For my birthday this year, my boyfriend surprised me with a trip to the Eternal City. Three days, two suitcases, and no itinerary. Just the two of us, ready to wander wherever the day would take us.
What I love the most about how we travel together is how similar we are when it comes to discovering new places. We never overplan. We simply walk, follow the sound of live music, stop by the little vintage shops we stumble upon, and sit down for coffee when the light feels too pretty to keep moving. We never chase the checklist. For us, it’s about the feeling of the place, about experiencing it together rather than running from one tourist spot to another.
And Rome, with all its beauty and chaos, is the perfect city for that kind of love story.
Pasta, laughter and déjà vu
On our first day, we had pasta at Osteria da Fortunata, a cozy restaurant right next to the Pantheon. It’s rated 4.7 on Google, and for a reason. The pasta is made in front of you, and everything tastes like sunshine and olive oil. We loved it so much that we came back twice.
I actually knew the place from before. When I lived in Rome for two months back in 2021, I used to walk by that street almost every day. Sitting there again felt like a soft echo from the past. That time of my life feels like it belongs to someone else now, another version of me who was still figuring things out.
A small vlog of my trip 🎞️
I also made a little vlog from our weekend in Rome, capturing the soft and romantic side of the city the golden light on the cobblestone streets, the pastel buildings, the sound of violins echoing through the piazzas.
In the video, I wanted to show the Rome I want to remember. The one filled with love, music, and simplicity. The moments in between. The laughter, the spontaneous stops for gelato, the way we kept finding live bands just by following the sound.
(You can watch it below, it’s only a few minutes long, but it’s full of my favorite memories from this trip.)
The other side of Rome
As magical as it was, this trip also reminded me of the reality that hides behind the postcard.
When we arrived from the airport, I noticed how some parts of the city looked neglected and a little forgotten. Graffiti covered the walls, and some areas didn’t feel as welcoming as the bright center that everyone sees in photos.
Rome is still one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but outside of the main tourist zones, it can feel heavy. I couldn’t help but compare it to Paris how you can sit in front of the Eiffel Tower on the grass, watching it sparkle, surrounded by open space. Now imagine the same thing around the Colosseum, but without that space to breathe. There are no gardens, no benches, no calm spots to sit down and take it in. Everyone wants to see it, but you can’t really be there. People rest wherever they find a little space, tired but still enchanted.
Overtourism in Rome is intense. Restaurants are packed, food comes fast, and tables turn quickly. The metro doesn’t cover much, so you walk everywhere. You love it, but by the end of the day, you feel it in your bones. It’s beautiful, but overwhelming at the same time.
Rome carries centuries of history, and every time someone tries to build or repair something, they discover another layer of the past, which stops the work again. It’s like a museum under the stars breathtaking but fragile.
Coming home to Nice
When we came back, I felt both full and tired. Rome will always have a special place in my heart. It was once the city I dreamed of moving to, before I chose France.
But this trip made me realize how much I love my life here in Nice. The rhythm is slower, the light is softer, and there are quiet months when the city breathes again. I can walk to the sea, sit at my favorite café, and feel that sense of calm that I crave.
Rome reminded me how much I love to travel and to feel inspired. But it also reminded me how precious it is to have a place that feels like home.
Sometimes, the best part of every trip is not the place itself, but the way it makes you appreciate where you already are.
