now, with air tickets booked (how I snagged a round-trip for just $11 in an upcoming post) and lodgings locked in place, I can dedicate myself to plotting and sleuthing out how I’ll spend a glorious month based in Rome, and where I’ll go on side trips. Stay tuned!
[Side note: I take off in 3 weeks – plenty to do is an understatement – and I’ll be reporting in on how the Travel Challenge is going, as well as sharing other trip-prep goodness.]
Have you visited Rome (or is it on your bucket list)? What do you love about it, and what suggestions do you have for what to see and do there (especially lesser-known things)? Have you ever travel-stayed somewhere for an extended period of time? Love to hear your comments!
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Sounds wonderful!!! So happy for you!! I’ve been to Rome twice both times like the tourists in your story!! Your way sounds much better! But loved it anyway!!❤️
Grazie, Anna!! I love being able to see/learn/live in a place like a local (as much as possible) … not sure I would tackle big, chaotic Roma any other way. 🙂
Great post Jodina, it is so great that you see an opportunity and grab it!
Rome reminded us of New York, big city with lots of tourists. Like other big cities you realize that they are really made up of many small communities and that makes for a more fulfilling experience.
When we visited Rome (two days) we were so Sicilia-ified (mellow and fulfilled) it was hard to get in the big city vibe that we are accustomed to. We walked to the usual tourist spots and although interesting, couldn’t manage to fully appreciate them. We are not the guided tour types, but we decided to get a guided tour of the Vatican Museum and that was worth the time and money. We bypassed all the lines. Our guide would take us aside pull out a book and explain what we were about to see. She gave us the background of the artist, the artwork and even the politics of the time that the art was created. Then we would walk through the gallery with a more complete view of the art. It was amazing.
I can’t wait to hear about your experience in a neighborhood where the locals can help steer the course.
Grazie, Carolina!! My motto is ‘when life gives you lemons, make limoncello’!
I never considered myself the guided-tour sort either, until I started organizing group tours. I came to realize that I get so much more out of visiting the important monuments, museums, etc with an expert who’s able to share the nitty-gritty and back story.
When in Rome, I think I’ll book a tour(s) of the major attractions for exactly that reason… and to avoid roaming around with the herd, staring in amazement at things I don’t really understand (other than that they’re old and important 😉 )
As for the ‘hood, that I’ll wander and explore myself, armed of course with my friend’s hand-drawn map and guide to his local faves and their owners.
Bacioni 🙂
Roma e fantastico!
Mi piace molto GELATO! Devi mangiare Giolitti’s e Grom.
So che ti divertirai. Buon viaggio!
Grazie cara! Ho intenzione di mangiare il gelato ogni giorno. Ho gia` assaggiato quello da Grom a Torino ed e` molto buono. Cerchero` Giolitti.
Un abbraccio
Nice!!!
Thanks, Ed!!!
Very exciting for you! We have spent as long as 5 weeks in Italia but staying in several different places. Now we have a 10 day minimum for our very special place and a 6 day minimum for Siena, a place where a piece of our hearts always remains. Getting to visit year after year has definitely given us a sense of coming home when we are there. Have been to Rome on 4 occasions and hoping to make it a 5th in October. We haven’t even scratched the surface and would like to get to know it a little better.
Thanks, Bonnie! You are a traveler after my own heart. And I totally hear you about leaving a piece of your heart in Italy. It’s like I can never get enough. I don’t know Siena yet – really would love to visit during Palio. Have you been for that? Curious to know what your ‘very special 10-day minimum place’ is.
Thanks for checking out the blog and adding to the conversation. 🙂
Girl you are an awesome blogger – can you do that for me too ? can’t wait to see you in person ! ! love you Diane
Thanks lady, coming from you that means a lot to me – lots of effort has gone into this little ‘child’ o’ mine!
Can’t wait to see you live, too. Ti volgio bene xo
Ciao Jodina! Right now in the Netherlands (spent a week in Amsterdam & just finishing two weeks in Gouda) — apartments in both places. Fabulous time in Amsterdam, amazing food! And have been doing day trips from Gouda to The Hague, Delft, Rotterdam, and to the gorgeous gardens, Keukenhof — imagine 7000 flower bulbs in bloom — incredible. Have met bunches of really nice fellow travelers and after 3 weeks, feel like we’re living here. And if you love cheeses, what a place! Leaving tomorrow for Bruges and new adventures in Belgium before returning to NL in about 3 more weeks. Hope to hear of your travels, via blog or otherwise as you are in “my beloved country”! And let me know what you discover in/around Bologna. We’ll be back in Italia in September/October for a month, with 23 days in Reggio Emilia — more adventure!!!!
Keep in touch!!!
Wow, Joyce, what an amazing whirlwind tour you’re having – sounds wonderful! I’ve only been to Amsterdam – great place to hang out on a long layover.
My favorite flower is the tulip, and spring must be gorgeous there. And cheese, formaggio?? Love the stuff, I am originally a Cheesehead, after all 😉
Enjoy it all – divertiti tanto! We’ll touch base over summer, and I’ll fill you in on what I learn about Bologna and Reggio Emilia.
Here’s to great travel adventures! xo
Ciao Jodina,
Mi Casa e` tu Casa. Enjoy: “Eat, Love Pray… and Drink”:-) “Dolce Vita”
Rich
Grazie caro amico… for the sound advice… I will do all those things, tho not necessarily in that order 😉
Bacioni xo
That’s great!! How exciting!! Have a wonderful time.
Thanks, Giovanni! 🙂 xo
Still not sure about my departure… It may be from Milan instead, but here is my favorite Rome restaurant: http://www.ristorantegioiamia.it
Grazie bella, this ristorante looks like the place to go for typical Roman fare… and such an interesting history 😉 I do hope our paths will cross in Roma! xo