Adventures in Caesar's hometown

Rome. The eternal city. The city where Caesar used to take his strolls and where gladiators fought for glory and survival to the amusement and admiration of thousands of spectators. Who would have thought that myriads of tourists would walk through the same city many, many years later, gazing upon the old ruins and buildings of that era while frenetically attempting to eternalize all the sights with the help of their megapixel-cameras? I do not imagine that Caesar nor Nero could foresee something like that, but no one ever claimed that predicting the future is easy. The Roman Empire and its gladiators might have vanished, but there are plenty of ancient constructions and artifacts spread throughout Rome that constantly remind gawking tourists that what today is history, was in fact once reality. This summer my girlfriend and I was one of very many curious people that roamed the streets of Rome, trying to digest the most popular sights within a couple of days. 

The Colosseum.

Who has not dreamt of visiting Rome, to admire the Colosseum or to discover the Vatican? I am sure many have been drawn to Rome and we were no exception. There are plenty of things to see and from a sightseeing perspective the city did not disappoint. I am glad we had several days at our disposal as one or two days are hardly sufficient if you want to be able to do more than get a two-second glimpse at some sights. Even though Rome is a popular destination, I was surprised that we never had to stand in queues for very long. The exception was the queue to the Colosseum, which was painfully long. It took maybe thirty minutes to reach the ticket counter. I guess the fact that the city is so full of must-see places is a blessing in itself as it means tourists will be spread out across the city and not just flock to one place at the same time. I will admit that I did not go around and interpret every inch of the Colosseum or the Sistine Chapel as some of the more hardcore admirers might do, but I still enjoyed what the city had to offer. In fact, I do not think any of the many attractions we saw let me down. That is impressive in itself. But what about everything else, like the prices and the climate?

I believe there are three types of tourists; a) those who are primarily interested in shopping, b) those who care more for the atmosphere and the sights itself and c), those who enjoy a combination of shopping and sightseeing. Regardless of one's orientation or area of interest, most people need to use money in order to get food and other necessities. In addition to this, some of the sights in Rome come with a price tag while many are free to behold. In other words, you need some money if you want to be comfortable. To be honest, I was surprised that Rome was as expensive as it is. I was kind of prepared for it after having visited Barcelona in 2010, but it was still kind of shocking having to pay around €12 for a pizza and around €5 for a beer. Yes, I know it a tourist destination and all that, but it was surprising nontheless. After having visited Prague in 2009, I admit I might make some unfair comparisons now and then. Make no mistake; Rome is a nice city but not the cheapest place to visit. Moreover, Italians expect us tourists to be generous and tip them whenever going to a cafe and restaurant. The same applies to hotels where the maids appreciate a tip for cleaning your room.

Fontana di Trevi.

Before going to Rome, I was told that it might be better to enjoy the city in the early autumn rather than during the summer when the merciless sun turns everyone who moves outside into fried bacon strips. Seeing as I am a person who does not enjoy too much heat, I started getting cold sweats as soon as I heard this. I was worried. After all, sometimes I have difficulties falling asleep as soon as the thermometer shows 20c or more. And what was it really like in Rome? Well, most days there was not a cloud in the sky and so the sun was working its magic on the city and its people. The temperature was around 30-33c most of the day. The exception was the morning that we were leaving when it was actually raining. Anyhow, despite the  heat, I survived. I can only assume it was because of divine intervention of sorts. The first day almost broke my spirits, but I guess I got used to the heat after a while. I mean, at some points I was afraid I would pass out because of a heat stroke and during those moments nothing appeared more appealing to me than the cold winters at home. A pale Norwegian can only endure so much. 

If anything, my survival is a testament that Rome can in fact be enjoyed even during the warm summer months. Plus, chances are you might enjoy the heat more than I did. Luckily the hotel room had an air-conditioner, which made it possible to sleep during the night as well. What I am saying is go to Rome if you want to, even if it is in the middle of summer. On the other hand, it might be easier to move about during autumn/winter because of the cooler climate. Furthermore, I expect there might be less tourists there outside of the summer season. In the end, it is your call. Just know that if I made it through the heat, so can you. It is not impossible.

I am happy that I was able to visit Italy and Rome and I can recommend it as a holiday destination. Maybe not for several weeks, but for some days at least. It really depends on the purpose of your trip as well as your finances. Prague still remains one of my favorite cities to visit, but there is no denying that the city of Rome has plenty to offer for those who fancy sightseeing and basking in the sun. I almost forgot to mention that Italians happen to make the best ice cream I have ever tasted: Gelato. Try it and you will know what I am talking about as soon as you have your first bite (or lick). Oh, and go to Rome if for nothing else only to "check in" at the Colosseum. Because you know how cool that will make you look on Facebook.

PS. Turns out Italian pizza is over-rated. At least the ones I ate. Maybe I was unfortunate, but the Finns still win in the pizza category.