Room With A View: Rome (And Some Travel Wardrobe Updates)
Buongiorno, Roma!
We arrived late yesterday afternoon to a cool and rainy Rome. It’s still a bit cloudy and damp this morning, but is supposed to clear up later and remain nice for the rest of our visit here. Our room has a view of the Parco Del Colle Oppio. If we crane our necks to the left we can also see the ruins of the Domus Aurea. We’re not far from…
the Coliseum. This is a sight that never fails to impress.
We’ve learned to keep our first full day in a new time zone relatively unscheduled. Getting out and walking is usually the best way to get my body clock readjusted, so we’re going to do some self-guided walking tours nearby, and one guided tour this evening in the Piazza Navona area.
About That Jet Lag…
Over the years, I’ve acquired a few tricks for minimizing jet lag.
- I take a Dramamine (original formula) on the plane a little bit after takeoff. This does two things: makes me drowsy enough to fall asleep, and keeps my stomach settled. (I’m not prone to much motion sickness, but can experience some altitude sickness after hours in flight.)
- Drink lots of water and not much alcohol.
- Eat lightly the day before and during transit, and upon arrival.
- Get as much natural light as possible upon arrival and move as much as I can.
- Keep myself awake until normal bedtime in the new time zone.
- Take a melatonin at bedtime to help sleep through the night. (This doesn’t always work, but did last night.)
I did manage to get quite a bit of sleep during the flight, slept well last night and am feeling pretty good today. Fingers crossed!
Travel Wardrobe Edits…
I mentioned in my Italy travel wardrobe post that I allow myself a “wild card” chosen at the last minute, based on latest weather forecasts and my mood. For my wild card, I chose to pack a lightweight cotton gauze popover top (similar style, mine’s polka-dot) in case it turns hot. And I pulled the pink tee, replaced with my favorite 3/4 sleeve embroidered tee from last year which has proven to be a great travel piece. (Mine’s no longer available, here’s another tee with tiger embroidery and elbow sleeves.)
I also swapped out both bags for lighter, less bulky ones. More on that in a later post…
We’re off to breakfast and then to explore. I promise to take lots of pictures!
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I love your Coliseum photo!
My entire family went to Italy some years ago, when my nieces and nephew were small. Back home, my nephew (then age 4) saw the Coliseum on TV and said, “Look! It’s Auntie’s house!”
I liked that.
If the Domus Aurea is open, try to get in. You don’t need a tour and it’s usually not crowded. Goes well with book I just finished The Confessions of Young Nero.
I am leaving for Rome tomorrow, so I have been following your posts closely. Thanks for the packing advice!
I take Tylenol PM at bedtime for the first few days when I change time zones. Usually I’ve done enough walking that the pain relief is welcome for my feet and legs, and that little bit of sleep aid helps me sleep through that 2 a.m. “oh heck, HOW do I get back to sleep?” dilemma.
Travel safe and have a wonderful time – we’ll be watching for your posts!
hugs,
Janice
You must eat at Piccolo Bucco on via Lavatore, near the Trevi Fountain. We ate there three times, it was that good. Luca, the owner, has renovated since we were there Christmas 2015. Enjoy Rome! The first and only European city I have visited, and I loved every minute.
How wonderful! Looks like you found a wonderful place with a great location.
My husband and I learned the hard way to not go immediately to sleep when you arrive. We landed in Paris, for our first adventure to Europe ever 10 years ago, at 8:00 am and crawled in bed as soon as we checked in. Big mistake! We were up all night, every night and sleeping in – until at least 11 if not 1:00 – every day. Now we try to find flights that arrive in the afternoon, then stay up until 9 or 10.
Love your travel tips. I will keep these in mind for the next long haul trip!
Enjoy! Looking forward to photos!
xo
I like that popover top, but is it suitable for us with a full bust? I’m always afraid of looking pregnant in that kind of top… Of course you may also find something really nice in Italy. There are lovely knits.
I always liked Torre Argentina with Roman ruins and lots of stray cats. Now it is a cat refuge and the cats are cared for and spayed/neutered. I was staying up in Gianicolo (uphill from Trastevere) and Torre Argentina is where I either changed buses or walked to the city centre. http://www.romancats.com/torreargentina/en/introduction.php
I am very fond of Rachel Roddy, her blog https://racheleats.wordpress.com/ her weekly food and life article, each Tuesday, in the Guardian. She is a young Englishwoman who lives in Testaccio with her husband of Sicilian origin and their little boy.
I haven’t really been to Rome for several years (I did pass through quickly on my way to a conference in Perugia, but only saw friends and ate at their flat) but I’d tend to trust her recommendations. I’ve made several of her recipes, they are good home cooking and turn out well.
What a great time of year to visit Rome — you’re avoiding the summer heat and hordes of summer tourists. But what I really envy is your upcoming trip to the lake district. (sigh)
P.S. Love your last-minute black embroidered top switch-out.
I love following your travels rather than traveling myself…thanks!
I thought that was such a cool tiger tee, that i ordered one. Managed to get it a few months ago for 50% off before it sold out!
Wow this trip seemed to come up quickly (I can only imagine how fast it was for you!) Looks like a lovely Rome location and also a great weather season for Italy.
ENJOY!
Thank you for the jet lag tips.
Suz from Vancouver
I have never been to Rome that it didn’t rain on me! Godetevi il viaggio!
Hi. I just located your blog only minutes ago. Love it. It looks wonderful in Rome. Enjoy and have fun. I would love to visit.
Gorgeous pictures!! Have a terrific time. I have such a tough time falling asleep on planes. The Dramamine is a great idea!
My mind was already in Rome, with my little granddaughter having head back home there, and now I get to follow your travels through the city. Even though I’ve been there a few times now, I know how well you and your Monsieur research your trips, so I know I’m going to find something interesting to add to my “next visit” list. Have fun!
That pink tee seemed so unlike you! I’ll be you’ll be glad you traded it out for something else.
Love Piazza Navona….we rented an apartment near there, and spent a lot of time at the piazza, eating, drinking wine, and people watching!
Happy to see you traded out the pink tee!
I can’t wait to hear your views on the trip.
When we were in Rome last Sept. I felt very comfortable in a dress and
Casual flat sandals. Awesome sunglasses and bag. My dress was black but flowy and casual. Changed shoes and bag at night. I like elegance and versatility.
Rome… oh so nice. Dan of The Pretty Cute is or was there as well. I do envy you for going to Italy. It is such a nice country. So relaxed, such good food, lovely views and buildings, lots of green and fantastic shopping.
Enjoy.
Greetje
I love Italy; I did advanced Italian courses there – I already spoke it and wrote it, but wanted to get my Italian up to academic and interpreting standards – and then graduate research. It is beautiful and the food is exceptional – even at university cafeterias, it is well beyond edible, and there were cheap trattorie with remarkably good food. And of course we treated ourselves to finer meals, and were treated to elegant buffets by the Italian cultural institute and other bodies.
Nowhere have I tasted better vegetables. Wonderful cheeses, but you also have those – I’ve had aged goat gouda in the Netherlands…
But I think you have better public services and transport planning. And better employment opportunities for young people – there are reasons Italians continue to go north to rainy, chilly places. I’ve always loved my stays in Amsterdam, though it was a bit sad in the summer when for a few short months we enjoyed far warmer, sunnier temps here in Montréal. I’ve been to Utrecht and Rotterdam, and little places like Haarlem, but would love to explore other regions of your country, preferably by bicycle.
I’d move there in a second (well, the time for my cat Livia to get a “pet passport”, though she has had all her jabs, including rabies) if I could get a proper job, but that won’t happen at my age. Fortunately, I have good prospects of travelling there and staying a while due to a book I’m researching and translating. Ti amo, Italia!
Due Ladrone, one of the best meals I’ve ever had… if you have a spare meal slot, go! Now I want to go back! I’ve only ever been when it is scorching hot, so you’re lucky not to be there now… although the heat is a good excuse to have ice cream at the best gelato place I’ve ever been to at San Crispino. Enjoy every magical second! xx
Loving the photo of the coluseum. Rainy photos are always a pleasure to look at because everything is so nice and shiny! Also, love your solutions to jet-lag. As a very hyper person, I sometimes need to settle down. I may take your dramamine solution on my upcoming flight to France.
Hope you have a wonderful trip, Sue. Italy is next on our “big trip” list for Stu and me. But first we have to get over South America. Then we’ll be planning for next year. So I’ll be following along with interest…and taking notes.
Enjoy your trip!
Do you mind if I ask the name of the hotel you are staying at in Rome?
I find that the jet lag going to Europe isn’t so bad. Rather, it is the jet lag coming back that is terrible (crashing at 6:30 p.m., waking up at 3:00 a.m.). Add having post-trip blues and it really stinks.