My Roman Holiday

When I first arrived in London, I was glad to see how easy it was to book flights to continental Europe. I spent a lot of time on Google Flights to plan my travels around the world. It has become one of my favorite hobbies during my first few weeks here. What do you mean I can go to a country for under 50 GBP round trip?! (Shoutout to Ryanair and Wizzair.)

In the last week of September, I decided to put my big girl pants on and travel abroad solo for the first time. I have visited other countries before, but my parents always accompanied me. This first solo trip was a huge milestone for me since I was alone in a different country for the first time in my life. I did not speak the language nor knew anyone there. How scary is that?!

You might be wondering where I went. If you looked at the blog title and said, “Rome, duh,” you are correct! I visited the historical city of Rome alone a month ago, and I was grateful for the experience. As someone who enjoyed history classes in elementary school and high school, seeing Rome in person was a surreal experience. I remember learning about Ancient Rome, but seeing the famous Roman landmarks was akin to witnessing history before my very eyes!

When I landed in Ciampino Airport at 10:30 P.M., I was worried that I would miss the bus that would take me to the train to Roma Termini (which is the city center). This moment was very pivotal since I met a guy from Australia, a woman from Naples, and a lady from London. Despite hailing from different parts of the world, we all had one thing in common: the four of us wanted to get to Roma Termini. We briefly considered taking an Uber and splitting the costs, but we decided to take the bus and train together to the city center.  During the ride, we all talked about what we were doing in Rome and gave some suggestions on what to do. Friendships were unexpectedly made during such a distressing time!

Regardless, the next day was less stressful. I ventured to see the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, and I was a little emotional during my visit. I reflected on the historical moments that happened here, such as gladiator combats and political events. One of the most famous ancient civilizations existed here!

After an unexpectedly emotional visit, I made my way to visit Chiesa del Gesù and Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola. I found these churches on TikTok and had to admire the beautiful interiors of the churches. If you are a fan of beautiful churches, I highly recommend going to both!

I then made my way to Piazza Navona to experience what it's like to be a Roman local. While this place is highly touristy, I was able to bask in the sun while enjoying free music next to a beautiful fountain. It is the perfect place to have a moment's peace.

As someone who grew up Catholic, I had to visit the Vatican. I was lucky enough to secure a guided tour ticket of the Vatican Museums the day before my visit. If you are interested in going to the Vatican Museums, I highly recommend checking the official website early on to get a discounted student ticket! My guided tour thoroughly talked about the artworks and pieces in the Vatican Museum, and it was a great opportunity to see one of my favorite paintings of all time, the School of Athens! With my ticket, I was also able to visit the Sistine Chapel, where the papal conclave happened a few months ago. I spent a lot of time admiring Michelangelo's ceiling design of the Sistine Chapel, specifically the Creation of Adam.

I also visited St. Peter's Basilica. I told you about how beautiful the Chiesa del Gesù and Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola were, but wow, St. Peter's Basilica was breathtaking. I also walked through the Holy Doors, which is a rare occurrence!

I ended my Roman Holiday by visiting the Trevi Fountain. I successfully threw a 2 Euro coin into the fountain, which was a hard feat! I also walked up the Spanish Steps and saw the most stunning view of Rome.

Would I recommend visiting Rome? 100% yes!