The Hammond family is off on another summer adventure! This year we’re heading to Italy for a 10-day Mediterranean cruise that begins and ends in Rome. Since we decided to skip the cruise ship’s Wi-Fi package, our travel blog is a little behind. Thanks for your patience!
After a long overnight journey (Hartford to Detroit to Rome for Greg, Karen, and Kelsey, and a nonstop flight from Chicago to Rome for Lindsey and Malik), we reunited at Rome’s airport. After changing into cooler clothes, we made our way to our Airbnb, dropped off our luggage, and immediately set out to explore the Eternal City.
Our first priority was lunch… and an Aperol Spritz. When in Rome! The owner of the café proudly told us he created his version of the drink for a beverage festival in 1994. Instead of the traditional prosecco, he uses lemon or orange soda, making it a little sweeter and surprisingly refreshing.
Determined to stay awake and adjust to the new time zone, we spent the afternoon visiting some of Rome’s most famous landmarks. We quickly discovered that Rome in July is every bit as hot and crowded as people say, but that didn’t take away from the excitement of finally being here.
Our first major stop was the Colosseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. While walking around its exterior, we listened to Rick Steves’ excellent audio tour. Even with our neck fans working overtime, the afternoon heat was intense, although the Colosseum’s massive walls provided some welcome shade. One thing we especially appreciated throughout Rome was the abundance of public drinking fountains with cold, fresh water, making it easy to refill our water bottles.
The Colosseum is an incredible engineering achievement. Construction began in 72 AD and was completed about eight years later. Built from stone without concrete, it could hold as many as 80,000 spectators. Its 80 entrances and exits allowed enormous crowds to enter and leave with remarkable efficiency, an impressive design even by today’s standards.
Just a short walk away, we entered the Roman Forum, once the political, religious, and commercial heart of ancient Rome. Over the centuries, many of its stones were removed for other building projects, while much of the site was gradually buried beneath layers of soil. Beginning in 1803, archaeologists started uncovering and preserving what remains today. Walking along the Via Sacra, the same road traveled by Roman citizens nearly 2,000 years ago, made history feel incredibly real. Seeing landmarks like the Arch of Titus and the Temple of Saturn was a powerful reminder of what people were able to accomplish by hand so many centuries ago.
By the time we finished exploring the Forum, we were more than ready for a break from the heat. On our walk back toward the apartment, we found Rooftop Jim’s Bar. The drinks weren’t cheap, but they were cold, delicious, and came with wonderful views over the city, making them well worth the stop.
After cooling off, we could all feel the effects of jet lag starting to catch up with us, so we headed back to the apartment to shower and freshen up before dinner. We had reservations at a neighborhood restaurant just a short walk away, where we enjoyed a fantastic meal featuring fresh, handmade pasta.
With full stomachs, tired feet, and the combination of heat, sightseeing, and overnight travel finally catching up with us, we were more than ready to call it a night. We were especially thankful that our apartment had air conditioning. Tomorrow, we’ll continue exploring Rome before boarding our cruise.
Hammond Adventures 