AROUND EUROPE TRIP – PART THREE – THE FINALE!

*CAUTION: Very long blog BUT lots of pictures!!! AND tips when traveling abroad!*

Sorry, it took me a while to get this last part up. I was caught up with… “Life” - ^_^

I am back now to finish off the Europe trip. Our last stop was Rome, Italy!

By the time we got to Rome we were EXHAUSTED from the constant “on the go” activities and travels day after day and of course lugging our bags around. Let me just say, Tip #8: Pack light if you are traveling from city to city and if you are traveling by train. The majority of the train stations do not have elevators/escalators so you will be going up and down A LOT of stairs! Trust me, pack light.

We stayed at Residence Europa, which was close to the train station and just blocks from The Colosseum. The hotel was a little difficult to find because the entrance was in an alley and didn't have any signs directing us to go in the alley. We did manage to find it but then couldn't figure out where the check-in desk or lobby was. First, there isn't really a lobby. You walk through these giant doors (first picture below) and then have to go up a flight of stairs before you see the check-in desk. Yes! You have to go up a flight of stairs before the elevator was accessible. Overall, when we got to our room, it was a nice place! It’s comparable to a small sized apartment. This reminds me… all the hotels that we stayed at during our trip had key cards that you use to enter your room and turn on the electricity. I believe this is how they regulate people not turning off the lights because when you leave the room, you have to take the card and no card, equals no electricity.

Rome was such a beauty, we saw so many great places, ate a ton of food, and drank a lot of wine.

Are you ready for pictures? Here’s ….. ROME!

Doorway to our hotel. (Sorry, we took the photo at night so it's a little grainy.)

Walking to The Colosseum from our hotel. You literally can see it from the top of the hill.

Tip #9: Only take pictures with the guys dressed in the gladiators costumes outside of The Colosseum if you are going to pay for the photo. They will ask if you want to take a photo and then ask for money afterwards.

Panoramic view of the inside of The Colosseum.

At this point of the trip, i mastered self photography. LOL!

Then off to the Palatine Hill.

The Forum...

Presidential Palace...

Spanish steps...

 St Peter's Basilica...

Trevi Fountain...

By the time we got to Rome, the weather changed drastically from cold London to sunny and hot Rome so we had to put on our shades and hats. :)

The Pantheon...

 We did take a one day trip to Naples, Italy. Yikes! It was scary! There was glass everywhere, cops everywhere, and trash all over the streets. It felt like we just stepped into a country ready to go to war. We seriously couldn't get out of there fast enough. But of course, we did make the most of it.

Creepy underground church. LOL!

I would have to say that Naples had really good pizza. YUM!

 

This concludes the around the Europe trip. It was fast, lengthy, but worth every penny! One place that I will definitely go back to see is Venice. I didn't get to really enjoy Venice like I wanted to.

I'll leave you with my last tip and probably the most important one. Tip #10: There are NO public bathrooms. If there is, you have to pay for it. So, use the bathroom when you're at a restaurant, before you leave your hotel, and bring change "just in case" you had a long day and really need to use the bathroom. :) 

I hope you enjoyed Europe like I did. On to my next journey.... join me next time in Mexico! ^_^