Rome, Day 5

A visit to the vatican museums had to be done and, though I am happy we did it, I am giving you an official heads up: it's exhausting. And huuuuge. We didn't even make it to the gardens, our legs were so tired. I feel bad for people twice or even three times my age who visit attractions like this one. Or am I just getting old and out of shape?

It is also absolutely impossible to take a photograph of anything without a dozen tourists walking right into it and I am entirely certain that I am a part of at least three hundred tourists' photo albums.

Life is rough out there for tourists sometimes. I think it is best to stick to drinking wine on patios. We are very good at that.

This photo below is obviously dark and blurry but I had to keep it anyway. Walking home after a late dinner, we came across a large group of Italians sitting outside, eating, playing guitar and singing along (with an alleyway and a clothing line in the background!).

The irony is, if this scene had occurred in my own country, I would have smirked at the hippies playing guitar on a patio and complained about having to see someone else's underwear hanging out in public to dry. In italy, however, it felt authentic and it was priceless.

(p.s. if you want to dine amidst the locals, go for dinner at around 10pm or later and find alleyways a little further away from the touristic areas. It's so nice to sit between Italian couples and friends chatting away, even if they laugh at you for being too excited about your spaghetti.)

Italy Countdown, Day 5

Pizza:2

Pasta:3

Gelato:5