A Weekend in Italy: Rome & Venice
From gladiators to gondolas — Italy had me striking poses at every corner.
After living in the UK for two years, I was getting ready to start a new adventure teaching English in Thailand. But before heading to Southeast Asia, I wanted one last European getaway — and where better than Italy, a country I had always dreamed of visiting?
Milan Stopover
At the beginning of May, I flew from Heathrow to Milan. On the plane, I met an entertaining seatmate who was visiting friends and had one too many drinks mid-flight. We ended up taking the same bus into the city before parting ways to find our respective accommodations. My hostel was just a quick overnight stop before continuing south, so I did a little exploring nearby and prepared for the real highlight: Rome.
Met this guy on the plane — we both ended up on the same bus into Milan. Travel has a way of pairing you with characters.
Rome: Ancient Wonders & Wandering Streets
The next morning, I boarded a train to Rome. I had splurged on first class — a small luxury that came with wine, water, and a cookie. Watching the Italian countryside blur past the window felt magical.
When I arrived in Rome, I dropped my backpack at a hostel just minutes from the Colosseum. There I met Gabriel, a fellow traveler from Guatemala. We exchanged Facebooks and kept in touch — though we wouldn’t catch up again until 8–9 years later, when I actually visited Guatemala (travel has a funny way of circling back). At the time, he gave me a few tips before heading off, and I set out on my own Roman adventure.
My hostel was within walking distance of the Colosseum, and I wasted no time heading straight there. I had pre-booked my ticket online (highly recommend!), though the special arena-floor tour was already sold out. Still, standing inside this ancient stadium — a place I had dreamed of seeing for years — was surreal. I explored every corner, took far too many photos, and then continued into the Roman Forum, included in the ticket. Wandering among the ruins felt like stepping back in time.
Afterwards, I set off to explore more of Rome on foot. I stopped by the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II before wandering to the Trevi Fountain — which, even under scaffolding, was still packed with tourists. They had built a temporary boardwalk across it, along with a small pool of water and a backdrop of the fountain so you could still take those iconic “coin toss” photos. I laughed at the absurdity of tossing a coin into a fake fountain, but of course, I did it anyway (not quite the magic I imagined, but it made for a great story).
As the sun was setting, I stumbled onto a large, crowded square where everyone seemed to be gathered around a massive temple-like building. I didn’t even realize until later that it was the famous Pantheon. I didn’t go in that evening — I was too hungry and too tired (classic travel combo) — but I filed it away to revisit the next day.
For dinner, I found a non-touristy restaurant, ordered pizza and a half-liter of house wine, and laughed to myself when the crust came out burnt. Not perfect, but still delicious. Afterwards, I admired the Colosseum and the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II beautifully lit up at night.
Not quite the magic I imagined… but yes, I still tossed a coin into the ‘fake’ fountain.
A Sunday Surprise at the Vatican
The next morning — Sunday — I learned the hard way that the Vatican Museums are closed. Instead, I wandered into St. Peter’s Square, where a crowd was gathering. Chairs and giant screens were set up. Soon I realized: the Pope himself was giving an address. People around me debated which window he would appear from, and when he finally did, the whole square erupted. I had no idea what he was saying, but being part of the moment felt surreal. Once it ended, the crowds disappeared, leaving me to take photos in a near-empty square (proof that timing is everything).
Since I suddenly had free time, I went inside St. Peter’s Basilica. That’s when I discovered you could buy a ticket to climb the stairs to the dome. I huffed my way up and was rewarded with sweeping views of Vatican City and Rome. Hardly any tourists were around, making it the perfect photo opportunity (worth every sweaty step).
Back down in the square, I noticed a small portable container with “Poste Vaticane” written on it. Curious, I walked inside and discovered it was Vatican City’s own post office — complete with its own stamps. Of course, I couldn’t resist sending postcards to my family and friends from another country entirely (who wouldn’t want mail from the world’s smallest nation?).
From there, I wandered past Castel Sant’Angelo, grabbed a late lunch of chicken, fries, and a beer, then circled back to the Pantheon in daylight. This time I actually went inside to see the famous dome, and afterwards treated myself to gelato at a shop that was supposedly the best in Rome. Whether or not that was true, it tasted divine (and yes, I licked the cup clean).
In the evening, I kept walking — more piazzas, more side streets — before sitting down to a pasta dinner with house wine. I capped the night with photos of the Colosseum glowing against the dark sky before heading to bed early.
From jam-packed to nearly empty in minutes. Proof that patience pays off.
The Sistine Chapel & The Vatican Museums
Monday morning, I was back at the Vatican — this time for the museums. I arrived before opening, and even then, long lines were already forming. I bought my ticket at the door, but if you’re going now, do yourself a favor and book online — it’s so much easier and faster (learn from my mistakes).
I hurried through the galleries, eager to reach the Sistine Chapel.
Stepping inside nearly empty, I gawked up at the ceiling from the middle of the chapel before eventually moving to a bench where I could sit quietly and study every detail. Michelangelo’s masterpiece was breathtaking. My neck ached from staring so long, but I couldn’t stop — I wanted to soak in every inch. I resisted the urge to lie down on the floor, though honestly, I wanted to.
Later that day, I circled back, and the difference was shocking. The chapel was packed, noisy, and nearly impossible to take in. I felt smugly glad I had experienced it the way I did that morning (sometimes being an early bird really pays off).
Afterwards, I retraced my steps through the rest of the museum. Every hallway seemed to reveal something extraordinary: towering Roman statues, vibrant frescoes, ancient Egyptian artifacts, even massive painted maps lining the walls. Many of the paintings were ones I had only ever seen in books before — and here they were, right in front of me. The scale of it all was overwhelming in the best way.
By mid-afternoon, it was time to catch my train to Venice.
Raphael’s ‘School of Athens’ — surreal to stand in front of something I’d only ever studied in books.
Venice: Lost & Found
My final stop was Venice. The train dropped me off on the man-made island, and that’s where my real adventure began.
Finding my hostel turned into a comedy of errors. Offline Google Maps had me zigzagging every which way, the little blue dot placing me on streets I wasn’t even on. I asked strangers for help, circled back the same street ten times, and eventually collapsed into relief when I finally found it. After dropping off my bags, I went out to explore — and that’s when I finally broke down and bought a paper map (Google Maps: 0, paper maps: 1).
But that was only the beginning. Venice is beautiful, yes, but it’s also a labyrinth. Even with my new map, I kept getting lost trying to follow vague directions like “keep right and cross four bridges.” Street signs seemed to vanish just when I needed them. Eventually, I gave up, counted bridges instead, and at last stumbled my way into Piazza San Marco (victory never felt so earned).
I couldn’t afford a gondola ride (budget life), but I lingered by the canals snapping photos of gondoliers in striped shirts. In Piazza San Marco, I imagined myself stepping into a masquerade ball centuries ago, wearing a gown and ornate mask. For dinner, I found a tiny local restaurant far from the touristy spots, had one last pizza, and of course, more cheap house wine (some things never get old).
As the sun set, I wandered the glowing alleyways, finally appreciating that getting lost in Venice is part of the magic (frustration turned fairy tale).
Venice in a nutshell — gondolas I couldn’t afford, and bridges I kept losing count of.
Goodbye, Italy — Hello, Thailand
And just like that, my whirlwind weekend in Italy was over. From tossing coins at Trevi to mailing postcards from the Vatican, from gawking at the Sistine Chapel until my neck hurt to wandering lost in Venice, Italy gave me a trip full of awe, humor, and surprises.
It was the perfect ending to my European chapter. Next stop: Thailand — the Land of Smiles. Who knew what adventures were waiting for me there?
Goodbye, Italy — backpack on, airport bound. Next stop: Thailand
