There are some cities that almost don’t feel real until you’re standing in them. Rome was one of those places for me.
For years I’d imagined wandering its ancient streets, eating authentic Italian pasta & pizza & more, tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain, and standing in awe beneath landmarks I’d only ever seen in history books and movies. It was one of those bucket list destinations that felt almost too iconic to imagine actually experiencing for ourselves.
Our March 2023 trip to Italy was perfectly timed around my (now) husband’s spring break from teaching, and if you’re wondering when to visit, I genuinely think early spring is hard to beat. The weather was beautiful – warm enough for comfortable days exploring the city, cool enough for evening strolls, and without the overwhelming summer crowds. It also made sleeping much more comfortable, especially with Europe’s more modest approach to air conditioning.
The only problem? Less than 2 days before our flight, I came down with what I assumed was a nasty sinus cold.
It hit hard and fast. I spent almost 36 hours straight in bed before we were due to leave, but by then it was simply too late to cancel. Armed with an impressive collection of cold medicine and perhaps a little too much optimism, we boarded our flight anyway.
Unfortunately, somewhere over the Atlantic, my cold decided it wasn’t finished with me. By the time we landed in Rome, it had become a full-blown sinus infection accompanied by jet lag. Looking back, I honestly have no idea how I managed it.
Apart from one particularly dramatic coughing fit in the shower that nearly ended me, I don’t think my partner even realized quite how sick I was. I was determined not to let it ruin our long-awaited & forever-dreamed-about Italian adventure, so I quietly pushed through, fuelled by adrenaline, tissues, and sheer stubbornness.
Rome marked the first chapter of our trip, and we couldn’t have picked a better place to begin.
Our home for the next few days was the sweetest little Airbnb tucked away in Trastevere, a neighbourhood that completely stole our hearts. Our wonderful host had arranged private transportation from the airport and immediately pointed us toward a nearby local restaurant for dinner.
It was exactly what we’d been dreaming about. Our first proper Italian pizza. A glass of wine. Warm spring air. The excitement of finally being in Italy. It should have been one of the greatest meals of my life. Unfortunately, thanks to my completely blocked sinuses, I could barely taste any of it. Honestly, I think that was the greatest tragedy of the entire trip. Thankfully, even without my sense of taste, I could still fall in love with everything else.
The narrow cobblestone streets, ivy-covered buildings, bustling piazzas, tiny cafés, scooters zipping effortlessly through alleyways, and laundry hanging from apartment windows all made Trastevere feel exactly like the Italy I’d imagined for years. It quickly became our favourite neighbourhood in Rome and somewhere I’d happily stay again in a heartbeat.
Over the next several days we walked… and walked… and walked.
Our watches recorded more steps than either of us had probably ever logged in a single vacation, but Rome is one of those cities that’s simply meant to be explored on foot. Every turn seemed to reveal another church, another piazza, another centuries-old building that demanded I stop and photograph it.
As a photographer with a deep appreciation for architecture and history, Rome was almost overwhelming in the best possible way.
One day we wandered through the incredible Vatican Museums before finally stepping inside the Sistine Chapel. No amount of photographs could have prepared me for the feeling of standing beneath Michelangelo’s masterpiece in person.
Another day brought us to the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and countless winding streets filled with cafés, little shops, and, naturally, more gelato than I care to admit.
One unexpected highlight was discovering fresh-filled cannolis. Instead of sitting pre-made in a display case, the shells were filled to order, making every bite perfectly crisp and creamy. I don’t think I’ll ever look at a cannoli back home the same way again.
Then there was the pasta. Like so many travellers, I had spent years dreaming about eating authentic Roman carbonara. Tonnarello had been firmly planted on my must-visit list long before we ever booked flights. I finally ordered it. And…
I couldn’t taste it. If you’ve ever wondered what true heartbreak feels like, that’s probably as close as I’ve come.
Eventually it was time to continue our journey through Italy. Florence and Venice were next on the itinerary, while Rome would bookend our trip with one final night before flying home. Little did we know my stubborn sinus infection had one final surprise in store.
Somewhere between Rome and Florence, I generously passed it along to my poor partner. It hit him just as hard and just as quickly, eventually forcing us to cancel our Venice plans altogether. (But that’s a story for the Florence blog coming next.)
After several unforgettable days away, we returned to Rome for one final 24 hours. Intentionally, we’d saved our biggest bucket-list experience until the very end. The Colosseum.
No photograph, documentary, or history lesson can truly prepare you for seeing it in person. Standing beside nearly 2,000 years of history, walking through the ancient corridors, tracing your eyes along weathered stone walls, and imagining everything that had unfolded there over centuries was genuinely humbling. Like so many film lovers, we’d both loved Gladiator, but experiencing the real history behind the world’s most famous amphitheatre is something we both share a love for and made it even more meaningful.
From there we wandered through Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, imagining what was once the heart of the Roman Empire. Between sprawling ruins and towering columns, we stumbled upon a tiny chapel whose cool stone walls offered a peaceful place to pause for a few quiet moments before continuing our walk.
Sometimes it’s the unexpected little places that stay with you most. That evening we found a small neighbourhood restaurant near our hotel for one last Italian dinner. Thankfully, after finally receiving medication from a doctor in Florence, I could actually taste my food again. And what a way to end the trip.
I ordered carbonara one final time, and the pancetta was, without question, one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten. Rich, perfectly crisp, salty, and everything I’d been dreaming about since planning the trip. My tastes buds starting to come back to life on the very last night of the trip. But still… It was worth the wait.
The following morning we packed our bags and headed for the airport. I remember us grabbing one less gelato & sitting beside our gate at the airport in Rome, blissfully unaware that the adventure still wasn’t quite over. Flight delays, cancellations, and airline chaos eventually stranded us in London before rerouting us to Seattle instead of Vancouver. From there, we found ourselves ordering an Uber to the Canadian border, walking across with our luggage while still recovering from our illnesses, and thankfully being rescued on the other side by a wonderful friend (thanks to our friends, and a no thanks to British Airways).
Safe to say, our travel luck throughout this trip was absolutely diabolical.
And yet, somehow, it’s one of our favourite adventures we’ve ever taken. Maybe that’s because the trips we remember most aren’t the ones that go perfectly. They’re the ones that become stories. The ones where everything seems determined to go wrong, but somehow you still fall completely in love with the destination anyway.
Italy tested us in every possible way. It stole my sense of taste. It stole Venice from our itinerary. It left us stranded on the journey home. And somehow, despite all of that, I’d book the exact same trip again tomorrow. Because Rome is one of those cities that deserves more than one visit.
Lucky for us… we already have the perfect excuse to go back.
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Part 2:
All photos here taken & edited by Meg Kristina Photography.
Copyright 2026 by Meg Kristina Photography. All rights reserved.
