Rome if You Want To... (Who Wouldn't?)

I traveled to Rome by night train. My first one ever. Little did I know it would be the best one... but thats another story for another day. :) In the morning, I got of the train and went and dropped my stuff at the hostel. Then first on the agenda...

THE COLOSSEUM!!!!

*Side note: Italy is hot. And sunny. And my hair got frizzy, fast. So every shot was not a glamor shot. But I was ridiculously excited to be there, and thats what's important! :)

I went for a walk through the past in the Roman Forum, joining up with a couple from South Africa who were listening to the Rick Steve's Audio tour I had been reading out of my book. (Thank heaven's for that book. Saved my life. Probably quite literally.)

Then I made my way up the Capitoline Hill and went to the Capitoline Museums, and saw all this stuff I'd studied in my Humanities classes...

Then I headed back over to take a tour of the Colosseum. It was way cool! I didn't pay for a guided tour or the audio tour, but it worked out fine because I just listened in on the 5,000 other tours that were going on. (Actually, I did that a lot. I figured it was okay since I'm just one person...)

Then on to the Victor Emmanuel Monument! I really didn't know anything about it, and actually, I still don't. But it was big! And white! And I saw it!

Then a whole bunch of walking over to THE PANTHEON!!! Ancient! Amazing! Something I've always wanted to see, and I wasn't disappointed!

Look at the courtyard of the Pantheon. So Italian. So touristy. Right behind that obelisk thing is a McDonald's. Really.

Then I went and ate some dinner. I thought it would be awkward eating alone, but it wasn't really, and I even talked to a sweet 70 year old Italian man who was eating by himself too. Oh, and by the way, it was DELICIOUS!!!!
As dusk set in, I set out on a "Night Walk Across Rome". It was absolutely amazing. I just kept saying, "I can't believe I'm here!!!" Beautiful. Magical. Oh yeah, and I got lost. Don't worry, I found some other American ladies who were using the Rick Steve's book and were lost too. We figured it out eventually. :)

I think the next part may have been the most magical part of this absolutely amazing day. Just look at the crowd gathered around!

THE TREVI FOUNTAIN!!!

I loved the Trevi Fountain. It may not be the most ancient thing in Rome, but it sure felt magical. I threw in a 2 Euro cent coin and wished to come back again with someone I love. :)

I walked past the Spanish Steps on my way home- they were crowded with thousands (it felt like) of German kids. They had been all around the city all day. I just couldn't get away from those crazy Germans, even in Italy!

Could it have been a more magical day? I don't think so. It was beautiful. I can't wait to go back!!!

Prague is Magical

I've been having a lot of "I can't believe I'm here" moments in the past month. The weekend after Vienna I went to Prague. Prague is pretty well hyped up in the European travel world. I feel like I've heard a million times "Prague is amazing!!!" but I never knew why.

And then I went.

There really is something magical about Prague.

Maybe its the quirky astronomical clock.

Or the church that looks like an evil witch's castle.

Maybe its the huge Gothic Cathedral on the hill.

Or the "largest castle in the world".

Maybe its the 13th Century "Charles Bridge" with its cool old statues and people selling their art.

Combine all, add a pink sunset and a fireworks show over the river, and that makes beautiful, magical Prague.