After relaxing in Bellagio, and cruising around Tuscany, we made our way to Roma Ouch! Talk about crowded, stepping into Rome felt like stepping right into the middle of a mosh pit. Don't get me wrong, there's a reason Rome is crowded with people as it has some absolutely spectacular sights (Colosseum anyone?), but be prepared to fight your way tooth and nail to get to all of them. Even the standard tourist trick of waking up early won't do you much good, since plenty of other people have the same idea. And this was shoulder season! I'd hate to see Rome in the middle of August when Europe is on vacation. Do yourself a favor, and if you ever want to visit Rome, do it in the dead of winter. You aren't there to go swimming anyways, so take a jacket, suck it up, and enjoy the (relative) lack of people.

With that caveat, we did not regret our two days spent touring the Italian capital. The Colosseum is magical. The Pantheon is incredibly well-preserved. The Vatican (not technically Rome, but still) is pretty insane. I didn't really "get" the Spanish Steps (ummm, a big crowded staircase?), but other than that there was nothing here to disappoint you. We really enjoyed Castel St. Angelo, having both (coincidentally I might add) just finished reading Dan Brown's Angels and Demons (the prequel to the DaVinci Code), and being one of the major sites featured in the book (the entire thing takes place in Rome). And if you are only going to be in Rome for one day, make it a Sunday. They close down several of the main streets to traffic, which makes things much less claustrophobic, and gives you a view of some of the sites you won't get otherwise.