Eurotrip 2023: Day 2 – Trevi, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo and Jet Lag

Despite us being tired from the flight the day before and sleeping at around 11:30 pm, I still woke up at 4:00 am.

Jet lag has hit me, and I found it difficult to sleep until everyone started waking up at 5:30 am. It was still dark outside, but I could tell that Papa was already in the kitchen preparing his coffee and getting ready to eat his cornetto.

Then at 6:00 am, it was obvious that I could no longer sleep so I finally got up. Over breakfast, we just had a debriefing of the our flight, and shared our excitement when we finally arrived in Rome. I also briefed everyone what to expect for the day, and at what time we should be leaving the AirBnB for Termini.

We have not opened the air-conditioning as it was so cold. As we were dressing up, it was still around 16 degrees Celsius that Mama and Papa bundled up a bit despite it being already 8:00 am.

While I felt cold, I also had high tolerance for it as I generally prefer lower temperatures. I only wore sando and a Chinese-collar longsleeves. We were to visit the Spanish Steps and I needed to be in my best Audrey-esque outfit.

As soon as we left, I was under the impression that we’d go straight to the train station. But alas, Papa asked if we were not to eat breakfast. I thought that what they ate earlier in the day was breakfast.

We headed to McDonald’s in front of Termini to eat pancakes and their breakfast sausages. We also got some coffee. I did my best ordering in Italian, only to eventually mess up with the size.

Instead of a good cup of coffee, we got the espresso shots. We were laughing hard as we claimed our order, and we also did not have enough time ordering some more. The espresso shot was good, though.

From McDonald’s we just crossed the street to Termini, so we could figure out our way to the Metro lines. We had been approached by several tour peddlers, as we obviously looked like Asian tourists. I, however, replied my first (of many) « Mi dispiace, ma abbiamo già qualcosa oggi e domani » (Sorry but we already have something today and tomorrow).😅

A man even challenged my reply with « Ma ch’è cosa essatamente? » (But what exactly?), to which I retorted « Signore, tutto è attualmente pronto fino alla fine della settimana. Grazie.” (Everything is all ready until the end of the week, Sir. Thank you.), which left him shrugging.

Given that Termini is literally in the middle of all these train networks, it was bustling with people: tourists and pickpockets alike.

We have bought a 3-day Roma pass before the trip, which won’t be claimed and used until the next day. That left us no choice but to buy a 24-hour pass from the ticket counter, which made me slightly nervous.

I’ve heard several horror stories of tourists getting fine because of unvalidated tickets. I was not sure what to do next after our tickets were dispensed. The staff mentioned we can use it already, so we took it as good to go.

While waiting for the train, I was also observing closely the people around the platform. One suspicious looking man was sitting, with his hands covered with a jacket.

As soon as the train arrived, he also got up and walked straight to the doors, with his hands obviously trying to move underneath his jacket on the bag of the poor tourist in front of him.

That was our first pickpocket encounter, and we did not talk about it until we reached Barberini.

I was relieved to hear that they also noticed that strange man, and they kept their bags close to their body in case they got targeted.

It was easy to know we were near a popular attraction when there is a horde of people getting out of the train.

Our first stop was at Fontana di Trevi, which meant that we had to walk for at least 9 minutes (according to Google Maps).

So we walked and walked at Via del Tritone, occasionally checking the map from my phone with a lanyard we had specifically bought for the trip (because pickpocket).

For some reason, I missed up the navigation and walked all the way until Via del Corso where Zara was. I blame Google Maps for messing up our location on the map as we walk.

We paused for a bit to figure out where we should be headed next.

We walked back to Via del Tritone, then right to Via Santa Maria in Via (I remember there was a tour kiosk in that corner), then finally left to Via dei Crociferi.

I knew that we were in the right direction as I could already see a crowd building up and the edge of Trevi, as well hear the people and the splash of water.

As soon as we turn the street: finalmente, la Fontana di Trevi.

We stood a good minute staring at the fountain from that corner, then to the front of it. Mama and Papa was just busy admiring Trevi, while commented that the crowd was bearable as we arrived.

They could not be more wrong. As we sat down at the right side close to the fountain to rest and people watch for the next 30 minutes, the crowd already doubled in size.

It was even difficult just to do the ceremonial tossing of the coin as everyone had the same thing in mind.

That was the time we decided to eventually leave to visit the Chiesa di Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio a Trevi, right across the fountain.

The crowd was so thick that it was difficult to move without bumping into anyone and minding one’s bag with the pickpockets obviously taking advantage of the mix.

The chiesa was the first church we visited in Rome, which will be a recurring theme for my parents. As Catholics, they have long wanted to visit Rome especially the Vatican City. I had a vivid memory of that from my childhood, as Mama shared it was a regret she had when she was younger.

Nevertheless, it was the perfect time for all of us, and it eventually happened with all of us taking this special trip together.

Inside the chiesa, there were also some tourists who were surprisingly very respectful with their hushed voices as they talked to each other. It is still a functional church after all.

Mama and Papa had the opportunity to sit down and silently pray, as Mon and I also walked around the chiesa.

We eventually joined them, and we just sat in silence. At that point, I felt a sense of gratefulness that after a long time of planning, the trip was indeed happening. “We are really in Rome!”, I thought.

After 20 minutes in the chiesa, we eventually decided to step out to look for a place to have lunch. The crowd around Trevi, however, was something else: it just doubled some more.

As much as I tried planning where to eat before coming to Rome, I knew that we had to be very flexible. Mama and Papa walked really slowly, and we cannot be just dragging them anywhere we want to.

That also meant we have to be very mindful of them heeding the call of nature, which meant being ready with €1 coins in case they need it to relieve themselves.

On our way to a resto I just found on Google Maps as it was relatively closest to where we were at that time, Papa had to enter McDonald’s at Via del Tritone to pee.

We eventually ended up at this resto called Bar Zinzilla at Via Francesco Crispi.

At that point, it was already almost 12 noon and I was very hungry as well.
We waited for 15 minutes to be seated, as we had no reservation (given how difficult it was to chase after these set time with the pace of Papa and Mama).

I recall Papa already getting a bit annoyed with us standing up, but all we could do was just wait.

When we got our food, we were so delighted to be finally eating. We had different types of pasta and some pizza to share, which was finished within 30 minutes. We were so hungry.

I went to comfort room to quickly wash my hands, only to return and see them talking to a woman, who I eventually found out to be one of the owners. She shared she had been to the Philippines quite recently to scuba dive. We also talked a bit about our (plans) for our trip.

As we were about to leave, however, there was a bit of a heated argument with one of the staff and this pair of customers (an American couple by the sound of their voice). They were complaining about the food that was served versus the one on the photo.

Oh well.

After lunch, we then headed to Piazza di Spagna. At that point, Google Maps was already working perfectly (or at least, I was already well fed not to misread the directions again).

Nevertheless, it was hard to get lost from that point given that Piazza di Spagna was just a couple of blocks away. As soon as we saw la Colonna della Immacolata Concezione (in front of the current Spanish Embassy), the Spanish Steps was only a few meters away.

First impressions: it was beautiful; full of tourists, and it was already a bit hot weather-wise!

Mama also had to remove her cardigan as the heat was a bit too much for her. I believe it was 24 degrees Celsius that time (technically not so hot, I know, but not with a cardigan).

The next thing I did was look for a gelateria in the area, as I wanted to pay an homage to Audrey Hepburn in ‘Roman Holiday’. The closest one we could find was this one with mounds of brightly-colored “gelato”, which travel websites/groups warned us not to buy.

Again, we had no choice as I really wanted to have that photo.

While I was satisfied to capture it, albeit the melting gelato was a bit sticky in my right hand, I also would like to mention that I later on found out we were not supposed to eat there?

In my defense, I thought that was okay because I have likewise seen a lot of people sitting, with some eating as well. It’ll never happen again.

Mama and Papa also enjoyed their gelato, while Mama also spotted this vendor of her favorite chestnuts. Of course, she will not let the opportunity to eat chestnuts in Rome!

After Piazza di Spagna, we were supposed to walk the length of Via del Babuino to reach Piazza del Popolo, and then eventually climb to Villa Borghese.

Papa, on the other hand, did not look to happy having to walk again, let alone climb.

By the time we reached the Basilica di Santa Maria in Montesanto in Piazza del Popolo, we just down by the steps, then by the door.

Papa mentioned that he was tired already, and that he just thought all the walking was too much.

Yikes, barely on our second day and then this feedback. On the other hand, the weather, the jet lag and his bad feet was understandably the perfect recipe for this.

Thus after 30 minutes of resting-slash-observing, we decided to go back to the AirBnB at 3:00 pm.

As soon as we got home, Mama and Papa took a nap, understanding that we’d also have to eventually head out in the evening just to eat dinner.

At that point, it was pretty clear that our already pared down itinerary would have to be pared down some more. It appeared that we could realistically step out in the morning, go home after lunch, rest in the afternoon, and then head out in the evening (unless our booked things did not allow us to do so).

At 6:45 pm, we headed out to Termini for Mercato Centrale to look at food options. Papa, on the other hand, was already looking for rice.😅 And not just any rice, but Filipino dishes.

While there were several rice options (especially risotto ones) in Mercato Centrale, he was not feeling it.

Personally, Mon and I prefer to eat the local food whenever we can. It was both cheaper and more accessible, as compared to other dishes. But alas, we ended up at the nearby Vietnamese rest a couple of blocks from Termini for the rice.

After dinner, we had nothing else in the agenda, except to buy some supplies for the following day.

We just accompanied Mama and Papa to the AirBnB (as the doors were quite a handful just to open), before we headed out to buy.

While Termini is normally not on top of the list for people to stay (it has a reputation, compared to Centro Storico, Monti, or even Trastevere). From our end, we had a very short lead time from the time our visa got approved to look for a place that: 1) can accommodate the 4 us, 2) either on the ground floor or has an elevator, and 3) fit the ceiling budget we have.

Nevertheless, we never felt unsafe in Termini, the same way we look after ourselves in Quiapo or Divisoria in Manila. Just don’t be stupid, and always have your wits with you.

After stocking bananas, cornetti, and some more bottled water, we called it an early night. At almost 9:00 pm, my eyes were already heavy from the jet lag.

I needed a good sleep, and hoped I won’t wake up again at 4:00 am the following day.

Step count: 14,847