How To Pack Like A Champ

It's difficult to pack light. In my experience however, it's worth the sometimes traumatic choices one has to make of what to bring and what to leave behind.  Most hotels in Europe have minuscule elevators (if any) so you'll likely be shlepping your bags up several flights of stairs, or onto trains, or over cobblestone streets full of people.  Trust me; you'll be glad you didn't bring that extra pair of shoes in the long run.

I was able to pack for 10 days in a carry-on size bag.  This is what I packed:
-one pair of shoes (wore the other ones)
-two pairs of pants (wore the third)
-eight shirts of varying sleeve lengths that were basic in color/pattern
-one black sweater
-four washable panties (!)
-four pairs of ped/stocking socks
-one scarf (wore the other)

-two pairs of earrings
-one hair doughnut (which I didn't even use)
-minimal makeup in a ziplock bag

I wore my black North Face fleece (goes with everything and keeps you warm!) and also carried a trench coat on my arm.  Once you're there, it's nice to have more than one jacket option!

Here's the main secret- washing clothing in the hotel sink! Before leaving, I bought this clothes line designed for hotel washing:

It works by sticking the clothing between the little braids, which are elastic. Yes, this is not super glam Euro-tripping, but it certainly saved me room in my bag. The only things I actually washed were the panties, socks, and teeshirt that I wore next to my skin.  I ended up ripping a hole in one of my pants, so I really only wore two over the whole trip! I also packed a tiny bottle of detergent for the sink washing. I was even a good wife and washed a few of Dustin's socks too.  

Ok, lets talk about these washable panties. Warning: SO NOT HOT. Marry an understanding husband.  Their slogan is "17 countries. 6 weeks. One pair of award-winning underwear. (Ok, maybe two.)" 

Here's the link: http://www.exofficio.com/products/details/womens-give-n-go-bikini-brief

Keep it simple. Stick to the basics. The happy smile on your face will look better in the pictures than all your matching accessories. 

Day 3: A Trip to Orvieto

What an adventure.

We had originally booked a tour of a vineyard not far from Orvieto.  However, we realized there was no way that we would make it by the 10am start time.  After a few emails back and forth, we decided to cancel the wine tour (didn't want to interrupt the WEDDING that was going to be there at noon).  We rented a smart car, which we picked up at Termini Station.  We walked from our hotel to the station, which only took about 15 mintues.  Once there though... confusion and frustration began!  The station is huge, bustling, and not very well marked inside.  We took a while locating the rental car area.  Once we finally found it, we were handed a map and told where to find the car.  It was parked a few blocks away in a garage- crazytown!!! So we find the car.  The guy just hands us the key- poor Dustin is trying to figure out how to drive the smart car.  After a little practice, we figured it out.  Then the madness really began.  If you've ever been to Rome, you understand the complexity of the streets, and that they're not really marked, and that it's just all around bonkers.  I had a decent map, and was trying to get us out of the city to the Autostrada (highway!).  About 45 minutes later of driving in circles, we finally found our way.  Once on the autostrada, getting to Orvieto was a breeze.  It took a little over an hour to get there. 

Once we arrived, we parked below the town in a big parking lot (free!) and took the funiculare up to the town, which was only a few Euro.  The main excitement in Orvieto (other than the view) is the large cathedral.  This is the excitement of many Tuscan hill towns.  Orvieto's cathedral is extra exciting though, with black and white marble stripes!  The town itself was small, totally walk able from one end to the next.  

 Here's a cool photo of some monks checking out the artwork.

 Dustin with the stripes!

 Amazing view!

 Dustin making friends with a cat.

 After a few hours in Orvieto, we wanted to drive to this small town of Civita that I had read about.  It's a super tiny, medieval town situated on top of a hill.  It's quite amazing in photos, so we tried to drive there.  Here is the place where Google Maps FAILS epicly.  Nothing is marked, it's all confusing.  We stopped just outside Orvieto and I asked two boys (teens!) from Napoli if they knew how to get there.  They spoke little english, but one whipped out his iphone and tried to figure it out for me.  He gave me some sketchy directions, and we gave it a try.  Civita is basically OFF the map, so we started driving and then got really nervous.  So we chickend out and turned back to the auto strada :(     

 But we had fun in Orvieto!! We gassed up at a station outside Rome, where a muscle man pumped our little smart car full of the super expensive gas, which made Dustin really mad, and they tried to out-muscle each other.  Just kidding- we made it back to Rome, only got a little lost, and made it back SOMEHOW to the shady rental garage! I still can't believe we made it back.

   

Seriously.  We made it back.  O-M-G.

We really had to treat ourselves for dinner now that we were back in Rome's arms.  We walked a short distance from our hotel to Via Urbana.  We had no previous recommendation for this place, it just looked good.  I don't even know what it's called, but I took these pictures in hopes of figuring it out later.  It was totally opposite of the night before's touristy eating.  This was all local, and the menu was re-written every night on little slabs of chalk board.  I'm in love!  I ordered gnocchi in pesto, and it was like basil and cheese on a cloud.  YUM.

After dinner we headed out to party hard at Campo di Fiori.  On the way we walked through Largo di Argentina, which is the supposed assassination site of the big J.C. (Julius Cesar)

Got some drinks at Numbs Cafe in Campo.  

Teenagers, just creepin'

Day 2: Ancient Rome Sights

Our second day in Rome was much more refreshing!  After a nice slumber, we went downstairs for a yummy and filling breakfast.  I had been warning Dustin not to expect any typical American breakfast items, but apparently I was wrong.  We were offered scrambled eggs, sausages, make your own panini, mozzarella, tomatoes  croissant, nutellta, etcetera.  Dustin made a panini every morning.  

Rick Steves advised us to purchase a Roma Pass, which we did that morning at a local tabachi.  It cost 25Euro each, and got us into two free museums/sites, and then discounts on various other sites!  PLUS the best part, we got to bypass a bunch of long lines.  They have separate lines for Roma Pass holders, which are considerably shorter.    

 Here's Dustin chatting with a statue.  We spent a LOT of time inside the Colosseum.  Dustin read every single plaque in the entire place.  I think he really wanted to 'take it all in'

 Here's a one armed shot, proving we were there.

This is the arch of Constantine, which we sauntered by on our way to the Forum.

 Here's a great one of me, looking a little bored and ready to move on.  Lovely.

Some chicken bones (leftover snacks) that were found inside.

 Dustin LOVES this shot of the women trashmen... i mean trashwomen.  In Rome, it's not a crazy thing to see women picking up trash, doing these typically American 'man' jobs.   

 Just hanging out in the forum.  We used our Roma Pass to bypass a big line!  You can't really tell from the photo, but it was getting reeeeally hot.

 Arch of Constantine, again.

After our tour of ancient Rome, we grabbed some lunch (pizza, I'm sure) and went back to the hotel to siesta (for me) and workout in the Fitness Center (for Dustin).  You can see in the following pictures Dustin changes to a new florescent colored tee.  After our little break in the action, we asked Max to call a taxi for us, and we rode north to the Galleria Borghese.  I was SUPER excited about this, Dustin, not so much.  You actually have to reserve a time slot to visit this museum, because it's really a family mansion, not a huge museum, and it only holds a certain number of people at a time.  We had a few minutes before our time slot, so we wandered around the adjoining Borghese Gardens before going in.  Once inside, we enjoyed some amazing Bernini, Correggio, and Titian masterpieces (Holy Art History!!).  No Photo! Of course, so you'll just have to imagine and/or google it.  

 Exterior of Galleria Borghese, and people on rented surreys!  Little better scene than the Jersey boardwalk, no?

 Dustin filling up at one of Rome's many water fountains.  He was SO happy to be hydrated :)

 After leaving the Gallery, we walked out in the gardens and enjoyed this beautiful view of Rome.  

 The gardens are FULL of busts, of all sorts of fellows, who we don't know.

 One of my favorite views in all of Rome, from the Borghese Gardens, overlooking Piazza del Popolo.  You can see the Basilica di San Pietro in the background.

As we walked down the steep path from the Gardens to Piazza del Popolo, we came across this small pond/fountain and thought, how lovely!  But then we saw a pair of wet panties strewn across one of the rocks.  Here I am pointing them out.

Beautiful Piazza del Popolo, with a smart car of course.

Street guy entertaining people with his electric guitar.  This always fascinates me about Rome- you'd think there would be classic, old world music playing everywhere, but no.  It's full of ill-fitting pop American music and guys on electric guitars.  Where's the romantic old man playing accordion I was expecting???

 A few pictures back, we were standing at the top of this.  Now we're down in the piazza.

 One of my favorite shots of the entire trip!  Some ragazzi playing on the fountain.  

 This is probably my least favorite site in Rome, the Spanish Steps.  So pointless and just full of annoying tourists.  We made the mistake of stopping for dinner in this uper-touristy area.  We paid the price with overpriced, nasty pasta.  Blah!  We also sat right next to a really annoying American family from the south, who were obnoxious and too loud.  

 Here I am enjoying MOLDY bread that was served at this horrible restaurant.  I'm depositing it in the ash tray.  

Dustin, trying to be nonchalant so I can take a picture of this bra & panties.

Overall, our day was packed and we were SO tired!  But very excited for our next day... day trip adventure to Orvietto!  Stay tuned.