When in Rome: Italians Don’t Do Pepperoni and the Vatican Has All Your Stuff

I have not had one out-of-country trip since the pandemic started and it is driving me insane. I can’t remember when was the last time I’ve gone an entire year without visiting another country. Not being able to go abroad is suffocating for me and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to get better any time soon. For me, travel is generally tied to work and it doesn’t look like I’m going to be doing any overseas contracting any time soon. At least, I have my photos to reminisce over.

This photo was taken summer of 2017 during a visit to the Colosseum. I had booked a one-week stay in Rome after working the previous month with clients in Egypt. Going to Rome had been a lifelong dream of mine and as you can tell by the pic, I was beyond ecstatic to actually be sitting on the steps of the Colosseum! I was touching on history…It’s a very happy memory indeed.

Hotel Pineta Palace

Of course, when on travel where you stay is very important. It’s extra important when you’re going to be staying there for six days. Thankfully, I found that wonderful HOTEL PINETA PALACE on Priceline. I don’t remember the exact rate but I believe it was around $75 and it did include breakfast.

Hotel Pineta Palace is a luxurious four-star hotel located in the heart of Rome, Italy. The hotel boasts a convenient location that is just a short distance from some of Rome’s most famous attractions, including the Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. The hotel offers a range of comfortable and spacious rooms that are equipped with modern amenities, ensuring guests have a comfortable stay. The hotel’s facilities include an on-site restaurant, bar, and fitness center, making it an ideal choice for both business and leisure travelers.

Guests at Hotel Pineta Palace can enjoy a range of services and facilities that are designed to make their stay in Rome as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. The hotel’s staff are friendly and attentive and are always on hand to assist with any queries or requests. The hotel’s restaurant serves delicious Italian cuisine, while the bar offers a range of drinks and snacks. The hotel’s fitness center is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, allowing guests to stay in shape during their stay.

Hotel Pineta Palace is an excellent choice for those looking for a comfortable and convenient base from which to explore the city of Rome. The place was beautiful, the staff was super friendly, and it was very easy to get to all the sights from where it’s located.

I did make one major error when I arrived though. I was starving and went to the hotel cafe. I ordered a Peroni beer and a pepperoni pizza. Well, pepperoni in Italy is an actual pepper. Who knew? LOL

Everybody’s Stuff is at the Vatican!

One more thing that I have to point out, especially because it kind of was a shock for me, is how much stuff the Vatican has in its museum. I had just come from Cairo to Rome and I saw more Egyptian stuff in the Vatican Museum than I did in the Egyptian National Museum in Cairo. It’s not just stuff from Egypt that they have though, it’s everybody’s stuff. I always say that the Colonizers came with their weapons in one hand and their Bible in the other and the Vatican Museum is clear evidence of it. They really need to give people back their stuff.

If anything would help to alleviate poverty, imagine the fees countries could earn from showcasing their own stuff but no the Vatican has it. It would crash my server if I uploaded all the photos I took, I mean it was incredible. These are just a tab bit of what I saw.

So as you can see my trip to Rome was very full and this post is really only showing you about three days’ worth of my time. It was a lot! I went to several other museums, visited other ancient ruins and gardens, ate way too much gelato and pasta, and walked until my feet almost fell off. Despite all this, I really want to go back. There’s even more in Rome that I didn’t get to explore and I would also like to see more of the nontouristy side of the city. Plus, I want to venture out into the countryside as well.

What about you? Have you been to Rome? If so, what was your experience like? If not, would you like to go? Tell me in the comments below.