After the lack of fireworks show last night, we had grand plans to get up early and get to St Peters in hopes of seeing the Papal Audience at 9:30. I woke up at 8:30 am to Nick snoring and sound asleep, knowing that there was no way we could be ready and over there by 9:30, I rolled back over and went back to sleep to wake up at 10:40! I haven’t slept that long in a long time. 

We got up and around and made our way to the Aventin keyhole, at the entrance to Basilica dei Santi Bonifacio e Alessio, a door I had read about that you can peer into a keyhole through an arched arbor of vines with the most beautiful view of St Peters. We met a nice, older couple from NY/FL that we chatted with which made the hour long wait feel much shorter. The view was worth the wait, the only bummer is that we are confident none of the photos are going to come out, so I guess I’ll have to try my damndest to remember this adventure.

The couple we met suggested a pizzeria close to St Peters, since we were headed that way we decided to stop and look for it. We weaved our way through the streets , viewing (and playing with) the art installations that they had for the New Year. We then arrived in Piazza del Campo only to find out that the pizza place was closed for the day.

Thankfully Nick had saved on his phone a sandwich shop that was just was a couple blocks away so we dipped in there to find one tiny table available in the corner. Although I was bummed because I had my heart set on this delicious pizza the sandwich place was to die for.

Baguetteeria del Fico could not have been a more perfect Italian establishment, a tiny little kitchen to make the sandwiches, seven tables total in the whole place with everybody tripping over each other to get around. Our table was so small our cheese plate had to eventually occupy a chair, in which a man had been sitting, but then moved for us. 

We each had a birra and shared the most delicious cheese tray, the buffalo mozzarella was absolutely amazing. Our sandwiches were both very tasty but I’m still thinking of the cheeseboard!

With bellies full we made our way to St Peters only to find the most ridiculous line to get in. We decided because there were other things that we wanted to experience the rest the day we skipped going in and just admired it from outside.

We then headed to find one of our favorite Gelateria‘s as suggested many years ago by our friend Kelly, Gelateria Del Teatro. With gelato in hand we made our way through Piazza Novona,  onto the Pantheon to arrive to find it closed for New Year’s Day. 

Bummed that we likely would not be able to experience the pantheon before we leave tomorrow we then made our way to one of our favorite restaurants Peroni to enjoy the carbonara that’s so so good only to find it closed as well.  Just not our day!

I was completely exhausted and my feet killing me we headed back towards the apartment and dipped into a place called Shamrock which ended up being a true bar, which I’m convinced becomes a night club later on.  

On our walk back home we decided we would try the little bistro next to our apt, only to find it closed as well. I guess unlike Americans they close a lot of places over here on NY. So we turned around and went to a small shop where we had grabbed breakfast earlier in the day. This morning I had my first experience with a latte – which unbeknownst to me is just warm milk. I was so proud of myself for venturing to get a coffee drink, but apparently you have to be very specific about the cafe part when ordering.

For dinner we shared an arancini, which I was excited about until she warmed it up in the microwave and then a small salami pizza, which might have been the worst Italian pizza we’ve ever had. We ended the day just how it started but all we can do it laugh about it – we had a great time just being together today, so I’ll take it!