Summer of 2018, we tried to get a similar group of friends & family to do another trip to Europe. The timing was only good for my cousin and myself however, but we weren't going to turn it down. We grabbed a few bottles of wine and mapped out our next adventure, starting with a week in Copenhagen, followed by a week in Rome.
Our trip started with separate flights to Denmark, where we met at our AirBnb. After we dropped off our stuff, it only took but an hour of walking through town to see how Copenhagen was a melting pot of life. Within a 3 mile radius we saw all walks of life; the ritzy crowd & restaurants, the arts/creative area of town, the punk/industrial and more. How everyone co-existed was something to admire. The buildings and architecture were unbelievable and the way the city is propped over the Nyhavn river makes you feel like you're in a Bob Ross painting. The nightlife was overflowing with young adults. I usually enjoy more of a laid-back night life, so it wasn't particularly my cup of tea, but the club we went to was called Dorsia, explicitly named after the establishment from 'American Psycho' so it had a fun, novelty aesthetic.
Our only misstep on this leg of the trip was missing an Alice In Chains concert. (we had thought they were playing a different night). See below for full-trip recommendations.
We then departed on a flight to Rome for leg 2 of our trip. We rented an AirBnb in downtown Rome to really ingratiate ourselves in the city. Walking through the streets of Rome, was almost overwhelming in sight. I was waiting to spot someone around the corner in a toga because of it's preserved history. In addition to seeing a sculpted horizon of buildings, I quickly discovered some terrific 'Mom & Pop' shops spread throughout town, where I found some of the highest-quality, leatherworks I've ever seen. (I purchased a leather coat that I may have myself buried in).
The food and wine, as expected were on another level. I've read that the Mafia still controls the olive oil distribution throughout the world. I'm not sure if that's true and/or if that's what makes the cuisine so delicious but I was not complaining. Although we didn't make it to Tuscany, the wines in Rome did just fine. The whites were superbly crisp, and the REDS WERE SPECTACULAR.
Obviously, the highlights were seeing the ancient landmarks. I really cannot even describe them in detail without doing a disservice to their wonderment. I will list below the recommended buildings that I STRONGLY encourage you to see, should you make the journey.
One of the additional reasons we chose Rome was to see Pearl Jam play at Stadio Olimpico. As huge Pearl Jam fans, we didn't want to miss our chance to see them on an international stage. To those who don't know, their fans are very passionate and travel all over the world to see their shows. To no surprise, we made several friends during this concert, whom we still keep in contact with, and some who we subsequently saw PJ shows, shortly after our return back in the States. Although we spent several days in Rome, I long for more and fully intend on returning, but until then...I'm comin' home, baby.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Copenhagen
Rome
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Never leave home without the proper music to accompany. -like pairing wine w/ dinner- The playlist below was built specifically for this itinerary.
True Faith - New Order
Bad Man's Song - Tears For Fears
Beyondless - Iceage
Got Me Wrong - Alice In Chains
Supremacy - Muse
I Will Follow - U2
Bonny - Prefab Sprout
Big Calm - Morcheeba
Ancestral - Steven Wilson
Leash - Pearl Jam
Big Time - Peter Gabriel
The Flat Earth - Thomas Dolby
For 12 - Other Lives
Burden In My Hand - Soundgarden
Dancing In The Dark - Hot Chip
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