Rome, my first time
My first time backpacking was in Rome, Italy. It was everything I had dreamed about and so much more.
I met so many people, from all over the world
I learned that just because you start out traveling alone doesn’t mean that you will be alone very often. As a matter of fact, as soon as I arrived in Rome, I took a bus to the city center and immediately started chatting with the guy sitting next to me. And when I arrived at my first hostel, within minutes, a fellow solo traveler invited me to site see with him. Every day I made new friends, (usually at the hostel) and had new adventures. I will cherish those experiences forever.
My first night in Rome 🙂
Roommates Jason and Maxime
I also learned that Rome is absolutely beautiful and is a great place for people to dip their toes in the backpacking life. There are tourists everywhere, it is safe, and there is so much to do.
Like look at weird statues
Most importantly, if I wasn’t 100% sure before Rome that traveling was meant to be the fuel driving my happiness, after Rome I was!
This is the life
Rome was the start of a beautiful intimate relationship between me and the world.
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My unforgettable experiences in Rome;
Drinking wine with new friends
Hostel Peeps
Taking silly pictures with a Gladiator
Visiting the Coliseum
Getting lost in the little side streets
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Seeing the Trevi Fountain
Blurry, my camera is not into night pictures
Watching the World Cup finals in an Irish pub
With our German chef friend and Trent from New Orleans
Sleeping on the tile of my hostel floor, trying to cool down from the Italian heat
Sandy Hostel, total luxury
Laying on the grass under the stars with a bottle of wine and watching locals play futbol
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Vatican City
Sharing a room and bathroom with 3 guys
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Being able to drink water from all the water fountains
Potable water all around in Roma
Eating authentic Italian food, and also some touristy not so authentic food
Does this look touristy or authentic?
People watching in the beautiful Piazzas (Plazas)
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….aaaand drinking more wine
Or whatever else there was around to drink
I would love to know where your first time was. Comment below.
Categories: Italy
JustMeTravel 
Isn’t Rome just the most wonderful city!?
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Hi Brittany, I very much agree! It is definitely up there! Thanks so much for checking my post out!
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Hope you ate a TON of food 🙂
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jajajaja I think I actually did eat at least a TON and I enjoyed every moment of it! Thanks for commenting 🙂
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Thanks for sharing! This has always scared me, to travel alone like that. My first time that was similar to backpacking by myself I guess, I took a road trip with my little brother (Who is 13 and has Asperger’s so was no help really with planning, money, anything really but eating lol) and we traveled 20 states and slept in our car for 6 weeks, only staying in a hotel when it was bought by a gracious stranger or our mom which was only 3 times total. We met a lot of people, and a lot of people loved what we were doing and thought it was crazy and donated to the gas fund. Wish I had the courage to do what you are doing though, that to me is just crazy. I hate to say it but maybe it would be different if I were a man. I do not feel safe even traveling around my home sometimes, so I couldn’t imagine in a foreign place.
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WOW Natasha! YOU ARE BRAVE! What a cool, interesting experience you shared with your brother. Which was your favorite state? I have not explored the US too much yet but hope to one day. I think Europe is a great place to start traveling for the reasons I wrote above, you are hardly ever really alone, there are tons of other people around, and so many people speak English which is pretty helpful! You should give it a shot 🙂 and if you could do that 20 state road trip you can pretty much do anything 😉
Thanks you for sharing!
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Haha Maybe! I had a lot of favorites, but Oregon was by far the best. There is an old highway called Highway 101 that is beautiful!! A different beach to stop at every five minutes. What has been your favorite spot so far? And thank you!! We’ll see, but I have to get this semester out of the way first! Haha
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First time Rome was 1982. I was driving, I don’t remember from where, somewhere on the Adriatic Coast, maybe Pescara. For anybody who is a fan or even just follows football,1982 was a great year for Italy. They won the World Cup and I arrived in Rome as they did. Insane? Doesn’t come near to describing it, the wonderful abandon and joy of the Romans (and I guess all the rest of Italy) as they took to the streets to celebrate. Not possible to drive anymore, so I just left the car and walked. JustMeTravel you mention the Trevi Fountain, well it was that day the Trevi swimming pool. It was my first time in Rome and the first time I saw the results of a World Cup win. It was magnificent, mighty, and I remember it as though it were a minute ago (well, most of it) Thank you for posts, photos and the replies.
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And a wee word about the loveliness of the Romans. A few years later I was in Rome again, idea of getting to Civitavecchia, where the car ferry leaves for Sardinia. It was late and I was pre GPS, Cell lost. I pulled over and asked 2 girls who seemed to be out for a walk (probably to escape the heat that you mentioned JustMe) how to get there? Well, seems they thought it was a bad idea at that hour and after speaking briefly, they offered me outright the use of one of their apartments. I drove with them there (nearby), they made a pitcher of wine with plenty of ice, chatted some more, handed over the keys, said eat what you want, use the phone if you want, sleep good, you should be able to find Civitavecchia tomorrow after a good rest, you just looked so tired (and I did find it). I don’t imagine this happening much today, even in Rome, but it did happen then and I wanted to mention it, and the beauty and kindness of Romans that day.
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Hi Declan, it sounds like you have had many extraordinary adventures throughout your travels. I love to read about them. Do you have a blog I could check out? Thanks so much for sharing and I look forward to reading more crazy fun experiences from you.
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Hey Dani , I would have to say Rome still has my heart… The food is delicious, the sights inspiring! Can’t wait to go back someday 🙂 how you’ve been?
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HOOOOOOOOLA Maria!!! Tiempos sin hablarnos! How have you been? Rome is lovely, didn’t you go to Portugal also on that trip or did you meet in Italy?
I have been great, working a lot and saving for my next adventure, and just finished school. What have you been up to these days?
besitos and thanks for taking time to check out my site.
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We met in Barcelona actually 🙂 I’m doing well, working a lot and will start studying for the GRE this year…also, saving up for a wedding I’m going to in Wisconsin this summer. Told my bf we gotta do a new trip outside FL every 2yrs at least. Hahaha! Travel bug has bit me. Where are you now? Xoxo 😀
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ooooh Barcelona, that is right! Also Beautiful fun place! Good luck with your GRE! OMG so you are engaged, congratulations 🙂 It sounds like you are doing wonderful, I am so happy to hear it. I am currently still in good old Florida lol I am leaving in March for 3 1/2 months to backpack SE Asia. Let me know how you like Wisconsin.
Besos
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Not engaged yet lol! But we’ve been together for a while 😃 backpacking Se Asia? Very cool! Have fun 😀
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Really want to go on my list big time the statue is romulas and remus two brothers abandoned and brought up with wolves hence the Roma football team badge the wolf I prefer the other Roman team Lazio same name as the region you enjoy sooooo jelous
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Ellison it sounds like you are very familiar with the history 🙂 You should really go! =D Thanks for checking the post out
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