Our first major whoopsies during our three days in Rome: (1) not realizing that many establishments were closed in July and August because the locals themselves had gone on vacation and (2) distances are much farther than they appear on Google Maps.
TRAVEL TRIP: If you want a more authentic experience, avoid visiting the major cities like Rome and Paris in July and August. The residents, who are usually the shopkeepers, restaurant owners, and employees go on vacation during those months. What places left open are mainly for tourists and so the diner probably won’t be eating the same Carbonara that the locals seek out.
The soles of our feet were aching and we were ravenously hungry when we finally reached Farine la Pizza for our first Italian meal in Rome. Stupid Google Maps. It was no stinking 15 minutes from our AirBnb, it felt more like 50. Nevertheless, the pizzeria was closed; the owners, according to the notice on the door, had gone on vacation and would return at the end of the month.
TRAVEL TIP: The major transportation hub of Rome and the terminus of the Leonardo Express Train from the Leonardo Da Vinci-Fiumicino International Airport, where most visitors will likely arrive, is Termini Station. Caution should be taken to secure belongings as the place, like many other major metropolitan areas around the globe, can be sketchy.
TRAVEL TIP: For novice international travelers (like we were back then) or those who plan to connect to several other cities in the country, it may be wise to find lodging near the major transit hub. Traffic is usually an issue. In Rome, in particular, strikes by transit employees are an almost regular (predictable) occurrence.
Since we were already in the area (at least it looked that way on the downloaded Google Map of Rome), after our little failed food excursion, we thought we would make the best of it. We could swing by the Terme di Caracalla (“Baths of Caracalla”), Circus Maximus, and Giardino degli Aranci (all attractions on our list) and hopefully come across someplace to indulge in delicious Italian food. If only. We ended up eating mediocre food at a random pizza dive, next to a bunch of drunken and rowdy Norwegian college students on holiday. Truth be told, we only walked past the Baths and the Track Field, nevermind the Giardino. Guess we will just have to save those for another trip!
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