Pickle Journeys

<b>HOTELS:</b>

<b>Camping Village Roma - </b>Via Aurelia, 831, 00165 Roma, Italy

<b>Rating:</b> 🥒🥒🥒🥒🚫

For the most part, we enjoyed our stay at the hotel, and recommend it. The price for four nights was fairly cheap, and they have a variety of living accommodations from bungalows, to spots for campers, to camping grounds for those that brought their tents. There's a small store on the property which has everything you might need, as well as a bar, and restaurant that has a good breakfast, but the dinner wasn't the best; however, we cannot speak for the pizza. There's also a pool, but it was under renovation when we were there. There is plenty of parking at the hotel, and you can either park near your bungalow, or leave it in the main parking lot in front of the hotel which has security guards during the night. Also, they do have wifi.

The only real complaints we have about the place was the location, and some of the receptionists. If you're driving, it is really easy to miss because it's directly off a autostrade type road. It's practically it's own exit, and it comes out of nowhere; trust us, we ended up missing it twice. When we were checking in the receptionists weren't the nicest either, but that's not the case with everyone that works there.

<b>RESTAURANTS:</b>

<b>Ciao Bella - </b>Via Aurelia, 831, 00165 Roma, Italy

<b>Rating:</b> 🥒🥒🥒🚫🚫

Ciao Bella is the restaurant at the Camping Village Roma hotel. We went to Ciao Bella after our day at the Vatican, and it became our engagement dinner. The restaurant itself is nice, with plenty of seating, and decent prices. The service was good, and we didn't wait very long for the food. However, the food was only OK. We found both our dishes lacking in flavor, and the steak was a bit dry. The breakfast on the other hand was very good, but we sometimes had to wait for them to restock some of the items.

<b>Pompi Tiramisu - </b>Via della Croce, 82, 00187 Roma, Italy

<b>Rating:</b> 🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒

Not enough great things can be said about this place. Our tiramisu were delicious! It's a pretty small shop right next to the Spanish Steps, so it can get quite busy, and crowded. Don't let any of that deter you from this place though. The wait is worth it. The prices were reasonable for how big the tiramisu was, and again, it was delicious! If you're going to Rome on holiday, do yourself a favor, and grab some delicious dessert from Pompi Tiramisu, find a spot on the Spanish Steps, and enjoy the moment.

<b>Buca San Giovanni - </b>Via Giovanni Pascoli 8, 50129, Florence, Italy

<b>Rating:</b> 🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒

The restaurant is on the pricey side, but the food, and the view is worth every cent, especially for the beef fillet, with foie gras. There is seating inside the restaurant, but if the weather is nice, we recommend grabbing a seat outside because then you can look at the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, and all it's glory while you dine. The staff was very kind, and timely. We loved Florence, and Buca San Giovanni, and you should definitely put both places on your bucket list.

<b>Caffè Barocco - </b>Piazza Navona, 80, 00186 Roma, Italy

<b>Rating:</b> 🥒🥒🥒🚫🚫

On our last day in Italy we went to Caffè Barocco before heading to the airport. It’s located in the Piazza Novano, which is very close to the Pantheon, the Castel Sant’Angelo, and the Sant'Agnese in Agone is the piazza as well. The location is filled with street vendors selling art, and tourists. The restaurant itself is nothing special. We ordered pizza, and while it was good, it was nothing special. The prices are a bit high, but you’re paying for the location. If you ever find yourself in the Piazza Navona, and want to grab a quick bite, and cappuccino, and don’t mind the higher than average prices, check it out.

<b>Food Trucks - </b>At every popular tourist location

<b>Rating:</b> 🥒🥒🥒🥒🚫

When we didn’t go to any restaurant we grabbed some chow from McDonalds, or the food trucks. The food is decently priced, and for ten euro you can grab two sandwiches. The drinks on the other hand are overpriced. For eight euro you can get two small bottles of Powerade, but save your money, or just buy one. Throughout Rome you will find plenty of water fountains with clean water, and you can just fill up your bottle there. You can even find a map of the fountains by searching for “Rome Nasoni Map” online. So, if you’re hungry, and don’t feel like going to a restaurant, go to one of the food trucks; the food is good, and probably cheaper than the majority of the restaurants in the area.

<b>CAR:</b>

<b>Third Generation Fiat Panda (MANda)</b>

<b>Rating:</b> 🥒🥒🥒🥒🚫

The Fiat Panda, is a masterpiece! The remarkable Fiat Panda came with ice cold air conditioning, great fuel consumption, a spacious interior, and a red paint job that rivals Ferrari. The only problem we had with the excellent Fiat Panda was just how easily the seats stained. Melanie has a habit of leaving a mess in every car we rent; not on purpose, it just happens. With the awesome Fiat Panda she opened a Coca-Cola bottle that wasn't ready to be opened. The Coca-Cola got on her seat, and it left a stain. However, I was able to clean it by dampening a towel with water, and patting down her seat. It was good as new. Incredible car, and we would rent it again.Lue lisää