Some days we just stumbled around Rome. Some days we wandered the streets without a clear destination. Once we happened upon the Pantheon. We weren’t even looking for it. We turned a corner and there it was. Just an ancient building, built almost 2,000 years ago. An iconic landmark. A world famous structure still used today as a Catholic church. And we stumbled upon it like you would any old cafe or shop. The Pantheon.
Man, Rome blew our minds.
**********
Neither of us had been to Rome before, and it was my first time in Italy (Mark had been there before, but as a tiny bambino political refugee fleeing the Soviet Union with his family), so we were on a mission to soak up all things Italian. Among our favorites: The faded pinks, yellows, and greens of the buildings. The coffee, the pizza, the pasta, the gelato (damn, the gelato). The friendly people, the heated/passionate discussions we overheard (yet, didn’t understand), the men in slim-fitting suits and leather shoes. The narrow, cobblestone streets. The overgrown plants. The piazzas full of people enjoying the waning sunlight, their cold beers, their friends and family. The pace of life. The slow meals. The way they linger over a single glass of wine. The wine! The architecture, the history. We loved it all.
*As you can see, Rome is ridiculously photogenic. I apologize for the massive photo dump here, but just know that I whittled this down from about 500 pictures.
Click for more photos.
More from Travel
Discover Another World at White Sands National Monument
Deep in the heart of New Mexico, about an hour and a half from the Mexican border, lives the largest …
Quick Update From a Super 8 in West Virginia
The first few days of our cross-country road trip have been pretty incredible. We were supposed to make it to Kentucky …
Reflections: Two Months In
I’ll tell you, it hasn’t always been easy. It hasn’t always been comfortable. But it has certainly been adventurous every …
