Arriving in Rome
With a very loud thud and a whoosh of air, we touched down on the runway. Definitely not the smoothest, but at least we were on the ground again. This was it! I had made it to Rome! After battling to get my carry-on luggage a few rows up, I headed down the steps of the plane. I had waited so long for this moment. As I stepped down and took my first steps into Italy, an Italian man who also had just gotten off the flight grabbed me and planted a large, forceful kiss right on my unsuspecting lips. Alora (well). That is one way to be welcomed into a country!
After shaking off the shock, I went to the first bus driver to find out which location he was going to. Luckily he was going to the airport terminal, and, with some greater power stepping in, the other bus was going to the parking garage, which happened to house the kiss attacker’s car so I was able to escape without another altercation. If that had been his greeting, I didn’t want to discover what his passionate goodbye possibly included. PASS.
I was able to find my second bag, and then rushed to find the Hertz Car Rental counter before it closed. I got there, and then was told that because my VISA credit card doesn’t have the raised numbers on it, they cannot help me. Despite the fact I used that card to reserve the car and the charge had already gone through, they would not give me the car (Trust me – I went back to the counter twice to argue with them about it and the fine print on my reservation).
Ridiculous.
Luckily, there was another counter open for a few more minutes, so I went there and got another rental last minute. Despite all the trouble with Hertz, Sicily By Car took good care of me and I ended up with a cute little white Fiat 500. I was beyond grateful after a bumpy start. Even though I wanted to jump back on a plane and go home, I packed everything up into the car and programmed the address of my first stay into Google Maps.
Thankfully, Italians drive on the same side of the road as Americans, so I had one less stress to worry about. I jumped on the Autostrade and started out on what should have been a 25 minute drive….
Google requested I take a specific exit, but apparently it meant the next one and not the one I took. At that point, I was basically toast. All of the signs say pretty much exactly the same thing, and without WiFi to reroute, I knew it was going to be up to me to find my way. A short two hours later, I finally was able to find the right road by following tiny backroads. I was exhausted physically and mentally.
Staying in Bottaccio
Pulling into Carlo and Angela’s farm took my breath away. The colors of gorgeous, vibrant flowers reflected so brilliantly as the car lights illuminated the path. Parking quickly, I couldn’t believe that I had actually made it!
Carlo and Angela had left the keys available for my late arrival, and after a quick tour through the house, I knew I had made a good choice. Although this apartment was definitely out of the way and farther away from downtown than most people would choose, I am actually really glad I reserved this amazing place.
For anyone who has time to slow down and just enjoy a bit of simplicity, Bottaccio outside of Rome is the place for you. It definitely requires a car rental or a taxi to get here, and pretty much everything is a 20+ minute walk if you plan to stick around. I loved being able to see the trees and beauty outside the city. Even though the roads really are not that well-kept (mostly old pavement), it just makes the adventure more fun.
The house was small, but absolutely perfect.
There is a full kitchen, bathroom, seating area, and bedroom space. There is a few spots where you could also sleep other guests if you are traveling as a group or with children. When I finally woke up, I went to the local market that Carlo and Angela mentioned and grabbed some food. I knew I didn’t want to find a restaurant each night, so this made the most sense for my budget plans.
The cultural differences were quickly apparent and humorous. I didn’t expect my shopping cart to be a laundry basket with a handle and wheels. I also had no idea that they don’t actually bag your groceries like in America. They will charge you for a bag if you want one, but you have to pack everything up and move fast so you aren’t in everyone’s way behind you.
Jet lag hit me hard this first week. My body’s clock was so screwed up, so I slept quite a bit here. Most people would have been running around trying to see everything possible, but because of the circumstances and the lack of a return date, I wanted to make sure to give myself time to process and adjust to all of the changes. I made short trips out and spent a good amount of time enjoying the patio and house.
Day Trip to Ostia Antica
One really cool trip to head out on is Ostia Antica, and you can check out some pictures and read my experience HERE. I enjoyed driving around and just seeing the border cities of Rome, which was quite easy to do since I got lost A TON. Haha the roads are SO CONFUSING and you get 2 seconds warning when an exit is right next to you to take it.
Overall, I would definitely recommend a stay in Bottaccio, Rome with Angela and Carlo for anyone who wants to relax, adjust, enjoy the beauty of the countryside outside of Rome, and still be within reach of everything you need – supermarkets, restaurants, and everything else is within a short driving distance. To reserve your next trip with Angela and Carlo, click HERE for $40 off your first AirBnB reservation.
If you have stayed here in the past, or decide to go here, make sure to leave a comment below and tell me about your experience! I want to make sure this is a reliable resource for others considering their stay – SO – good or bad, make sure to share your experience at xxx below.
XO – Heath