In the “Cudablin” project, we send completely different people on trips at our expense! Yulia Pankova visited Rome: she tasted the local cuisine, visited the Vatican and felt like one of the heroines of Federico Fellini’s films. More details in her report!
My Roman holiday began from Fiumicino airport, from where I planned to get to the city in the fastest and cheapest way – by rail (the cost of a ticket for the Treno Regionale train is 8 euros). At Ostiense station I changed to the metro line B and 20 minutes later I was standing at the hotel door.
The Seiler Hotel, where I stayed, was close to the main attractions. After half an hour of measured steps, walking through the narrow streets, I saw with my own eyes what I had read about in school history textbooks. The Colosseum attracted my thoughts and every minute I wanted to know as much as possible about this grandiose building. I only managed to take a few shots when it started to rain heavily. Gray thunderclouds covered the sky in a matter of minutes, leaving not a single light stripe on it. I had to urgently change plans and look for a free table in a cafe nearby. At that moment, sitting with a glass of red Italian wine, I felt like one of the heroines of Federico Fellini.
The first day of exploring the Eternal City was coming to an end. I did not try to visit all the museums and architectural monuments, because this is impossible to do. In Rome you need to walk. To walk alot! On every street there are sculptural and artistic masterpieces, and numerous churches and cathedrals contain original paintings by ancient artists. I was deeply impressed by the volumetric Renaissance fresco in Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola. You can admire the painted ceiling for a long time, until your neck gets tired.
The next morning it’s hot again. The city was hot as a frying pan. Drinking fountains with the purest water saved you from thirst, allowing you to fill your bottles completely free of charge every time.
If this is your first time in Rome, don’t rush. Just walk around, grab a takeaway pizza and enjoy some gelato. Start your morning with hot cornetti and coffee, then go for a walk. Walk to Trevi Square, where you will hear the sound of the fountain from afar. Climb the Spanish Steps and walk through Piazza Navona to the Pantheon. Don’t miss Pizzeria Navona Notte, which can be overlooked as it is hidden on a quiet street. The pizza here is what you need.
During the journey, I did not forget that in Rome I had to complete a task. The Italian woman I met on a couchsurfing site didn’t come to the meeting and I had to get out of it in another way. I was able to try the national pasta with artichokes with a Mexican who did not refuse to take a photo of me. The language barrier was no problem and we had a great time.
By the evening of the second day, my legs were buzzing and giving way as if after a forced march. I sat down at a table in one of the restaurants in the Trastevere district, where without thinking twice I chose “Spritz”. How I love Italian aperitif time. You order a glass of something, and in the end you get free access to the salad bar: chips, olives, sandwiches and classic Italian “tramezzino” sandwiches. There are no metro stations in this area; you can only leave there by tram, the last of which I safely missed, preferring to talk with the curly-haired waiter. There was no other choice but to take a taxi. About ten minutes later, a car stopped in front of the restaurant, driven by an Italian woman of about forty. She didn’t speak English. Her white wavy hair, casually tied into a bun, gave her the appearance of an aristocratic lady. Lanterns were lit on the ancient streets, the avenues were filled with loving couples and ordinary Romans.
I dedicated the whole day before flying home to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. I climbed five hundred and fifty steps to the top of the dome and saw the most postcard view of Rome. Please note that entrance tickets can only be purchased in cash. And it’s better to come before opening to avoid a long line under the scorching sun.
On the way to the airport, I caught myself thinking that two days and two weeks would not be enough in Rome. The city left an unforgettable impression and a desire to return here again!
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Text and photo author: Yulia Pankova (@pankovajullia)
Preview photo: Unsplash.com
