"Rome"-ing Around

If Rome wasn't the most fun vacation I have ever had, I don't know what else is. Great company, great food and amazing sites, it was everything I wanted and more. Plus, as an added bonus, it wasn't freezing cold like I expected! 

I thought I would give you a picture recap instead of writing out everything we did. Let's just say we saw a lot, ate a lot, drank a lot and even got to see the Pope up close and personal. Rome was a blast.

This was day one, we were heading towards the Colosseum and ready to see some sights. Left to right: Danielle (my best friend), Claire (my sister) and Socorra (my fellow Moroccan Peace Corps Volunteer).

We were just so excited to see it up close and personal.

Myself, Claire and Danielle outside of the Colosseum. 

This is the place where the early emperor's of Rome sat, so I was pretending to be the emperor too!

Our first real Italian meal, complete with an awesome bottle of wine and Danielle's happy face.

This is the only picture we got of the four of us inside the Colosseum. It was just as big and awesome as you would expect it to be.

Inside St. Peter's Basilica, it's STUNNING. The most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

This was hands down the best meal we ate in Rome, and possibly the best thing I have ever eaten. It was a Roman-style pizza crust covered in olive oil and spices, then topped with fresh rocket, buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. YUMMY.

After we climbed 323 stairs to the top of St. Peter's Dome, this was our view. It was simply stunning to see all of Rome.

Danielle and I on top of St. Peter's Dome.

This was the next level down, where we rested and shopped after our tough climb up to the top of the dome.

Hands down the best gelato ever, right outside Vatican City's walls. It was SO YUMMY despite it being SO COLD outside.

The inside of the Pantheon. They call that "pillar" of light the largest single pillar in the world. That hole is 30 ft in diameter and the building has been around 2,000 years.

The best cup of coffee, ever. I know I have been saying that a lot on this post, but this is no lie. I have never had coffee like this, and probably never will again. It was amazing.

This is our "no smiling" Moroccan style picture at dinner on the last night. Also, Danielle and I are rocking our new shirts we got at the Gap in Rome!

This is the view from St. Peter's Dome of Vatican City. 

Danielle, Socorra and Claire making their wishes courtesy of the pennies Claire brought from America into the Trevi Fountain.

Claire and I in front of St. Peters Basilica, inside St. Peter's square.

This was our golden ticket, the one that got us into see the Pope!

Yes, we went back the next day for the same gelato. It was that good.

This is what happens when the wine is so good and there is a mirror in the elevator.

The guy in the middle, wearing white, is the Holy Father himself.