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Travel

Dreaming Of Rome

written by Brenna Holeman February 25, 2013
Italy 1

Pisa, Italy

Italy 2

Venice, Italy

Italy 3

Burano, Italy

Italy 4

Florence, Italy

Italy 5

Venice, Italy

Italy 6

Venice, Italy

Other than my time on the Trans-Siberian in 2010 (which landed me in European Russia for a few weeks) I haven’t been to Europe in five years. I first went to Europe when I was 13, and have been madly in love with the wildly diverse continent ever since. I love the different cultures, the different languages, the fact that I can be in three or four countries in a day. I spent nearly six months backpacking around Europe when I was 21 and 22, and then lived and travelled there while 23 and 24. I went all the way north to Finland and Iceland, all the way south to Malta and Turkey. There’s one place I haven’t visited, though, one place I’m just dying to see.

Rome. I’ve been to Florence, Pisa, Verona, and Venice, but never the capital of Italy, never the home of  the Colosseum or the Trevi Fountain, never the setting for so many movies and love stories. I’ve spent the past five years in places so vastly different from Italy, and I constantly think of reintroducing myself to Europe by way of Rome.

That being said, I have an upcoming visit to the UK and Israel in the spring, and I might see if I can swing a week’s holiday in the beautiful city. Until then, I’m going to keep dreaming of travelling there, keep dreaming of Rome.

Is there a city YOU can’t stop thinking of visiting? Have you ever been to Rome? If yes, do you have any tips for me?

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Brenna Holeman

Brenna Holeman has travelled to over 100 countries in the past 15 years, many of them solo. She's a big fan of whisky and window seats.

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15 comments

[Ali] To Be Continued... February 25, 2013 - 10:47 pm

Please please please let us go and see Rome together?? It has been the tip-top of my list for the looongest time! Other cities on my [long] list include Montreal, Istanbul, Moscow, Buenas Aires, Berlin… xx

Reply
This Battered Suitcase February 26, 2013 - 6:24 pm

I would love to go to Rome with you! I don’t know exactly when I am going so I will keep in touch with you about it. I know that you would absolutely love the other cities on your list, especially Istanbul!

Reply
Adina Marguerite Pease February 26, 2013 - 2:30 am

For me it’s pretty much the entire country of New Zealand – I’ve been there twice and it’s constantly on my mind. My recommendation for Rome…get lost of a little while – you might just stumble upon some lovely sights. It’s how I found the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Oh and of course the gelato…

Reply
This Battered Suitcase February 26, 2013 - 6:29 pm

I love New Zealand, too! I have only been once but I would love to go back.

I can’t wait to get lost in Rome! That’s the best way to see a city…

Reply
Meaghan Denomme February 26, 2013 - 2:44 am

I was wandering Venice back when they were picking the Pope a few years ago. There were so many people in Rome then, such a spectacle, I kinda wanted to just hop on a train and check it out. But I was a broke student who couldn’t afford the fare. So I had to stay in Venice. My life was SO HARD that summer : )
Love & miss you, Brenna darling.

Reply
This Battered Suitcase February 26, 2013 - 6:30 pm

I love you and miss you, too!!

Reply
Jackie A February 26, 2013 - 4:01 am

Brenna,

I studied abroad here in 2010 so make sure to email me about the city when you are going!

xx Jackie

Reply
This Battered Suitcase February 26, 2013 - 6:30 pm

Great, thank you so much, Jackie!

Reply
The Ls February 26, 2013 - 4:11 pm

My dream cities that I’m a bit obsessed with are: Florence, Tokyo & Toronto.

Don’t know when I’ll have the time/funds to get there but I’m hoping to at least see Florence this year. Might start dreaming up an Italian road trip with the hubs. I’ve only ever been to Venice, I’d love to see Rome, Florence, Milan, Naples and even Corsica would be fascinating, I reckon. Dreams dreams dreams!

Also, have you seen To Rome With Love yet? Sooo wonderful.

Reply
This Battered Suitcase February 26, 2013 - 6:33 pm

A road trip through Italy would be so amazing! I would love to do any road trip through Europe, actually.

I have seen To Rome With Love, and I actually didn’t like it as much as I wanted to! Great scenery, but the characters annoyed me to no end. I loved Midnight in Paris a lot more…

Reply
The Ls February 27, 2013 - 11:37 am

I also preferred Midnight in Paris but I did really enjoy TRWL. I can see how the characters were annoying though, haha. Especially Ellen Page & Allison Pill’s characters! But still, I loved its Italian whimsy & it just made me want to sit on the Trevi fountain & eat gelato for a few weeks. 🙂

Reply
Antastesia. February 26, 2013 - 10:54 pm

I’ve been to Rome, and I didn’t like it a lot lot to be honest. Maybe because I had too hight expectations? But I hope you’ll like it!
The Colosseum was however really… breathtaking!
If you’re planning to visit the Vatican, be super careful what you’re wearing! Anything above the knee is too short, and they won’t let you in. Also cover your shoulders.

As for a city I can’t stop thinking about, obviously Tokyo that I miss every single day. And eventhough it’s not a city, for a place I haven’t visited yet, Jordan. I really really want to go there, especially Petra !

xx
Emy.

Reply
This Battered Suitcase February 27, 2013 - 9:09 pm

Yes, sometimes that happens – we build it up too much in our heads and then it is bound to disappoint! I’m trying to think realistically about Rome…

I miss Tokyo (and Japan in general) a lot, too; I think about it every day. I also want to visit Petra…as I’m going to Israel this spring, I might try and get there for a few days!

Reply
mollyocon February 28, 2013 - 1:34 pm

I am always dreaming of Rome! I studied abroad there several years ago. I haven’t been back, but I feel as though I never really left! I also visited Naples, Bari, Assisi, Venice, Milano, Florence, and a few others.

It’s hard to pick a favorite but Florence and Rome were definitely up there. If you are looking for what’s beautiful in life, you should really take a cue from the Italians…long meals, great food and conversation, incredible art and architecture, vino, and so much more!

I’m interested to see what going back would be like after my experiences in developing Asian countries–how or if those experiences might change my perspective of this culture, its history, and its present.

Great post! The pictures are wonderful.

Reply
This Battered Suitcase February 28, 2013 - 6:26 pm

Thank you for your comment! I agree with you when you say what’s beautiful about life…the Italian way of living is pretty much my ideal! I can’t wait to go back, hopefully it will be this year…

I am also curious to see what it’s going to be like in Europe for me after visiting almost only developing countries over the past three years…

Reply

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About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Brenna

My name is Brenna Holeman and I drink a lot of whisky. No, wait. That’s not how I want to start. After travelling to more than 100 countries over the past 15 years, many of them solo, I tend to write about travel a lot, but I write about other things, too: getting dumped, buying way too much jewellery, and yeah, OK, whisky (none of those things are related, I swear). You’ll find a mix of advice, opinion pieces, and stories on this blog, but either way, I hope to make you want to read more. And up next? I'm about to become a single mom to a beautiful baby boy, the biggest solo adventure I've ever been on. For more about me and what you'll find on This Battered Suitcase, click here .

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Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

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This Battered Suitcase is not only about the where and the how of travel, it's about the who and the why.

Originally from Canada, all I've ever wanted to do is travel. After eleven years of solo travel and over 90 countries, I'm currently living in London and fulfilling my other dream of becoming a writer. If I'm not travelling, I'm writing about it, either for my blog, my job, or my book. I firmly believe there is adventure everywhere, so long as you keep your eyes (and your mind, and your heart) open. Join me as I continue to look for these adventures. Hopefully you'll find your own, too.

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