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Josh & Diana (my brother and his girlfriend) were travelling through Europe, so I decided to become a third wheel by joining them for a few days in Italy!

What’s great about living in Zürich is how easy it is to travel to other countries. For this trip, I decided to take an overnight Flixbus from Zürich to Rome, which was much cheaper than a plane, plus I arrived first thing in the morning! On the way back, I took another overnight bus from Florence to Zürich, then went straight to the office. I must say… overnight busses are awesome.

The trip lasted 4 days. I arrived in Rome pretty early (about 10am), so I had a full day right off the bat! I met J&D; in a Café, and we shortly thereafter began our travels through Rome & Florence. My highlights of Rome were ruins littered everywhere, and the map room in The Vatican. It’s crazy how accurate the cartographers were back then!

Day 1

On the first day, we mainly explored architecture around the city, ate a lot of pasta, drank a lot of wine, and visited the Colosseum.

{{< gallery >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/20170615_155152.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_151743.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_152747.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_152936.jpg” caption=“Diana in her natural habitat.” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_153210.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_153333.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_154059.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_154929.jpg” caption=“Pantheon!” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_155518.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_155815.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_160440.jpg” caption=“Josh fell in love with scoots!” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_161850.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_161856.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_164003.jpg” caption=“There were a bunch of these funny little cars!” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_165200.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_165651.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_170040.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_174306.jpg” caption=“Classique.” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_174733.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_180159.jpg” caption=“Inside the colosseum.” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_180303.jpg” caption=“Colosseum Cat.” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_180310.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_180531.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_180728.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_181241.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_181244.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_182623.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_185810.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_191320.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_191457.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_192125.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_192129.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_192232.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_194036.jpg” caption=“You can find ruins randomly throughout the city, which is super cool!” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_195558.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_215643.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_221139.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_221151.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_224230.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_225111.jpg” caption=“A street painter making spray paint art. It was cool until I realized there were about 5 other people doing the exact same thing :P” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_231754.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day1/IMG_20170615_231902.jpg” caption="" >}} {{</ gallery >}}

Day 2

On the second day, we went to the Vatican & the Roman Forum.

{{< gallery >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_120412.jpg” caption=“The first spiral staircase of the Vatican.” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_120942.jpg” caption=“We chose to visit the Museo Gregoriano Egiziano first, which is a museum of ancient Egyptian artifacts. Strange that there is a holy Dog in a holy site of God! My best guess is that priests likes anadromes :)” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_121003.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_121205.jpg” caption=“Miscellaneous Egyptian cat idols” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_121258.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_121603.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_121715.jpg” caption=“A bathtub for kings!.. or.. well.. popes.” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_121723.jpg” caption=“It’s kind of creepy how the eyes are missing on some of the carvings…” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_121835.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_122050.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_122333.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_122423.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_122534.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_122723.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_122745.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_122750.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_122829.jpg” caption=“What a pothead” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_123024.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_123355.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_123511.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_123819.jpg” caption=“Woven art” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_124227.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_124250.jpg” caption=“There was a room full of these map paintings. Über cool!” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_124309.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_124323.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_124348.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_124616.jpg” caption=“Our next destination!” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_125031.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_125142.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_125250.jpg” caption=“A mighty Polish man (I don’t remember why he was in the Vatican)” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_125656.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_125753.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_125836.jpg” caption=“Believe it or not, this painting was using a single color of paint!” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_125939.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_130316.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_130408.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_130424.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_131315.jpg” caption=“I expected the Vatican café to cost an arm and a leg, but compared to Zürich these prices were a pleasant surprise!” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_134036.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_134354.jpg” caption=“It’s stunning how accurate the cartographers were at the time. I found it really interesting how accurate Europe, Asia, and Africa were portrayed! Of course, the Americas were not very well explored at the time, so their portrayal is very course.” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_134912.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_140747.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_141605.jpg” caption=“Spiral staircase in the Vatican” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_141747.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_155042.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_181531.jpg” caption=“The Roman Forum!” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_181638.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_181742.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_182221.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_182541.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_182749.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_184235.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_184505.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_184608.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_185639.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_190316.jpg” caption=“I would have liked more pictures in the Roman Forum - it was incredible. But we came pretty late, so we had to leave :/” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_192945.jpg” caption=“A street ‘magician’ exposed :P” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_194550.jpg” caption=“A bike hanging on the wall, inside the café” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_201846.jpg” caption=“The Ducati Caffe! It was themed with all things Ducati” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_202859.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_203056.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_205431.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_222958.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_223629.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day2/IMG_20170616_223758.jpg” caption="" >}} {{</ gallery >}}

Day 3

On the third, we explored Florence. On the top of a hill (as shown in some pictures), you can oversee the entire city!

{{< gallery >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_113955.jpg” caption=“Out the window from our Airbnb.” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_125234.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_132241.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_132411.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_133210.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_133218.jpg” caption=“Duomo Firenze” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_133927.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_133932.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_154241.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_154652.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_161318.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_161712.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_171920.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_172703.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_180220.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_180226.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_181027.jpg” caption=“This was on top of a hill, where you could see across the entire city” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_181031.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day3/IMG_20170617_182001.jpg” caption="" >}} {{</ gallery >}}

Day 4

On day 4, we explored some more, and visited some gardens, including the Boboli Garden.

{{< gallery >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_122907.jpg” caption=“This restauraunt was owned by a winery. Or maybe the winery was owned by the restaurant. Regardless, it was cool to realize this when we ordered the house wine!” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_133040.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_133049.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_134204.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_134219.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_140835.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_141052.jpg” caption=”.— . / .— .- -. -…-. . -.. / - … .-. --- ..- —. … / .—. .- .-. - / --- ..-. / .- / — ..- … . ..- — / - … .- - / … .- -.. / - … .. … / - . .-.. . —. .-. .- .—. … / — .- -.-. … .. -…-.-.-” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_152624.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_153042.jpg” caption=“In the Boboli Garden” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_154526.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_154545.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_155312.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_155858.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_160652.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_161152.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_161201.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_161952.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_162025.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_165834.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_170149.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_181609.jpg” caption=“In the late afternoon, we stumbled upon this cozy oldschool rock café.” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_183118.jpg” caption="" >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_185644.jpg” caption=“A street performer combining synthesizers with his guitar & voice” >}} {{< figure src=“/images/rome-florence/day4/IMG_20170618_232817.jpg” caption=“You might be surprised when you realize what this place is!” >}} {{</ gallery >}}