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I was in Rome for 4 days with my wife for her birthday. I arrived back in Dublin last night and here are some of my findings.
It was the most beautiful city I have ever visited; and I live in Belfast. The landmarks are incredible. The Colosseum blew my mind. I have seen it on TV thousands of times but nothing could have prepared me for the real thing. Incredible. We did the Gladiators entrance and stood on the arena floor. Crazy to think about what happened where we were and looking over to see where the Emperor sat.
The Pantheon is also incredible. I look at these structures and wonder how the hell they built them. There are bigger buildings now but they are made of glass and steel and are lifeless. The buildings in Rome and from the Roman empire are beautiful.
The Trevi fountain was beautiful. Very romantic spot and there are plenty of alleyways nearby if you want to fingerblast your partner due to the sheer romantic intensity.
The Circo Massimo was disappointing. It was the setting for the famous chariot races we have all seen. Unfortunately time hasn't been kind to it. There is not alot left of it.
The forum and Palantine Hill are wonderful places. You really get a feel for what life was like during the Roman Empire. And in my opinion the best empire.
Spanish steps were cool. Not much to say about them.
The food was the best food I've ever had. I'm a pizza snob. I used to work in a pizza shop over here with a family from Napoli who took great pride in their pizzas. So I know a thing or two about eating 10 inches of heaven. People I know who have been to Rome said they prefer our pizzas. Those people are fools. The pizzas we are used to; Dominos etc are dogshit. Thick doughy things smothered in too many toppings. A real pizza is nice thin base. Tomato sauce and mozzarella. Maybe parmesan to give it a kick. No need to turn it into a cake with 100 toppings. The pizzas are lit. The pasta is lit. Everything I ate in Rome was great.
Now onto the negatives:
The locals.
80% of them are rude assholes. You try to ask for directions or ask for anything and they either don't reply or they make it seem like you've asked them to for a reacharound in the middle of the street. They don't say sorry for bumping into you. Ever! In Ireland we always always apologise if you bump into someone or do that awkward thing were you both try to go the same way. In Rome they walk in a straight line and they don't stop. They will plough right through you. I nearly broke out my UFC training on them a few times.
The drivers have the same philosophy. I have no idea how more people don't die on the roads. They are death traps.
Everywhere you go there are pests trying to sell selfie sticks, water etc. They are not too bad. The real assholes are the guys who come up to you and say "are you from Africa?" In order to start a conversation and get money from you. No you absolute rocket I am not from Africa. Did everything about me scream "Nelson Mandela?"
The Asian tourists wearing face masks really annoyed me. It's not really a big deal but yeah I don't get it. Seriously can someone explain that to me?
The outskirts of Rome are disgusting. I'm from Belfast. Shit used to blow up here every day. Belfast is much cleaner and nicer in its worst parts than Rome. The government must be pocketing serious money because the train station, everything is run down. I don't know how it is allowed.
So to sum up. Rome was incredible. A place to visit if you never have. One of the best holidays I've been on. Anyone else want to share their experience of Rome?
It was the most beautiful city I have ever visited; and I live in Belfast. The landmarks are incredible. The Colosseum blew my mind. I have seen it on TV thousands of times but nothing could have prepared me for the real thing. Incredible. We did the Gladiators entrance and stood on the arena floor. Crazy to think about what happened where we were and looking over to see where the Emperor sat.
The Pantheon is also incredible. I look at these structures and wonder how the hell they built them. There are bigger buildings now but they are made of glass and steel and are lifeless. The buildings in Rome and from the Roman empire are beautiful.
The Trevi fountain was beautiful. Very romantic spot and there are plenty of alleyways nearby if you want to fingerblast your partner due to the sheer romantic intensity.
The Circo Massimo was disappointing. It was the setting for the famous chariot races we have all seen. Unfortunately time hasn't been kind to it. There is not alot left of it.
The forum and Palantine Hill are wonderful places. You really get a feel for what life was like during the Roman Empire. And in my opinion the best empire.
Spanish steps were cool. Not much to say about them.
The food was the best food I've ever had. I'm a pizza snob. I used to work in a pizza shop over here with a family from Napoli who took great pride in their pizzas. So I know a thing or two about eating 10 inches of heaven. People I know who have been to Rome said they prefer our pizzas. Those people are fools. The pizzas we are used to; Dominos etc are dogshit. Thick doughy things smothered in too many toppings. A real pizza is nice thin base. Tomato sauce and mozzarella. Maybe parmesan to give it a kick. No need to turn it into a cake with 100 toppings. The pizzas are lit. The pasta is lit. Everything I ate in Rome was great.
Now onto the negatives:
The locals.
80% of them are rude assholes. You try to ask for directions or ask for anything and they either don't reply or they make it seem like you've asked them to for a reacharound in the middle of the street. They don't say sorry for bumping into you. Ever! In Ireland we always always apologise if you bump into someone or do that awkward thing were you both try to go the same way. In Rome they walk in a straight line and they don't stop. They will plough right through you. I nearly broke out my UFC training on them a few times.
The drivers have the same philosophy. I have no idea how more people don't die on the roads. They are death traps.
Everywhere you go there are pests trying to sell selfie sticks, water etc. They are not too bad. The real assholes are the guys who come up to you and say "are you from Africa?" In order to start a conversation and get money from you. No you absolute rocket I am not from Africa. Did everything about me scream "Nelson Mandela?"
The Asian tourists wearing face masks really annoyed me. It's not really a big deal but yeah I don't get it. Seriously can someone explain that to me?
The outskirts of Rome are disgusting. I'm from Belfast. Shit used to blow up here every day. Belfast is much cleaner and nicer in its worst parts than Rome. The government must be pocketing serious money because the train station, everything is run down. I don't know how it is allowed.
So to sum up. Rome was incredible. A place to visit if you never have. One of the best holidays I've been on. Anyone else want to share their experience of Rome?
